Michelle looked over and could see that Tony was shaking a little and
starting to sweat. His eyes kept opening and shutting. She couldn't tell
if it was all because of the pain he was feeling or because he was so
tired, maybe it was a little of both. She pulled the car over to the side
of the road. Tony perked up a little, "what are we doing?"
Michelle leaned down the side of his seat and started adjusting it back. "I want to put your seat back so that you will be a little more comfortable, maybe you will even sleep a little on the way." She grabbed a bottle of water from the backseat. "Here Tony, please just have a couple of mouthfuls of this for me."
Tony finished off half the bottle in one go, he was so thirsty. He just watched Michelle as she adjusted his seat and redid his belt up for him. She was doting over him and he loved it. He felt so guilty but nothing felt better in the world than Michelle giving him a little special attention. He knew he surely didn't deserve it though after the way he had just acted.
"I'm ok Michelle. Why are you being so kind to me after what just happened?"
"Just because of what happened doesn't mean all of a sudden I stop caring for you Tony. All I can care about right now is making sure you get that looked at and are ok."
For the hundredth time that night Michelle had said something else that blew Tony away. He found it hard comprehending what a heart of gold she had. "But Chelle, you just told me that I am breaking your heart. I don't deserve you to be looking out for me like this."
"So.....that's my heart, and that's my problem. No matter how little you think of me Tony.....I know how I feel about you and I don't like seeing you hurt. I mean as if I was just going to leave you there! Can't you just let me help you without questioning my motives?"
Michelle started driving again. "I'm not questioning your motives Chelle, it's just that I keep completely screwing everything up and yet you continue to do the right thing by me. I don't think little of you Michelle, I think the world of you." Just as he was finishing his sentence he accidentally moved his foot and he felt the sharpest pain shoot through it. "Ahh Shit, OH MY GOD!!" He groaned and clenched his fists whilst closing his eyes tightly.
They were very close to the hospital but she just pulled to the side again and pulled the hand brake. Tony was moving his head from side to side and breathing really heavily.
Michelle leaned over to Tony and he stopped moving his head and looked at her. She could see how watery his eyes were. She stroked his hair and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Tony, let's just worry about getting you looked after right now. We have all the time in the world to sort 'us' out – but right now I want you to please stop stressing and worrying and just concentrate on you.....ok?"
Tony took her hand in his and nodded his head. He had a very firm grip on her. Michelle offered him a soothing smile and then started to drive again. Within a minute she was pulling into the hospital. She told Tony to wait in the car till she went and got some help.
After going inside and asking for help, Michelle came back and opened Tony's door. "Someone is going to be here in a second to take you inside, ok? How are you feeling?"
Tony didn't care about his foot, he only cared about Michelle. He felt truly upset for everything that had happened between them. He had really realized just how special Michelle was and nothing scared him more than thinking of not having her as his girl by his side. He stroked her arm and a couple of the tears in his eyes started to slowly make their way down his check. "I'm sorry I've screwed up Chelle. God I am so sorry....."
The medic arrived at the door behind Michelle ready to help. Michelle leaned in closer to Tony and put her hand near his mouth to stop him talking, "Shhh it's ok, come on sweetie, we need to get you inside."
The medic was a huge guy and he basically just picked Tony up and put him into the wheelchair. They went inside where the hospital was so quiet and empty. It was after 5 in the morning. Tony was taken straight into the care room and introduced to a doctor who began examining his wound. Tony looked over at Michelle who looked so tired she could barely stand straight. It made him think of a time when he was with Nina and he had broken a rib playing touch football. He had been taken to hospital and the coach called Nina to tell her what happened. She took 3 hours to even get to the hospital and when she finally came she yelled at him for stuffing up her afternoon with her friends. She threw an overnight bag at him and left. She never came back to see him, he had made his on way home the next day and just caught up with her at work a few days later. He remembered how guilty he had felt then for upsetting Nina so bad and for being such a pain in the arse. Looking at Michelle he just couldn't understand for the life of him what she was still doing there. Not only had he been an arsehole for like a week straight now, and she had said how much he was hurting her, yet here she was still standing by his side to make sure he was ok. Tony couldn't remember a time that he had been angrier with himself than he was right now. After a round of x-rays and what felt like hours of watching the doctor look at his foot, he finally told Tony and Michelle what he was going to do.
