My gaze dropped to the spot where my heart sat, its beat a silent tune urging me to calm down. And I did. Leaning back with my hands crossed over my chest, I gradually sank, inch by inch, letting my breathing slow to gentle exhales until I laid flat at the bottom of my watery grave, until small bubbles swirled up from my nose to the surface, until nothing but a soft echo of my waning breath filled my ears, until my vision faded, until silence descended.
“Gianna, Jesus!”
Rough hands grabbed me, yanking me up, holding me tight to a hard chest before a thick towel, warm and furry covered my shaking body. I felt my body being lifted, the air in my lungs stuttering, the blood in my veins a pounding rush to my brain, my vision fading once more. Then nothing.
“Gianna?” the whisper penetrated the stillness in my head, the silence I’d craved for so long. Slowly, I opened my eyes. They felt heavy, languid, an effort to lift the lids. “Hey, sweetheart.” I blinked then focused as Julian’s face drifted into sight. “There she is.” His smile was the sweetest welcome in a long while. “How are you feeling?”
“W-what...” the word stuck in my throat, my mouth felt dry.
“Here.” He slid a hand under my head and lifted slightly. “Drink.” He held a straw to my mouth, and I pulled.
The heavenly tasted of apple juice filled my tastebuds and I greedily drank until the straw gurgled at the bottom of the glass. When I was done, he set my head back on the pillow and wiped my mouth with a napkin.
“What happened?” I glanced around, glad I was lying on my bed tucked under the covers with Julian sitting beside my prone body.
His smile faded into a solemn countenance. “You tried to drown yourself in the tub.”
I should’ve been shocked, but I wasn’t. Considering what my heart had been through lately, I guess something like that was inevitable.
“Why, Gianna?” Julian brushed the back of his hand down my cheek.
I looked at him for a moment before shifting my gaze to the window. “Someone once told me that sometimes what you see doesn’t exist and sometimes what does exist, you don’t see. I didn’t understand what it meant then, now I do.” I looked at Julian once more. “Why did you save me?”
He stood and stared down at me for a long moment before smiling. “Because I promised your mom that I would do everything I can to keep you safe. It’s a promise I’ll keep until I die.”
His words were like a glimmer in the dark, hope on the horizon. One I didn’t want to cling to, just yet because oddly, I feared my journey hadn’t ended, it was about to begin. “Where’s my father,” I asked, remembering that I was still in his home.
“He’s walking the doctor out.” Julian leaned forward and pulled the blanket up to my chin. “Rest now. I’m going to fetch you something to eat, okay?” I nodded.
As he walked away, I stopped him. “Julian?” When he turned, I smiled. “Thank you for saving me.” He winked and walked out.
Turning on my side, I stared out the window, wondering what fate, if it had saved me this time, planned for my future. For now, though, I just wanted to be left alone.
23
Gianna (18 years)
