???? TWO ????
The pounding in my head started before my eyes opened, a familiar throb I’d grown numb to. But the sounds weren’t right. Not my sounds. Someone was holding my hand, too tight, too…wrong. Something was off.
Blinking against the glare, I realized it wasn’t my bed, wasn’t my room. The hand squeezing mine belonged to my mother.
“He’s awake, Anne.” Austin’s voice cut through the haze, sending a familiar shiver crawling down my spine.
“Harry, love?” Mom’s voice was laced with relief as she squeezed my hand even tighter. “Oh, thank God.”
“Mom?” I frowned, trying to pull my hand free. “What is it? Where am I? What…did something happen?”
“Oh, honey.” She sighed, her smile soft and watery. “You’re okay. You had an accident last night, but you’re okay.” She squeezed again, her nails digging into my skin. “You’re in a hospital. Okay?”
“What kind of accident?” I tried to focus, to dredge up memories, but my mind was a blank. Just…nothing.
“On your bike. But everything is fine.”
Austin loomed beside the bed, his jaw tight.
“Everything is fine because you had a knight in shining armor, right?” Sarcasm dripped from his tone, and something else…jealousy, maybe.
“Austin, please.” Mom’s voice was a warning.
“What are you saying?” I asked him, avoiding his eyes.
“A guy brought you here, a guy that saved you, apparently.” He snorted, his gaze fixed on me. “That’s what the nurses said. And he left you this.” He handed me a folded piece of paper.
“What is this?”
“Just read it.” Mom’s voice was gentle, urging me on.
Still reeling, I took the paper from Austin, my hands shaking. The room felt thick with anticipation. All eyes on me, waiting for my reaction.
The handwriting was messy, rushed, almost childish. But something about it…it felt oddly familiar, a strange tug of recognition.
The letter read:
Dear Harry,
First of all, I’m sorry.
I’m sorry you had to live through this, I’m sorry I can’t tell you everything in person, I’m sorry I didn’t see you.
I don’t know how this happened; I still don’t understand. But I have to be honest. Tonight, when you were riding your bike, I was driving recklessly, and I didn’t see you coming. For that, I’m so sorry. I slammed on the brakes, I promise I tried, but I hit you with my car. I’m so sorry I can’t even put it into words.
I couldn’t leave you there. You were bleeding, unconscious, and I thought you were going to die. So I brought you to this hospital and waited until I knew you were okay, until your mom arrived. I’m glad someone is here taking care of you.
The nurse told me your first name; I hope that doesn’t bother you.
When I knew someone was coming to stay with you, I knew I had to leave. I couldn’t face talking to someone who loves you, someone who’d blame me. I don’t want to feel any more guilty than I already do.
You seem like a good guy, Harry. And I’m so sorry.
I hope you recover fast, and I wished I could help you more. But all I can do is cover your medical expenses. I’ll pay for everything. Don’t worry about a thing.
I’m also getting you a new bike, since yours was wrecked in the accident.
I folded the letter away, my gaze sweeping around the room. A brand-new bike stood gleaming in the corner, light blue and perfect. A slow smile tugged at my lips. It was beautiful. So beautiful it made me feel…something.
Mom followed my gaze and nodded.
“It was delivered an hour ago.”
“It’s pretty.” I chuckled, the corners of my lips lifting.
“It’s a bribe, that’s what it is.” Austin scoffed, his voice tight.
I didn’t dare meet his eyes. His tone was pure vinegar, and that was never good.
I unfolded the letter again and continued reading.
I’m also leaving you some money, you can do whatever you want with it. I just hope it’s enough.
I looked up, shaking my head.
“We should definitely sue him.” Austin said, too loud.
“No.” I whispered, barely audible.
I held the letter tight, tracing the messy handwriting with my fingertips.
“No?” Austin’s voice was laced with disbelief.
“He…seems nice.” I mumbled. “I can tell.”
“He ran over you with his car.”
“But he saved me.” I whispered, the words catching in my throat. “He could have left me on the street to die, but he didn’t.”
“Harry.” Mom reached for my hand again. “He told the nurses his name was Alex Williams, and he signed that letter with an ‘L,’ looks like he’s hiding something.”