"Tony, there is no actual damage as far as a break or spraining your ankle, which is good – you are lucky. This stick though has cut through extremely deep and unfortunately left lots and lots of little splinters inside the wound. That's why you are in so much pain, every time you move a splinter would be jabbing you straight into the flesh and tearing the cut a little more. I am going to have to put you under a general to clean the wound out properly and then I will need to do a couple layers of stitches. I'll need to keep you in hospital for the day and have you keep quiet for a few days on it, but after that you should be fine."
"You don't understand doctor, I can't have an operation now. I just can't. I've got work...." Tony could feel his stomach turning into knots, this was the last thing he expected he was going to have to go through. He had never had an operation before and if he was honest....it scared the hell out of him.
"Mr. Almeida, you don't really have an option here, if you don't have this done you will end up with serious infections and the wound will never heal properly. It is just a small operation, you will be fine. We will head into surgery soon, in the mean time I'll have the nurses get you ready and give you a pre-med to calm your nerves."
Tony was given an injection almost immediately that would calm his nerves and almost put him into a dream like state. A nurse then wheeled Tony up to the next floor asking him a million questions along the way. Michelle was always just one step behind. After what seemed like forever but was only actually 7 or 8 minutes Tony and Michelle were finally left alone. Tony was lying flat on his back in a bed and Michelle pulled up a chair next to him.
"Michelle you can go home. I'll be fine from here." Tony knew he sounded harsh, it was intended for himself but instead he aimed it at her.
"I'm not leaving you Tony. You are about to have surgery. Can I get you something? Are you warm enough?"
"WHAT?!? What the hell is the matter with you Chelle? Why are you treating me like this? I don't deserve it. You should be hating me right now, you shouldn't care how bloody warm I am." Tony was really sniping at her – maybe the injection was starting to hit him, he was surprised at his own words.
"Obviously there is lots the matter with me....I'm picking that up clear this week! Either way, of course you deserve to have someone with you through all this."
"Why? Nobody else has ever given a damn before, why the hell should you start now? I should be on my own, not pissing anyone off. God Michelle, not even my ex-girlfriend stayed at the hospital with me over more serious crap than this."
Michelle was surprised to see Tony so angry and direct. She figured the injection was at least some of the reason. "Which ex-girlfriend?.....Nina?"
"Yes Nina. At least she knew when I was worth the time or not." Tony knew that was a low blow but he continued anyway.... "I broke a rib in football and was injured and taken to hospital. She was so pissed at me because she had to leave her friends when they were hanging out to bring me an overnight bag. She never stayed with me, but I understood....she thought I was useless when I was sick and she was angry with me for ruining her day. That made sense to me...the way you are acting doesn't Michelle."
"Oh My God Tony – listen to yourself. Nina was one messed up bitch. I can't believe you would be with someone who treated you like that. She was angry with you because you were hurt??!? She told you that you were useless when you were sick?!?! What kind of horrible person says that to someone Tony? I just can't believe it."
"Well, it's true Michelle and that's how lots of people would be. You have acted like you care more about me than anyone ever in my life besides my family."
Michelle stood up and walked over to Tony. She began stroking his hair. "Tony yes lots of people are like that but you don't deserve to be around them. You are so defensive to me, because you would feel more comfortable if I started treating you like crap, but I am not going to do that. I'll treat you the way I think you deserve. You have no idea just how special you are Tony, but I do and I'm going to keep reminding you until you realize it yourself. So you can keep yelling at me, do what ever you have to do but for once you are not going to go through something alone. Whether you want to admit it to me or not, I know you must be a bit nervous and scared – anyone would be. I know you are angry with me, so you don't even have to talk to me....I'll just be here. I am going to hold your hand though, and if you would like – then when you feel pain or nervous if you want you can give it a bit of a squeeze and then you will know you are not alone."
Michelle sat down again but this time took her hand and put it inside Tony's. She turned her head away a little so that they didn't have to look directly each other. Tony lay there completely dumbfounded by Michelle. Nobody had ever been so kind and loving to him in his entire life....NO ONE. He didn't know how to feel, what to say or what to think. He did know that for the first time in a long time he felt warm and 'wanted'. He took Michelle's hand asked with a couple tears rolling down his cheek. "Do you really mean that Michelle? Really?"
Michelle squeezed his hand back, "Yes Tony, every word."
