Warning: This story contains adult language, graphic violence, attempted
rape, attempted suicide, and sexually explicit themes. Reader's discretion
is advised.
Rating - R.
Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies or any of the Newsies characters. Apollonia, Giselle, Checkers, and other miscellaneous characters are all mine.
Chapter 8: The Ties That Bind Are Breaking One By One
As the days passed, Spot's physical condition worsened. His swarthy, healthy skin became ashen, giving way to a more wan and cadaverous exterior. The clear, blue color in his eyes, however, remained vibrant as always. Apollonia feared for his life as it continued to hang in the balance. She spent more time in the hospital room than in the bookstore, staying at Spot's side, praying to God in the hopes that her prayers would be answered. She hoped that God would allow her Spot to become healthy again and live the rest of their days together, but the doctor determined that Spot's injuries were rather severe and that his internal organs were seriously damaged. He did not have much longer to live. They speculated that he would live perhaps another week or so, but there were no guarantees.
He slept mostly, only waking to relieve himself or eat, which was a challenge in itself. When he did awaken Apollonia was always there, keeping his spirits up and trying to maintain optimism. Spot was extremely grateful for her being there. One day, Apollonia came to his room and encountered a different attitude.
"Spot, darling, I brought you chocolate éclair and a book of our favorite poetry. Since you like the ones in French, I'd thought you'd like to hear them. And...Spot?"
Spot didn't say anything. He just laid there, staring upward into space as if he was in deep thought. Apollonia was uncertain of his state of mind, hoping he was not becoming delusional. She gently placed her hand on his, bowing her head down in sadness. Suddenly, Spot lightly clenched her hands. As she looked up, his eyes met hers.
"How are you, baby?"
"Fine now." Apollonia said, smiling while she ran her fingers through his silky hair. He always felt better when she was around. Whether it was to brush his hair or keep him company, he valued each and every minute as if it were the last. Holding her hand, he looked directly into her eyes.
"You know, we've been through a lot taggeda and I can't imagine anything the two of us can't do. You nevah let me down, baby. I've found the sweetest days with you. I love the life we made. And I hope dat you live your life to the fullest."
"Spot, what are you saying? What are you saying to me, chere?"
"I'm saying to live your life to the fullest. Tomorrow is never promised. Just do it, baby. If not for us, then do it for me." Spot's eye contact told her that this was for real. She knew instantly that he knew that his time was running out. Although neither of them knew exactly when this would happen, it was inevitable. Spot continued to hold eye contact with her, even though she kept looking away.
"Baby, look at me. Ya gotta look at me." Unselfishly, she turned her head back to him, his hand tightly gripping hers.
"Without your touch life will be lonely, Spot."
"You will not be alone. You will NEVER be alone." Spot stressed. "As long as your love for me is in your heart, I will always be with you. Always." Apollonia looked tearfully at her love. She could not believe what was happening. She looked at her much-loved companion, constantly fighting back tears.
"Baby, your spirit has always pulled me through. You're the breath of life in me; the only one that sets me free. You have made my soul complete for all time. I can't remember any woman I trusted before you came along. It seems that I've needed you more and more through the years we've been tagedda. Every day with you has been heaven. God has truly blessed me by bringing you into my life. And I am grateful for that. I've learned what life's about by loving you, Apollonia."
Apollonia leaned forward and kissed him tenderly. "I can't leave you."
"I can't remember a time when you weren't there for me." She buried her head into his chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Spot rubbed her head slowly, trying to calm her down.
"Don't worry, my love. We'll see each udda again." He then tried to lift himself up, imploring her to kiss him. She complied with his advances without hesitation and much love.
He inhaled the scent of her hair, drawing in the perfume of her being as she wept constantly on his chest. Recollections of the past flowed through his mind. He remembered their wedding day when she stood at the alter, looking as beautiful as the day he met her, and the day after that. How ravishing she was with her hair flowing down her back beneath the sheer veil covering her head, accented with diamond-looking jewels and pearls. The satin wedding dress that she had specially made for her was graceful and elegant, wonderfully displaying the touching beauty of a bride.
He fondly remembered his buddies from Brooklyn teasing him as they said that millions of hearts throughout New York would be broken upon hearing the news of his marriage to his true love. He smiled to himself at the memory of such. Apollonia's cries were lessened as Spot's loving hands continued to lightly massage her back. She listened to his heartbeat as he recounted silently to himself one minute and verbally to her the next their past experiences and how much fun they shared together. He even remembered when Teddy Roosevelt sent them money as a wedding gift. It wasn't often one heard of a politician giving such to a former newsie. But, of course, he wasn't just a former newsie; he was Spot Conlon, leader of Brooklyn. They formed a rather special acquaintanceship during the end of the strike when he personally escorted the handsome leader back to his Brooklyn environment.
