Ch. 7 - True Confessions
“It all started when I arrived here approximately three weeks ago,” Laura began, trying hard to remain eye contact with Sam while he grasped her hand gently.
Unable to believe what was happening, Laura began to cry, but Sam’s warm touch washed all her fears away, and she continued.
“We were given a home near the refugee hospital,” she continued. “We all picked out our rooms: me, Tessa, and our parents. Then, I heard a loud noise coming from the central room. Our dad was in the bathroom and didn’t hear it, but Tessa and I did. We ran into the room to find our mother collapsed on the floor, completely unconscious.”
Sam couldn’t believe what he was hearing. This must’ve been devastating for Laura, especially since it was recent. For her to just start talking about this…must’ve been really difficult. He thought for a minute if he was pushing her too hard, but finally decided it was the right thing for both of them.
Laura was tearing up again, but Sam kissed her forehead lightly, causing an obvious peace to overcome her.
“It’s alright. I’m here,” he said.
“I know,” she said, a smile forming. “Tessa ran to get dad, and he tried to get her to wake up. Nothing worked. We even tried throwing water on her, kind of silly I know. It didn’t accomplish anything.
“Finally, we took her to the hospital. They only allowed our dad to go in the back with her. When he eventually came out it was several hours later, and he wouldn’t tell us anything. We went home, and went to bed; nothing was said for several days. Not even so much as a “hello” or “goodnight.”
“About once a week, he was called in to check on her. He still told us nothing.”
Sam now realized it was becoming very hard for Laura to keep eye contact. He didn’t push her; he only grasped her hand closer.
“Um,” she continued, “the day that I bumped into you on the street, my dad had finally spoken to us. What he said,” Laura began tearing up again. “He said…..he said….oh Sam!” she cried, falling into his arms.
“It’s alright,” Sam said, cradling her in his warm embrace, “I’m here.”
“I know, I’m so glad, Sam. I couldn’t make it without you.” Sam smiled, and helped her back to her place across from him.
She continued, “She, she….she went into a coma.” There it’s out. I can breathe again. Oh……Sam.
Sam couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined this to come out of Laura’s mouth. He kept listening though, holding back the urge to take her in his arms. Then, she would never finish, and all his effort would’ve been for nothing.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Laura,” he said sympathetically.
“I know, me too. I came to you that day cause I knew you would be there for me. I wasn’t sure how you felt about us, and when you teased me about those boys…I….I took it seriously. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have. But….losing you? My only hope, the only one I could really go to? It just broke my heart! I love you Sam. More than I’ve ever loved anyone, I think, and I didn’t want you to go away. You scared me; I don’t want to lose you too.”
“Is she….is she?” Sam asked, cautiously.
“No, but they don’t know what’s wrong with her. My dad comes home every night in a drunken sadness, and he’s always at the hospital during the day. I really don’t know what to do anymore, Sam!”
The tears were freely falling from Laura’s watery eyes and Sam let them fall. He could not stand it any longer he brought Laura swiftly into his arms and held her for how long? No one could say, but it was what was needed, and desired.
Sam had never felt such love for someone in his life, and all he wanted to do was be her crying shoulder, and help her, and love her as she’d never been loved before.
“Oh, I love you Laura,” Sam whispered into Laura’s ear, “Thank-you for telling me.”
“Thank-you Sam,” she said gently. “You’ve given me a peace I never knew existed. Then, she kissed him and her tense fear was lifted. Afterwards she just lay in his arms for hours on end watching the blue color of the sky turn to beautiful shades of red, purple, and orange.
Unable to believe what was happening, Laura began to cry, but Sam’s warm touch washed all her fears away, and she continued.
“We were given a home near the refugee hospital,” she continued. “We all picked out our rooms: me, Tessa, and our parents. Then, I heard a loud noise coming from the central room. Our dad was in the bathroom and didn’t hear it, but Tessa and I did. We ran into the room to find our mother collapsed on the floor, completely unconscious.”
Sam couldn’t believe what he was hearing. This must’ve been devastating for Laura, especially since it was recent. For her to just start talking about this…must’ve been really difficult. He thought for a minute if he was pushing her too hard, but finally decided it was the right thing for both of them.
Laura was tearing up again, but Sam kissed her forehead lightly, causing an obvious peace to overcome her.
“It’s alright. I’m here,” he said.
“I know,” she said, a smile forming. “Tessa ran to get dad, and he tried to get her to wake up. Nothing worked. We even tried throwing water on her, kind of silly I know. It didn’t accomplish anything.
“Finally, we took her to the hospital. They only allowed our dad to go in the back with her. When he eventually came out it was several hours later, and he wouldn’t tell us anything. We went home, and went to bed; nothing was said for several days. Not even so much as a “hello” or “goodnight.”
“About once a week, he was called in to check on her. He still told us nothing.”
Sam now realized it was becoming very hard for Laura to keep eye contact. He didn’t push her; he only grasped her hand closer.
“Um,” she continued, “the day that I bumped into you on the street, my dad had finally spoken to us. What he said,” Laura began tearing up again. “He said…..he said….oh Sam!” she cried, falling into his arms.
“It’s alright,” Sam said, cradling her in his warm embrace, “I’m here.”
“I know, I’m so glad, Sam. I couldn’t make it without you.” Sam smiled, and helped her back to her place across from him.
She continued, “She, she….she went into a coma.” There it’s out. I can breathe again. Oh……Sam.
Sam couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined this to come out of Laura’s mouth. He kept listening though, holding back the urge to take her in his arms. Then, she would never finish, and all his effort would’ve been for nothing.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Laura,” he said sympathetically.
“I know, me too. I came to you that day cause I knew you would be there for me. I wasn’t sure how you felt about us, and when you teased me about those boys…I….I took it seriously. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have. But….losing you? My only hope, the only one I could really go to? It just broke my heart! I love you Sam. More than I’ve ever loved anyone, I think, and I didn’t want you to go away. You scared me; I don’t want to lose you too.”
“Is she….is she?” Sam asked, cautiously.
“No, but they don’t know what’s wrong with her. My dad comes home every night in a drunken sadness, and he’s always at the hospital during the day. I really don’t know what to do anymore, Sam!”
The tears were freely falling from Laura’s watery eyes and Sam let them fall. He could not stand it any longer he brought Laura swiftly into his arms and held her for how long? No one could say, but it was what was needed, and desired.
Sam had never felt such love for someone in his life, and all he wanted to do was be her crying shoulder, and help her, and love her as she’d never been loved before.
“Oh, I love you Laura,” Sam whispered into Laura’s ear, “Thank-you for telling me.”
“Thank-you Sam,” she said gently. “You’ve given me a peace I never knew existed. Then, she kissed him and her tense fear was lifted. Afterwards she just lay in his arms for hours on end watching the blue color of the sky turn to beautiful shades of red, purple, and orange.