"Aren't you too mad to stay with me Chelle? Aren't you too tired?" Tony was now speaking in a very quiet shaky voice. Michelle had never seen him so vulnerable before.
"Everything else aside, you are still my best friend Tony. Doesn't matter how angry or upset I ever get with you, I'll never stop caring for you, or wanting you to be ok. Tell me Tony, if it was me in the hospital bed, do you think you would stay with me?"
"Of course I would. But you haven't acted like I have."
"Tony forget about everything else for a minute.......do you want me here? Don't think about all the macho stuff blah blah....do YOU want me by your side right now?"
"So, so much Chelle. I need you."
"Why are you so determined to push me away then Tony? How come you get so angry with me? Do you really believe I am going to hurt you? What have I done wrong to make you think I can't give you what you want?"
The drugs had made Tony so relaxed he would have said anything now. His body completely sunk into the bed and his eyes felt very heavy. He didn't feel nervous to say anything to Michelle at this point. "I've spent every minute of the last year falling in love with you Chelle. Do you know how hard it is to love someone and think they will never feel that way back? When you kissed me last week I actually thought for a second that just maybe you wanted me too. But the more I thought about it the more I realized that you were never going to feel the same way as me. There are so many guys who could offer you so much more than me and I can't compete with them. I tried to act to you like it was all no big deal, almost trying to convince myself that I didn't care. None of all this was about me not trusting you Chelle – what I meant was that I didn't trust or believe that my heart wasn't going to get broken. You couldn't give me what I want, because what I want is you.
As much as I have acted like a jerk all week and especially tonight, the bottom line is that I am so in love with you but I just know it's not going to work – I get so frustrated and say all the wrong things. I ruin everything before I've even given it a chance.
I'm not use to how nice you always are to me. You have been my best friend and no one has ever treated me as well as you have. Now I see how good you have been to me tonight......I don't deserve it Michelle."
Tony stopped and noticed that tears had started to roll down Michelle's cheeks. "See and now I've made you cry, how many times have I done that in the last 24 hours? You should be with someone that makes you smile Chelle."
"You have always made me smile Tony. I'm crying because I am sad to hear you speak like this Tony. You are so confident and direct at work and events it is hard for me to see this side of you. Tonight I have realized how poorly you have been treated by girlfriends in the past – you have let them beat you into believing that that is what you are worth."
"Maybe they have treated me how I deserve to be treated. I'm sorry you are seeing this side of me Chelle. This side is a much bigger part of me though than work."
"In what way?"
"Well work is work – I like what I do, most of the time. But all my life all I have wanted is to have that special person in my life....ya know, get married have kids, go traveling. All of that is who I really am."
Tony's eyes were getting so heavy he could barely keep them open now. When he looked at Michelle she looked blurry. He kept opening and shutting his eyes trying to focus on her. He couldn't feel his body at all, he felt like just a head lying on a bed. Michelle walked into the bathroom and got a damp washcloth and came back over to Tony. She stood over him and wiped his face down – it made Tony feel so good. Michelle then stroked the side of Tony's face, gently playing with his hair, she looked at him adoringly.
"Close your eyes sweetie, don't fight the drugs." A huge smile spread across Tony's face as he closed his eyes.
"What are you smiling at Tony?"
"Nothing, just you called me sweetie and it felt really nice."
"Tony you are my sweetheart. You have always treated me so well. Our emotions are all over the place in the last week and lots has happened but I'm not going to let that change everything we have had together for the last year. What you told me about how Nina acted when you were in hospital is so devastating. You have to understand how wrong that is Tony – you would never treat someone like that would you?"
"No I never would Chelle. Please don't worry about that though, I'm fine – I shouldn't have even mentioned it."
"I am worried Tony. You know when we were arguing back at your brother's house, I was so angry with you and so upset but as soon as I saw you fall and hurt yourself all of that went straight out the window. All I could think about was taking your pain away. Just now looking at you, I just want to wrap you up in my arms and hold you so tight. It makes me sick seeing you in pain. I could never leave you."
Tony opened his eyes and looked straight at Michelle. "You have no idea how much that means to me to hear you say that. You are just so special...."
Michelle gently closed over Tony's eyes. "I'm not just saying all this as your friend Tony.....I think you are the most intelligent, sweet, funny, generous, handsome and sexy man and whether you believe it or not – I know you would make me the happiest girl in the world if I had you in my life as my best friend as well as my lover....."