“What? No!” I gasped. “And why did you read my letter? It was for me!”
“We wanted to know what happened, baby.” Austin said, his voice softer now, as he sat beside me on the bed. His hand rested on my knee, and I instinctively flinched back.
I nodded slightly. Looking down at the letter, I sighed.
“He says in the letter that he left money too. Where is it?”
“Here.” Mom handed me a stack of bills, and I slowly counted them.
“There’s a thousand dollars here.”
“It’s not even that much money.” Austin shook his head, his jaw tight.
“He’s trying to buy your silence.” Mom added, her voice low.
I looked up at her.
“Did he really pay for the hospital bill too?”
“Yes.” Mom nodded. “All paid until the day you get discharged.”
“Wow.” I sighed, a knot forming in my stomach.
“We still could get a lot more money out of him if we file a lawsuit.” Austin’s hand on my knee brushed up and down, his touch insistent.
“But I don’t want that.” I mumbled. “He…he did more than enough. I don’t need his money.”
“Honey…” Mom started.
“It’s my final decision.”
????
The next morning, one of the doctors confirmed my CT scan showed no abnormalities and I was cleared for discharge. They changed my bandages, gave me instructions, and I was free to go.
Before leaving, Austin argued with me, refusing to take the new bike home. He didn’t want me to keep it at all.
But owning a bike meant something to me. Freedom. I rarely left the house, and having my own transportation was important.
Eventually, to avoid a scene, he agreed to bring it back with us.
I kissed him as a thank you.
But as soon as we got home, Austin went straight to the bedroom, not even glancing my way.
A knot twisted in my stomach. He was jealous.
And I knew why. He was used to being the only one, the protector, the provider. Now he felt threatened.
But Austin was my reality, the one I’d loved for years. He was the one I could never leave. He’d promised me that, since the day we met.
I didn’t understand him lately. He’d sworn to take care of me, to protect me, yet he forbade me from meeting new people, lashed out at every interaction. He didn’t trust me anymore.
It was getting harder to read him, so I kept my mouth shut, waiting for the Austin I knew to return.
Because I loved him. And he always came back. We’d been dating for six years, since high school. He was all I’d ever known.
But I couldn’t reject a gift like this, not when it meant so much to me. Even if it made Austin jealous.
And as for ‘L,’ I didn’t expect to see him again. I hadn’t even met him. But still…I wished I could remember something, anything, about him. I wanted to thank him for saving me. For not letting me die.
He was a mystery.
And Austin was here. ‘L’ was not.
“Baby, are you mad?” I asked, knocking on the bedroom door.
As I stepped inside, I saw him in bed, facing away from me.
He only huffed in response.
“Why?” I asked, slowly moving closer.
“Don’t act like you don’t know.”
“Is it because of the guy who took me to the hospital?”
“The guy who almost killed you.”
“He made up for it, he saved me.”
Austin snorted, shaking his head.
“And you keep fucking defending him.”
“I’m sorry, baby. He just…he gave me a second chance…I’m grateful for that.”
“Well, he shouldn’t have!” He screamed, sitting up, finally turning to face me. “Because you shouldn’t have been outside that late! If you had listened to me, this wouldn’t have happened! I told you, you need to stay in this house, Harry. I bought this house for you! And yet, you’re always out there, doing God knows what.”
“Oh.” I mumbled, looking down at my feet. “I was…just coming back from mom’s.”
He snorted again.
“Sure.”
“It’s true.” I dared to look up at him.
Austin shook his head, sinking back into the pillows, turning his back to me.
“Whatever, Harry, let me sleep and close the door on your way out.”
“Okay.” I said softly, knowing it was best to keep my mouth shut. Maybe even never bring up ‘L’ again.
I returned to the kitchen and opened the cabinets, searching for something to cook.
Cooking always calmed me, cleared my head. I put on Louis Tomlinson’s new album, but even the music couldn’t quiet the churning in my mind.
There was something about ‘L’ I couldn’t shake. Something beneath the surface of the letter, something I was missing.
‘L’ was a mystery.
One I really wanted to solve.