William had found himself alone in the suite for minutes. Lost in thought, he relived endlessly recent events, wishing to change his actions, his words, cursing himself for having acted as he did. Then two shots were given to the front door, he jumped.

-Yes, he said in a grave voice.

-Sir? George. Came the voice of his friend on the other side of the door.

-Come in George, William replied without leaving the sofa.

When he entered the room, George was surprised that the suite was plunged into darkness. Only a thin line of light entered between white curtains at the windows. The rain fell hard on the outside and the sky was darker than it should have been at that time of day. The young man put a few seconds to see where his friend whose his silouhette stood out of the window was. He walked up to him, removing his helmet and penned.

-Oh, excuse me fotr the mud Sir, he said looking at his boots leave black marks on the carpet of the entrance.

William did not bother to answer, he had no use of mud, rain, all he could not help thinking about his wife. He heard her voice in the back of his head, groaning in pain, he tried to remember her smile and he noticed that he was beginning to forget. How could he ever forget? Forget her? Seeing that he received no reply, George stepped into the suite.

-Do you not turn on the light, sir?

-For me it does not make any difference George, William replied with a weary tone when he heard the click of the switch and that the young man approaches the sofa.

He could notice that the brightness was clearer, but any form, nothing, he saw nothing.

-Would you like that I look after you? George threw timidly seeing the damaged nose of William and blood on his shirt.

-It did not hurt George. But Julia ... she wanted to do it when returning from the hospital.

-I grew up with lots of other children and we get injuried all the time, tell me where her bag is and I will. I promise I do not put any disorder. But you have a messed up nose and a cut on your lip.

-Bruising on the torso also,murmured William, they will reverse much alone.

-You should at least clean your face Sir, George insisted, Dr. Ogden does not bear may be to see you in such a state.

-Well, William sighed unable to fight, in the dark cupboard next to the bed, at the bottom. You can find her bag.

George went off to join the bedroom and open the cupboard. He gently blushed on seeing Julia corsets and clothes hanging, then he quickly took the black bag that was on the top shelf and he closed the door to join William in the living room again. After a glance at his superior, he sat on the chair in front of him and opened the bag.

-Are you ready? It may sting a little.

-Go ahead George, I've had worse.

The young man nodded and he leaned in to clean his blood with compresses soaked. He did the same to his injured knuckles and they began their conversation about recent events. William told him everything in detail, George reassured him by saying that the man was arrested at the end of the street and taken to the police station. He would probably come to the police station with Julia to identified him, but the whole affair was closed.

Then night fell and silence with. Weighing. For a few minutes before William spoke again.

-Thank you George, for everything, for helping me so many years, thank you for supporting me, thank you for being here this evening and thank you ... for being my friend.

-It's nothing, sir, replied the young man, it is me who is lucky.

William smiled tenderly. He liked George, more than he could admit it, sometimes he felt it was his younger brother, whom exasperated, whom made him laugh, whom he protected, and that was always there for him.

-I also wanted to thank you for helping me to find the flowers.

-The Doctor loved, threw George grinning, I ... I mean, you do not have to tell me I ...

-It's alright George, William replied with a laugh, she loved them. And I could not have done it without you.

-It was a pleasure.

William would take the floor when he heard the door open. His heart skipped a beat. He got up in a leap, just waiting in front of the sofa. Julia entered the suite, giving a tender smile to George who was in the living room with her husband.

-Let me help you, he said, approaching towards her to help remove her coat.

-Thank you George, sighed Julia, how's William?

-He is hurt, but nothing serious, he saw worse. And you how are you Doctor?

-A bruise on the cheekbone, an open lip but thank God's my arm is not broken, I'll have bad days but everything will be fine.

-I am delighted to know Madam, I'll be leaving you now.

She just nodded and George turned to the living room to take the floor a little louder.

-I am leaving Detective, see you tomorrow.

-Tomorrow George, William replied before the young man left the suite.

He heard Julia to lock when their friend had left and she walked over to him gently.

-Julia? How are you?

-It will alright, she replied in a whisper, laying her hand on that of her husband, it's nothing serious, do not worry.

-I'm so sorry I ...

-Stop apologizing, tenderly cut the young woman, placing her forefinger on her husband's lips to cut, it was an accident. And you, how are you doing?

-Well, George treated me.

-That's what I see. He helped to change you.

-But he is not as talented as you.

Julia laughed softly to look at him a little and touch his lips with hers.

-Really? She whispered. You see me happy to know that you like me whatsoever that takes care of you.