Tony's eyes popped open again. His smile covered his entire face. He lifted his hand up and touched her cheek and ran his finger along her lips. His hand was shaking and he was having trouble making it do what he wanted it to do and so it was kinda just flailing around in the air. "Are you saying what I think you are saying?......are you going to give things with me a go.....will you be my girl?"
Michelle took a hold of Tony's arm and held his hand. "Yes I'll be your girl.....I wish things were different, but I'm happy to do whatever I have to do for as long as I have too to prove to you that you can trust me and that I'll never break your heart. You though Tony, have to talk to me and let me know how you're feeling – always be open and honest with me."
"Chelle.....I trust you. I've never trusted anyone more. I'll always tell you how I am feeling – I love talking to you. God what I'd give to be able to stand up and hold you and kiss you right now."
Michelle bent down and lowered her head to Tony. She placed her hand on his chest and gently pressed her lips against his. Tony groaned and then put his arm around Michelle's head and pulled her in even closer. He kissed her with more force, opening her lips and pushing his tongue into her mouth. Michelle giggled a little and pulled her head back a little, but so their noses were still touching. "Tony, you are laying there basically passed out, you can't even open your eyes – yet you just put all the effort and energy in the world into that kiss!!"
"Maybe it's the drugs, but with you this close to me, I feel capable of doing anything right now." Tony gave Michelle a wink, which looked cute seeing as his eyes were already half closed. She giggled again and Tony pulled her back in to his mouth and started kissing her passionately again. His hand cupped her face and used his other hand to hold her head and run his hand through her hair.
They were interrupted by a couple of nurses who had come in to take Tony down to surgery. Michelle asked for 1 minute with him first. They stepped outside. Michelle took Tony's hand. "How you feeling?"
"So much better now....nothing could take the smile of my face!"
Michelle kissed him on the forehead, the cheek and then left a lingering one on his lips. "I'll be right here when you wake up sweetie, and you know I'll be thinking of you."
The nurses entered the room again and said they really needed to take Tony now. Michelle blew Tony a kiss as he was wheeled out of the room, she had to laugh as she watched him pretended to catch the kiss and eat it. He looked so happy, Michelle had to laugh thinking that the nurses must think he is nuts heading for surgery with such a big smile on his face.
Michelle leaned down the side of his seat and started adjusting it back. "I want to put your seat back so that you will be a little more comfortable, maybe you will even sleep a little on the way." She grabbed a bottle of water from the backseat. "Here Tony, please just have a couple of mouthfuls of this for me."
Tony finished off half the bottle in one go, he was so thirsty. He just watched Michelle as she adjusted his seat and redid his belt up for him. She was doting over him and he loved it. He felt so guilty but nothing felt better in the world than Michelle giving him a little special attention. He knew he surely didn't deserve it though after the way he had just acted.
"I'm ok Michelle. Why are you being so kind to me after what just happened?"
"Just because of what happened doesn't mean all of a sudden I stop caring for you Tony. All I can care about right now is making sure you get that looked at and are ok."
For the hundredth time that night Michelle had said something else that blew Tony away. He found it hard comprehending what a heart of gold she had. "But Chelle, you just told me that I am breaking your heart. I don't deserve you to be looking out for me like this."
"So.....that's my heart, and that's my problem. No matter how little you think of me Tony.....I know how I feel about you and I don't like seeing you hurt. I mean as if I was just going to leave you there! Can't you just let me help you without questioning my motives?"
Michelle started driving again. "I'm not questioning your motives Chelle, it's just that I keep completely screwing everything up and yet you continue to do the right thing by me. I don't think little of you Michelle, I think the world of you." Just as he was finishing his sentence he accidentally moved his foot and he felt the sharpest pain shoot through it. "Ahh Shit, OH MY GOD!!" He groaned and clenched his fists whilst closing his eyes tightly.
They were very close to the hospital but she just pulled to the side again and pulled the hand brake. Tony was moving his head from side to side and breathing really heavily.
Michelle leaned over to Tony and he stopped moving his head and looked at her. She could see how watery his eyes were. She stroked his hair and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Tony, let's just worry about getting you looked after right now. We have all the time in the world to sort 'us' out – but right now I want you to please stop stressing and worrying and just concentrate on you.....ok?"
