He was no longer the too small little boy hiding in his mother’s wardrobe listening to the damage his father’s fists did to his beautiful mother’s face. This time he was a man, and he would protect the woman he loved.
The tears were cathartic.
They were real.
They were energising and exhausting all at the same time.
Elijah watched as the world lit up behind the dark motel curtains, the sun coming back into view and igniting the day with light. He watched it and his body slid sideways until he was lying down on the floor, one arm outstretched and the other curled under his head, like he had done as a little boy so many years ago.
And then he slept.
Chapter Thirty-Nine.
Elijah
When Elijah woke it was late afternoon.
He roused slowly. The world came back into view one small fragment at a time. He blinked, his gaze travelling across the musty motel carpet, taking in its patterns and colors. He let out a shaky breath, feeling the salty tears long since dried on his skin. He blinked, sluggishly, as sound returned to him.
Cars outside. Voices. Laughter. A bird. A dog somewhere in the distance. A baby crying next door. His own heartbeat.
Thud, thud, thud.
Elijah slowly sat up, his back aching from laying down on the floor. He wondered what time it was and he lifted his arm up to look at his watch. It took almost a minute for him to register that it was almost four o’clock in the afternoon.
“Shit, shit!” Elijah stumbled to his feet and ran to the door. “Shit!” he cursed loudly as he flung it open and realised that he wasn’t wearing any socks or shoes. He slammed the door shut and turned back around, his eyes widening for a moment as he took in the destruction he had caused the previous night.
Elijah staggered across the room to the broken drawers, all of which were flung open and hanging at precarious angles. He grabbed the unopened packet of socks he’d previously bought and tore them open. He grabbed a pair out, dropping the others to the floor, and hopped around on one foot as he slid his foot into the black material, all the while looking around frantically for his shoes.
He pushed open the door to the bathroom, finding them with his dirty underwear. He grabbed them and, clutching them in his hand, sprinted back across the small bedroom to the door. Elijah flung the door back open and at the last second grabbed his jacket, hung on the back of the door. He slammed the door shut, leaving the “do not disturb” sign dangling, and he sprinted to his car.
He wanted to speak to the waitress that Paul had mentioned and then try to see Delores again before the busy visiting period was over. He needed proof of his suspicions before he accused Michael. Or better yet: real evidence that would make it so that Paul could arrest Michael.
Elijah hit the button to unlock his car as he neared it, dropped his shoes in the ground and slid his feet in before he threw open the door. He thrust the key into the ignition and reversed out of the parking lot in a scream of tire and dust.
Today was hotter than yesterday, which was hotter than the day before that. He cranked open a window as he drove towards the hospital, grateful for the slap of warm air across his neck and face. The sun was still heavy in the sky, and he squinted against the brightness. Elijah leaned over and fumbled around in the glove box for the sunglasses he’d brought with him. His car slowly veered across to the other side of the road. A horn honked and Elijah sat up straight, the horn blasting again and forcing Elijah to look towards the other car as it passed him.
Elijah’s gaze met with Michael’s and for a second neither man did anything. Both continued to drive in their separate directions, leading to separate destinations, wondering over the other.
“Shit,” Elijah cursed again, watching Michael’s car in his rear-view mirror, and praying that he hadn’t recognised him.
Seconds went by, five, ten, fifteen.
It was Michael who turned the wheel of his car first. Slamming his brakes on, and swerving to do a full U-turn in the middle of the quiet intersection.
“Shit!” Elijah cursed as he watched the whole scene unfolding.
He continued to drive towards the hospital, with no idea what to say to Michael when he got there. There wasn’t a chance in hell he was going to get in to see Delores now Michael knew he was in town, but of course he had to try.
Elijah pulled into the hospital parking lot before driving to the far end and pulling into a spot. Moments passed before Michael pulled up next to him, his car parked at an awkward angle. His door flew open and Michael got out, his expression furious. Elijah took a calming breath before opening his door. One leg swung out, his foot hitting the asphalt as he readied himself to stand, but Michael gripped him by the collar of his inside out shirt and began to drag him from the car.
“This is all your fault!” Michael yelled at Elijah as he threw him to the ground and kicked him in the ribs.
Elijah rolled away as Michael swung his leg again, his breath catching in his throat as pain shot through his side. He clambered up to his knees as Michael ran at him, and he bent at the waist. Elijah grabbed the other man, pushing him backwards until both of them fell, with Elijah on top of Michael.
Michael bucked, and pushed Elijah off him. He clambered up to his knees and pinned Elijah to the ground and began punching him in the face. The sting of knuckles on jaw was painful to both of them, the slap of fist upon skin echoing across the busy parking lot. Three hits in and Elijah managed to dodge one of the punches. Michael let out a roar of pain as his fist pounded into the ground.
Elijah threw the other man off him and stood up, several cuts weeping red blood down his face. Michael lay on his side, clutching his broken hand. His anger at Elijah was momentarily forgotten because of his own pain.