She placed her lips against her husband and they shared a tender kiss, not caring that their injured lips touch. William then put his hand on Julia, in a jump, she departed from him with a groan.

-My arm hurts me, she said in one breath, it is best not to ...

-I sleep on the sofa tonight.

-No William, that's not what I meant, I ...

-It's better that way, he said in a tone more hard walked away from her to get around and reach the bedroom with a firm step.

Julia watched him go in silence, frowning. It was obvious that something was wrong with her husband and she knew that all her attempts to comfort him do not change anything, he felt guilty. She saw him walk away with slow steps toward the bathroom and she decided to stop it, they had to talk.

-William, she threw, what's happening? I said that you had not done anything to hurt me, I said you're not responsible, you do not have to feel guilty.

-I am, the young man muttered under his breath, I am guilty Julia. If I had not been to this intervention that day, I have not lost sight, if I had more thoughtful, none of this would have happened. Everything would still like before, while there, nothing will ever be.

-You are making progress, you have told me when you ...

-I have lied to you, gave William turned to her fiercely, I lie to you Julia, every day.

-But why?

-Because you think I am still the man you married, you think I can still watch over you and protect you, but I'm not this man anymore Julia and it is time that you know. I'm not the only one to be blind, you're too and you have to see the reality.

Julia stood there a moment, wondering what had happened the day before, from the time that William had held her in his arms and covered with kisses, and this time, the one where he repulsed.

-Do not do that, she murmured, clenching her fists, do not push me.

-Because usually it is you who has that role?

-How can you tell me that?

-Do you want to live with a cripple? William continued ignoring her remark. You deserve a hundred times better. A hundred times better than me.

-I love you William, Julia threw angrily, I love you no matter what happens, you're my husband. And we have suffered enough in the past for that I give to you today.

-And what if all these past events were simply signs that we have nothing to do together?

-Do you hear yourself? Julia retorted. Do you realize what you say? These events have reinforced our love, we realized how lucky we were to be together, nothing was stronger than this special link between us. You'll never change what's between us.

She approached him to caress his cheek but William pulled back immediately.

-I can not see you Julia, he muttered, I can not touch you without hurting you, then why bother? I miss your smile, your eyes. Why continue if we know we hurt ourself?

-I love you, murmured the young woman to tears, that is why continue.

-And it's because I love you too, I decided to go for some time.

-WHAT?

-I will leave some time, repeated softly William, alone.

-Alone? And how could you live alone? And where do you live?

-At our house.

-William, it is not over, this is completely ...

-Idiot, I know, he said bitterly, but you know as well as I, that I am an idiot.

-What happened to you? Why are you acting of sorts?

-I told you, I've changed, said William bypassing her to approach to the living room again and take his jacket that was on the edge of the sofa, I'll ask George to go get some clothes.

-And you gonna leave now? As night falls? We have not finished talking.

-The night is at every moment for me Julia, William replied as he walked toward the door, and I believe that there is nothing more to say. Give me some time.

-Do not leave, Julia threw on his heels, does not cross this door William, added the young woman angrily, you have no right to leave me alone, you do not have the right to abandon me, you do not have the right to break my heart like you do. William if you love me, do not do that.

-You have no idea how much I love you.

-But you want at all costs to impose us to be unhappy? Julia continued feeling the tears running down her cheeks. Why do you want at all costs to be unhappy William? Why do you refuse to accept the truth? Without you I do not live, I thought it was the same for you, in my heart I know, despite all that has happened between us, I know I'm right. I know we can not live away from each other, so do not condemn us. I beg you, do not reject me.

He did not answer, firmly shaking his fists. He had no answers, he did not know why he could not be happy, why so much love could make him so bad and good at a time. He was convinced that he could never give her the happiness she deserved. He loved the fact that his body himself suffered when he was not with her, but he had made a choice. He had to leave now, before it's too late, before he turns to her and that he would take her in his arms, squeezing with all his strength against him and whispering in her ear that he would never leave her a second . That she was everything to him.

-I'm sorry, he said in one breath, I need time to rebuild myself, respect my choice.

She looked at him open the door and leave the apartment without a word. She stood there, motionless feeling her breath catch and her heart pounding in her chest. She felt dizzy paralyze locally, nausea. Her eyes fell on a bouquet of roses on the nearest piece of furniture, and she immediately grabbed it and send it against the door. She heard the vase shatter into thousands of pieces, she looked at the water run on the carpet and the flowers fall to the floor. Then, leave William, she thought angrily, leave and did not return. I do not need you, I do not need you, she repeated in her head and wept a little knowing that it was the biggest lie she had never said.


To be continued...