Both fell asleep in each other's arms as their dreams overtook their psyches in romantic silence.
Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies or any of the Newsies characters. Apollonia, Giselle, Checkers, and other miscellaneous characters are all mine.
Chapter 8: The Ties That Bind Are Breaking One By One
As the days passed, Spot's physical condition worsened. His swarthy, healthy skin became ashen, giving way to a more wan and cadaverous exterior. The clear, blue color in his eyes, however, remained vibrant as always. Apollonia feared for his life as it continued to hang in the balance. She spent more time in the hospital room than in the bookstore, staying at Spot's side, praying to God in the hopes that her prayers would be answered. She hoped that God would allow her Spot to become healthy again and live the rest of their days together, but the doctor determined that Spot's injuries were rather severe and that his internal organs were seriously damaged. He did not have much longer to live. They speculated that he would live perhaps another week or so, but there were no guarantees.
He slept mostly, only waking to relieve himself or eat, which was a challenge in itself. When he did awaken Apollonia was always there, keeping his spirits up and trying to maintain optimism. Spot was extremely grateful for her being there. One day, Apollonia came to his room and encountered a different attitude.
"Spot, darling, I brought you chocolate éclair and a book of our favorite poetry. Since you like the ones in French, I'd thought you'd like to hear them. And...Spot?"
Spot didn't say anything. He just laid there, staring upward into space as if he was in deep thought. Apollonia was uncertain of his state of mind, hoping he was not becoming delusional. She gently placed her hand on his, bowing her head down in sadness. Suddenly, Spot lightly clenched her hands. As she looked up, his eyes met hers.
"How are you, baby?"
"Fine now." Apollonia said, smiling while she ran her fingers through his silky hair. He always felt better when she was around. Whether it was to brush his hair or keep him company, he valued each and every minute as if it were the last. Holding her hand, he looked directly into her eyes.
"You know, we've been through a lot taggeda and I can't imagine anything the two of us can't do. You nevah let me down, baby. I've found the sweetest days with you. I love the life we made. And I hope dat you live your life to the fullest."
"Spot, what are you saying? What are you saying to me, chere?"
"I'm saying to live your life to the fullest. Tomorrow is never promised. Just do it, baby. If not for us, then do it for me." Spot's eye contact told her that this was for real. She knew instantly that he knew that his time was running out. Although neither of them knew exactly when this would happen, it was inevitable. Spot continued to hold eye contact with her, even though she kept looking away.
"Baby, look at me. Ya gotta look at me." Unselfishly, she turned her head back to him, his hand tightly gripping hers.
"Without your touch life will be lonely, Spot."
"You will not be alone. You will NEVER be alone." Spot stressed. "As long as your love for me is in your heart, I will always be with you. Always." Apollonia looked tearfully at her love. She could not believe what was happening. She looked at her much-loved companion, constantly fighting back tears.
"Baby, your spirit has always pulled me through. You're the breath of life in me; the only one that sets me free. You have made my soul complete for all time. I can't remember any woman I trusted before you came along. It seems that I've needed you more and more through the years we've been tagedda. Every day with you has been heaven. God has truly blessed me by bringing you into my life. And I am grateful for that. I've learned what life's about by loving you, Apollonia."
Apollonia leaned forward and kissed him tenderly. "I can't leave you."
"I can't remember a time when you weren't there for me." She buried her head into his chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Spot rubbed her head slowly, trying to calm her down.
"Don't worry, my love. We'll see each udda again." He then tried to lift himself up, imploring her to kiss him. She complied with his advances without hesitation and much love.
He inhaled the scent of her hair, drawing in the perfume of her being as she wept constantly on his chest. Recollections of the past flowed through his mind. He remembered their wedding day when she stood at the alter, looking as beautiful as the day he met her, and the day after that. How ravishing she was with her hair flowing down her back beneath the sheer veil covering her head, accented with diamond-looking jewels and pearls. The satin wedding dress that she had specially made for her was graceful and elegant, wonderfully displaying the touching beauty of a bride.
He fondly remembered his buddies from Brooklyn teasing him as they said that millions of hearts throughout New York would be broken upon hearing the news of his marriage to his true love. He smiled to himself at the memory of such. Apollonia's cries were lessened as Spot's loving hands continued to lightly massage her back. She listened to his heartbeat as he recounted silently to himself one minute and verbally to her the next their past experiences and how much fun they shared together. He even remembered when Teddy Roosevelt sent them money as a wedding gift. It wasn't often one heard of a politician giving such to a former newsie. But, of course, he wasn't just a former newsie; he was Spot Conlon, leader of Brooklyn. They formed a rather special acquaintanceship during the end of the strike when he personally escorted the handsome leader back to his Brooklyn environment.
Both fell asleep in each other's arms as their dreams overtook their psyches in romantic silence.