Tony took her hand in his and nodded his head. He had a very firm grip on her. Michelle offered him a soothing smile and then started to drive again. Within a minute she was pulling into the hospital. She told Tony to wait in the car till she went and got some help.
After going inside and asking for help, Michelle came back and opened Tony's door. "Someone is going to be here in a second to take you inside, ok? How are you feeling?"
Tony didn't care about his foot, he only cared about Michelle. He felt truly upset for everything that had happened between them. He had really realized just how special Michelle was and nothing scared him more than thinking of not having her as his girl by his side. He stroked her arm and a couple of the tears in his eyes started to slowly make their way down his check. "I'm sorry I've screwed up Chelle. God I am so sorry....."
The medic arrived at the door behind Michelle ready to help. Michelle leaned in closer to Tony and put her hand near his mouth to stop him talking, "Shhh it's ok, come on sweetie, we need to get you inside."
The medic was a huge guy and he basically just picked Tony up and put him into the wheelchair. They went inside where the hospital was so quiet and empty. It was after 5 in the morning. Tony was taken straight into the care room and introduced to a doctor who began examining his wound. Tony looked over at Michelle who looked so tired she could barely stand straight. It made him think of a time when he was with Nina and he had broken a rib playing touch football. He had been taken to hospital and the coach called Nina to tell her what happened. She took 3 hours to even get to the hospital and when she finally came she yelled at him for stuffing up her afternoon with her friends. She threw an overnight bag at him and left. She never came back to see him, he had made his on way home the next day and just caught up with her at work a few days later. He remembered how guilty he had felt then for upsetting Nina so bad and for being such a pain in the arse. Looking at Michelle he just couldn't understand for the life of him what she was still doing there. Not only had he been an arsehole for like a week straight now, and she had said how much he was hurting her, yet here she was still standing by his side to make sure he was ok. Tony couldn't remember a time that he had been angrier with himself than he was right now. After a round of x-rays and what felt like hours of watching the doctor look at his foot, he finally told Tony and Michelle what he was going to do.
"Tony, there is no actual damage as far as a break or spraining your ankle, which is good – you are lucky. This stick though has cut through extremely deep and unfortunately left lots and lots of little splinters inside the wound. That's why you are in so much pain, every time you move a splinter would be jabbing you straight into the flesh and tearing the cut a little more. I am going to have to put you under a general to clean the wound out properly and then I will need to do a couple layers of stitches. I'll need to keep you in hospital for the day and have you keep quiet for a few days on it, but after that you should be fine."
"You don't understand doctor, I can't have an operation now. I just can't. I've got work...." Tony could feel his stomach turning into knots, this was the last thing he expected he was going to have to go through. He had never had an operation before and if he was honest....it scared the hell out of him.
"Mr. Almeida, you don't really have an option here, if you don't have this done you will end up with serious infections and the wound will never heal properly. It is just a small operation, you will be fine. We will head into surgery soon, in the mean time I'll have the nurses get you ready and give you a pre-med to calm your nerves."
Tony was given an injection almost immediately that would calm his nerves and almost put him into a dream like state. A nurse then wheeled Tony up to the next floor asking him a million questions along the way. Michelle was always just one step behind. After what seemed like forever but was only actually 7 or 8 minutes Tony and Michelle were finally left alone. Tony was lying flat on his back in a bed and Michelle pulled up a chair next to him.
"Michelle you can go home. I'll be fine from here." Tony knew he sounded harsh, it was intended for himself but instead he aimed it at her.
"I'm not leaving you Tony. You are about to have surgery. Can I get you something? Are you warm enough?"
"WHAT?!? What the hell is the matter with you Chelle? Why are you treating me like this? I don't deserve it. You should be hating me right now, you shouldn't care how bloody warm I am." Tony was really sniping at her – maybe the injection was starting to hit him, he was surprised at his own words.
"Obviously there is lots the matter with me....I'm picking that up clear this week! Either way, of course you deserve to have someone with you through all this."
"Why? Nobody else has ever given a damn before, why the hell should you start now? I should be on my own, not pissing anyone off. God Michelle, not even my ex-girlfriend stayed at the hospital with me over more serious crap than this."
Michelle was surprised to see Tony so angry and direct. She figured the injection was at least some of the reason. "Which ex-girlfriend?.....Nina?"
