Chapter 54
Tears
David's finger hovered over the buzzer, his mind trying to decide if this was really what he wanted to do.
Of course it is. I decided it, didn't I? And since Dorothy is… since she's gone… I have to.
Taking a deep breath, David lowered his finger. Gritting his teeth he turned on his heel and clenched his fist, trying to quench the shakes that were running up his arms, which had nothing to do with the chill of the building. Running a hand over his face David took a deep breath, closing his eyes.
I didn't exactly have the best of exits… I shouldn't do this; it wouldn't be fair for them…
Giving a faint growl of frustration, David stuck his hand into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Pulling a slip of paper out of the back, he unfolded it and stared.
It was an old photo, faded with age. He was young, eighteen, and happy. An uncharacteristic grin on his face. Hair swept back with gel, goatee slightly fainter than it was now. He was wearing his tank-top, his muscles defined from playing football at school. His arm was wrapped around the shoulders of an equal aged young woman with medium length brown hair, one side tucked behind an ear. Green eyes stared out from under a loose fringe and a shy smile was under one hand.
Lucy…
Looking at the photo, the photo David hadn't dared to look at for so long, struck hard in his heart. He continued to stare, memories flashing in his mind. The first embarrassing meeting, the first dance… the first kiss. The comfort, sleeping together… getting a job, buying a place to stay… being there when Max was born…
Unhindered and unnoticed, tears slipped out, trailing down his cheeks and dripping down to his collar.
Then he had betrayed her trust. Done the worst he could do to his wife… to his son. When Max was younger, he had read to him, read him stories. Then Max grew older… grew resentful of the father that had betrayed his mother. Max all but disappeared from David's life. The divorce, the tears, the shouting, the screaming… the pain… the rage… the horrible, horrible nightmares.
Feeling his legs growing weak, David leant against the wall, sobbing into his arm, trying to stop. But he couldn't. Far too much pain that had been kept away was hitting him with full force. Dorothy had been his anchor, had allowed him to move on, to have another chance.
"Now she's gone…" David choked to himself, his voice thick with tears and grief. "GONE!" He suddenly roared, spinning around and slamming his fist into the wall, panting, his tears running free. Before he knew it he had fallen to his knees, head lightly banging against the wall. Gritting his teeth he tried to force himself up but just couldn't do it. "…g-gone…"
"David? David, is that you?"
It felt like ice in his veins. That voice… that sweet, sweet voice… the voice he had loved. Still did love.
"Are you alright? What's wrong?"
Biting his bottom lip David slowly got to his feet, back turned to the voice. Both fists were clenched so hard his nails were cutting into his palms. He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder, forcing him to stiffen.
"Are you injured? What's wrong? Speak to me, David."
"I'm…" David forced out, refusing to turn around. "I-I'm so… so sorry…" Taking a step forward David faltered, muscles tensing as he tried to stay up. "I s-shouldn't have come here… I shouldn't have-"
The hand on his shoulder gently forced him to turn around. Not resisting, David allowed himself to be turned.
The brown hair, the green eyes… she still had one side tucked behind her ear. David starting shaking even more, blood dripping slowly to the floor from his palms. He quickly looked down. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry, Lucy, I shouldn't have… I never would have… I'm…" Feeling his knees buckle David fully expected to hit the floor an emotional wreck.
Instead, he was surprised to feel strong arms hold him up. Looking back up he saw the concern in Lucy's eyes, almost ripping a hole in his heart.
Why should she be concerned about me? What did I do to deserve that?
David's eyes moved down, watching the hand rising up and touching his cheek. Lucy wiped some tears with her thumb, the concern growing deeper.
"Do you… do you want to come inside? To talk?" Lucy asked hesitantly.
Unable to form any words, his throat closing, David could only nod.
A/N:- Thanks to Gabe's-Girl-Forever, Bookreader2010 and DARKWOLF180 for the reviews!
I appreciate this is a short chapter, but really, nothing else would fit with it, at least not the scenes I was planning on writing. They'll come next chapter.
Also, how did I do? I try my best at emotional scenes and I'm trying to get better. What do you guys think, did I succeed here? I feel like I did… but it's your opinions which matter.