"Craig" Alex said coming into the living room. Craig looked up and smiled at her.
"How is Ellie?" Craig asked his voice was low and he couldn't quite control the shaking.
Alex hesitated-she looked at Craig and saw something in his eyes-love? She made the decision quickly. "Ellie is fine-I have to go" Alex grabbed her jacket and walked to the door. Before leaving she looked at Craig and smiled, "Ellie wanted me to ask you to leave so don't be surprised if she snaps when she sees you"
"Alex wait" Craig shouted after her. He turned and looked at her bedroom door. He shrugged his jacket and begins to pace the hallway. "Do I go in and check on her or do I just leave?" He paused and reasoned with himself. "What sense does it make to leave? Ellie isn't well she needs someone here. Alex left-I should stay"
He took a deep breath and opened her door. Ellie was lying in bed on her side-he back turned to him. At the sound of the door closing Ellie turned around. She saw Craig and groaned, "Fuck" she hissed and turned back over.
"El" Craig started towards the bed.
"Just go Craig-I am embarrassed enough" Ellie whispered.
"No" Craig insisted, "I have something to say and you need to hear it"
Ellie turned over and looked at Craig, "What?" she asked.
"When Manny and I started again I really believed I loved her but I-" Craig trailed off not sure how to tell her. "I-I don't. I love someone else. I should have known I loved that person all along but it wasn't until tonight that I realized it"
"Wait" Ellie sat up and tried to interrupt.
"Let me finish" Craig said, "I saw you on the ground and I saw how much pain you were in I realized how much you meant to me and then I thought maybe I was the reason and I felt like-I felt like I was the worst person ever." Craig moved closer to Ellie and took her hand, "I love you El-I always will"
Ellie started to cry and couldn't quite reply. Craig sat down on the bed and ran his hands through her hair. "You don't have to say anything," he whispered. His hands traveled down her shoulder and to her arms. Ellie cringed when his hands ran down the scars on her arm. They were her confessions-confessions of a lonely life and know he would know it all. Craig leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the mouth.
"I love you Craig" Ellie said softly and lay back down. Craig moved to lie beside her on the bed. The two had no idea what the future held for them but they would find out together.