"Yes Nina. At least she knew when I was worth the time or not." Tony knew that was a low blow but he continued anyway.... "I broke a rib in football and was injured and taken to hospital. She was so pissed at me because she had to leave her friends when they were hanging out to bring me an overnight bag. She never stayed with me, but I understood....she thought I was useless when I was sick and she was angry with me for ruining her day. That made sense to me...the way you are acting doesn't Michelle."
"Oh My God Tony – listen to yourself. Nina was one messed up bitch. I can't believe you would be with someone who treated you like that. She was angry with you because you were hurt??!? She told you that you were useless when you were sick?!?! What kind of horrible person says that to someone Tony? I just can't believe it."
"Well, it's true Michelle and that's how lots of people would be. You have acted like you care more about me than anyone ever in my life besides my family."
Michelle stood up and walked over to Tony. She began stroking his hair. "Tony yes lots of people are like that but you don't deserve to be around them. You are so defensive to me, because you would feel more comfortable if I started treating you like crap, but I am not going to do that. I'll treat you the way I think you deserve. You have no idea just how special you are Tony, but I do and I'm going to keep reminding you until you realize it yourself. So you can keep yelling at me, do what ever you have to do but for once you are not going to go through something alone. Whether you want to admit it to me or not, I know you must be a bit nervous and scared – anyone would be. I know you are angry with me, so you don't even have to talk to me....I'll just be here. I am going to hold your hand though, and if you would like – then when you feel pain or nervous if you want you can give it a bit of a squeeze and then you will know you are not alone."
Michelle sat down again but this time took her hand and put it inside Tony's. She turned her head away a little so that they didn't have to look directly each other. Tony lay there completely dumbfounded by Michelle. Nobody had ever been so kind and loving to him in his entire life....NO ONE. He didn't know how to feel, what to say or what to think. He did know that for the first time in a long time he felt warm and 'wanted'. He took Michelle's hand asked with a couple tears rolling down his cheek. "Do you really mean that Michelle? Really?"
Michelle squeezed his hand back, "Yes Tony, every word."
"Aren't you too mad to stay with me Chelle? Aren't you too tired?" Tony was now speaking in a very quiet shaky voice. Michelle had never seen him so vulnerable before.
"Everything else aside, you are still my best friend Tony. Doesn't matter how angry or upset I ever get with you, I'll never stop caring for you, or wanting you to be ok. Tell me Tony, if it was me in the hospital bed, do you think you would stay with me?"
"Of course I would. But you haven't acted like I have."
"Tony forget about everything else for a minute.......do you want me here? Don't think about all the macho stuff blah blah....do YOU want me by your side right now?"
"So, so much Chelle. I need you."
"Why are you so determined to push me away then Tony? How come you get so angry with me? Do you really believe I am going to hurt you? What have I done wrong to make you think I can't give you what you want?"
The drugs had made Tony so relaxed he would have said anything now. His body completely sunk into the bed and his eyes felt very heavy. He didn't feel nervous to say anything to Michelle at this point. "I've spent every minute of the last year falling in love with you Chelle. Do you know how hard it is to love someone and think they will never feel that way back? When you kissed me last week I actually thought for a second that just maybe you wanted me too. But the more I thought about it the more I realized that you were never going to feel the same way as me. There are so many guys who could offer you so much more than me and I can't compete with them. I tried to act to you like it was all no big deal, almost trying to convince myself that I didn't care. None of all this was about me not trusting you Chelle – what I meant was that I didn't trust or believe that my heart wasn't going to get broken. You couldn't give me what I want, because what I want is you.
As much as I have acted like a jerk all week and especially tonight, the bottom line is that I am so in love with you but I just know it's not going to work – I get so frustrated and say all the wrong things. I ruin everything before I've even given it a chance.
I'm not use to how nice you always are to me. You have been my best friend and no one has ever treated me as well as you have. Now I see how good you have been to me tonight......I don't deserve it Michelle."
Tony stopped and noticed that tears had started to roll down Michelle's cheeks. "See and now I've made you cry, how many times have I done that in the last 24 hours? You should be with someone that makes you smile Chelle."
"You have always made me smile Tony. I'm crying because I am sad to hear you speak like this Tony. You are so confident and direct at work and events it is hard for me to see this side of you. Tonight I have realized how poorly you have been treated by girlfriends in the past – you have let them beat you into believing that that is what you are worth."
