Chapter 21

Laura

I gave Adlan a brief history of everything about my past, from my dad leaving us when Christian was just a baby to mom falling into depression and pining after him like a lovesick puppy even though she had two young children to take care of, her being diagnosed with cancer and later passing on when I was 15.

I didn't tell him about paying my brother's debts, though. That would only make him fault him more and if our relationship was going to be a long-term thing, I wanted him and my brother to be on good terms.

Adlan stared at me for a few seconds, digesting everything. He took a step closer to my bedside and bent down to hug me, his strong arms wrapping around me and providing comfort to me even though I never knew I needed it.

“I'm sorry you had to go through all that. I can't imagine what it must have been like for you at such a young age,"

I was shocked nobody had ever felt sorry for me.

At a young age, I had to step up where my mother couldn't. Way before she fell sick I had been the one cleaning after my brother, taking care of him and getting most of the house chores done. Nobody ever saw the little girl who just wanted her mom to smile and hug her once in a while. All they saw was a strong and hardworking daughter who loved her family. It was a surreal feeling.

"Christian thinks he will find Dad and everything's going to be okay again, but he doesn't know what we had to go through to get through the separation.”

What I meant was, What I had to go through.

Adlan nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful like he could tell what I wanted to say but didn't. "Do you want to find your dad though? Despite everything? Because I will help if that's what you want."

I thought about it.

I had already lived more than half my life without my biological dad or any male figure to even stand in for him. I was tired of all the wondering, the pain of being abandoned, but if given the chance, would I want to know him? To see him?

I shook my head, "Not really, maybe I could revisit this conversation later, but no. Besides it's not like I can stop Christian from looking for him."

"Do you want me to talk to Christian for you?" He asked me, eyes boring into mine.

"No, it's fine. He may not even find him, and all this worry would have been for nothing," I said, biting my lip, actual worry gnawing at my insides.

He listened to me intently, eyes watching my every expression and movement, and despite the severity of the situation, it made me happy that he always made an effort to understand me, to look deeper than the surface smiles.

The moment didn't last long, though, as Christian burst into the room in a wheelchair with Stephie right behind. I knew from the look Adlan threw me that we would be revisiting this conversation, but God! So much had happened in one night.

"Laura! You're awake!"

He noticed Adlan sitting on my bed immediately, scrunching up his face. He asked, "Who are you?"

I answered, "Meet my boyfriend, Adlan."

His jaw goes slack. "You complained about me being in a relationship without telling you, and you did the same thing?"

I cocked my head, hmm... Now that I think about it, we really did the same thing. Guess we really are siblings.

The room was quiet for a bit, three of us wary of what to say to each other and Stephie just standing there awkwardly, probably regretting dating my brother.

Then I broke the silence.

"Where's the doctor? Can I go home now?" I turned to Adlan, imploring him with my eyes. I hated hospitals. They reminded me of all the times I had to come to visit Mom in the hospital, smelling of death and antiseptic.

"I'll get the doctor,” Stephie answered, her voice tiny and steps unsure as she stepped out of the room.

Leaving the three of us to stew in uncomfortable silence.

A few minutes later, after I had engaged in a lovely conversation with my brother about his girlfriend and Adlan managed not to scorch Christian from where he sat with his eyeballs, all three of us doing everything but addressing the elephant in the room, a different doctor finally came in and discharged me.

Adlan

I rolled Laura's wheelchair to the car, my mind was torn in different directions about Laura and her past, about my dad and brother, who I hadn't heard from in forever.

I made a move to go round the car, but she placed a hand on my arm, stopping my movement. I turned to her, confused. She cocks an eyebrow at me, "Have you apologized to the kind doctor?"

I scrubbed my hands down my face, for Fucks sake! She doesn't give a damn about my obvious mood change and just continues to stare at me hard.

I sighed and started making my way back into the hospital. The things this woman made me do! I stopped a nurse to ask about the doctor and realised I didn't even know his name. Great! Just great!

I described the man to about three different nurses before one pointed me in a direction. I got to his station, and when he looked up and saw me, he looked like he would pee himself there on the spot.

"Hey, man! Just wanted to apologise for how I reacted earlier. My priority was and always is my girl, hope no hard feelings."

I clapped him on his back so hard that he nearly toppled over with his clipboard. I walked away but not before seeing him open and close his mouth like a fish out of water, too shocked to even say a word.

That's okay, Laura said to apologize, she never said anything about making friends with the guy.