"Maybe they have treated me how I deserve to be treated. I'm sorry you are seeing this side of me Chelle. This side is a much bigger part of me though than work."
"In what way?"
"Well work is work – I like what I do, most of the time. But all my life all I have wanted is to have that special person in my life....ya know, get married have kids, go traveling. All of that is who I really am."
Tony's eyes were getting so heavy he could barely keep them open now. When he looked at Michelle she looked blurry. He kept opening and shutting his eyes trying to focus on her. He couldn't feel his body at all, he felt like just a head lying on a bed. Michelle walked into the bathroom and got a damp washcloth and came back over to Tony. She stood over him and wiped his face down – it made Tony feel so good. Michelle then stroked the side of Tony's face, gently playing with his hair, she looked at him adoringly.
"Close your eyes sweetie, don't fight the drugs." A huge smile spread across Tony's face as he closed his eyes.
"What are you smiling at Tony?"
"Nothing, just you called me sweetie and it felt really nice."
"Tony you are my sweetheart. You have always treated me so well. Our emotions are all over the place in the last week and lots has happened but I'm not going to let that change everything we have had together for the last year. What you told me about how Nina acted when you were in hospital is so devastating. You have to understand how wrong that is Tony – you would never treat someone like that would you?"
"No I never would Chelle. Please don't worry about that though, I'm fine – I shouldn't have even mentioned it."
"I am worried Tony. You know when we were arguing back at your brother's house, I was so angry with you and so upset but as soon as I saw you fall and hurt yourself all of that went straight out the window. All I could think about was taking your pain away. Just now looking at you, I just want to wrap you up in my arms and hold you so tight. It makes me sick seeing you in pain. I could never leave you."
Tony opened his eyes and looked straight at Michelle. "You have no idea how much that means to me to hear you say that. You are just so special...."
Michelle gently closed over Tony's eyes. "I'm not just saying all this as your friend Tony.....I think you are the most intelligent, sweet, funny, generous, handsome and sexy man and whether you believe it or not – I know you would make me the happiest girl in the world if I had you in my life as my best friend as well as my lover....."
Tony's eyes popped open again. His smile covered his entire face. He lifted his hand up and touched her cheek and ran his finger along her lips. His hand was shaking and he was having trouble making it do what he wanted it to do and so it was kinda just flailing around in the air. "Are you saying what I think you are saying?......are you going to give things with me a go.....will you be my girl?"
Michelle took a hold of Tony's arm and held his hand. "Yes I'll be your girl.....I wish things were different, but I'm happy to do whatever I have to do for as long as I have too to prove to you that you can trust me and that I'll never break your heart. You though Tony, have to talk to me and let me know how you're feeling – always be open and honest with me."
"Chelle.....I trust you. I've never trusted anyone more. I'll always tell you how I am feeling – I love talking to you. God what I'd give to be able to stand up and hold you and kiss you right now."
Michelle bent down and lowered her head to Tony. She placed her hand on his chest and gently pressed her lips against his. Tony groaned and then put his arm around Michelle's head and pulled her in even closer. He kissed her with more force, opening her lips and pushing his tongue into her mouth. Michelle giggled a little and pulled her head back a little, but so their noses were still touching. "Tony, you are laying there basically passed out, you can't even open your eyes – yet you just put all the effort and energy in the world into that kiss!!"
"Maybe it's the drugs, but with you this close to me, I feel capable of doing anything right now." Tony gave Michelle a wink, which looked cute seeing as his eyes were already half closed. She giggled again and Tony pulled her back in to his mouth and started kissing her passionately again. His hand cupped her face and used his other hand to hold her head and run his hand through her hair.
They were interrupted by a couple of nurses who had come in to take Tony down to surgery. Michelle asked for 1 minute with him first. They stepped outside. Michelle took Tony's hand. "How you feeling?"
"So much better now....nothing could take the smile of my face!"
Michelle kissed him on the forehead, the cheek and then left a lingering one on his lips. "I'll be right here when you wake up sweetie, and you know I'll be thinking of you."
The nurses entered the room again and said they really needed to take Tony now. Michelle blew Tony a kiss as he was wheeled out of the room, she had to laugh as she watched him pretended to catch the kiss and eat it. He looked so happy, Michelle had to laugh thinking that the nurses must think he is nuts heading for surgery with such a big smile on his face.
