He nodded and what first came into Laura's thought was Alixies~ not remembering much from her ghost life, yet she found out she'd risked her life saving him. Those unfortunate moments were clearly printed in her subconscious mind ~ shooting a questioning gaze at him, she asked.
" Have you already met Alixies ?"
His lips pursed in despair while his gaze spontaneously traveled down to his feet as the question rang in his ears.
" Not yet" Ben answered, a sigh escaping his lips as he jerked his head back up to take a glance at Laura whose expectant gaze was still fixed on him.
" Actually... I'm~ "He paused on an impulse and then continued again. " I'm here to ask for a favour..... If you don't mind." He stuttered and Laura's gaze thoughtfully scanned his with a lifted eyebrow as she straightened her back up the pillow which had supported her all along.
A sudden silence engulfed the room as she reflected on her thoughts for a while before finally speaking up to his request. Skeptically, she nodded at Ben who stayed firm in his entrenched position and not ready to budge an inch.
" Go, ahead.."
" Can you.... please .... give this to her ~ when she wakes up?" He neared her to which he handed over a white envelope to her. " She can open it only when she's really certain to find out what's in there." He added as Laura scanned at it and back at him with eyes that just screamed her curiosity. She'd wanted to ask more about it but then, she better not; a voice whispered from within her subconscious mind.
" Alright...but when will you be back?"
" I can't tell for now but maybe a year or two..... or never, I guess" He stated, his hopes disintegrated. " That's what I really deserve for what I made both your family, you, and Alixies went through these past months."
A weight settled on his heart while the words poured out of his mouth. " I don't deserve none of your forgiveness no matter what." His words made a deep impression on her ~ her heart moved over to him and tears spilled out of her eyes. She just couldn't hold back the pain which wrenched her heart, witnessing him in such sorrow.
" I agree what happened wasn't right but I never wished for this as well..." Laura expressed. " I object to this.... maybe my mum can help~ I should talk to her." She deftly reached out for her phone which laid arms reach away from her; the tears pooled up her eyes streaked down her cheek of which she swiftly wiped off with the back of her hand.
" NO... don't~" Ben who stared from a distance instinctively grabbed it away from her on a sudden close up which brought her gaze to him. " Just let me do this... please~ That's the only way I can offload this burden of guilt eating me up." He pleaded but then Laura wasn't ready to let such happen.
The thought of being the cause of his struggle made her feel like a heartless murderer who just stared into the pleading eyes of her prey yet murdered him anyway which her heart wasn't ready to accept. She spontaneously tilted her head with a no of which he instinctively crunched before her bed as he took her hands into his.
" Please, huh?" He stuttered with eyes that seem to be pleading as well. Laura had no other choice than to let go even though she wished for the case to be called off. Hesitating for a moment, she finally agreed which brought a faint smile on his face.
" Thank you..." He mumbled as he rose to his full length. " I've got to go now... see you soon." With that, he deftly turned to his heels as he made it to the exit with Laura's gaze still tailing his every step. Just when he turned the knob, she called out to him which froze him in his tracks. Not turning, he waited for her words.
" Please.. stay healthy and come back soon." She cautioned. With a brief silence, he nodded and sauntered out without turning at her. Laura stared at his back fade out and grief hollowed her out.
Noticing Ben's exit, Mya rushed in only to meet her sister gravely drenched in tears~ the sight of her shattered sister tore her heart. Wrapping her in her arms, she hunched over her shoulder as she wailed.
" Why should things be this hard... Mya ?" She sobbed. " Why can't things just return to normal~ should all this be because of me." She buried her head in her bosom as she shuttered in tears. Mya's spirit fell, seeing Laura drown in grief and it plugged her into despair. The tears she had fought back finally got the better part of her as they trekked down her cheeks.
" Sshh..., It's okay... Laura ~ just calm down... everything is gonna be alright, I promise. " She assured, her hand gently brushed over her hairs, comforting.
**************
Stopping at Alixies' ward which was a few seconds away from Laura's, Ben held the knob, about turning it when he noticed her mother adjusting her head properly over the pillow~ her pale face just as calm as always even in her motionless state. With a kiss on her forehead, he smiled at their mother-daughter bond. Even though Delia had been discharged, yet he'd not had the courage to show his despicable face to her~ he felt so ashamed to face his mother.
Sparing them the time together, he turned back to leave but then, Lena had already taken note of him and his constant visit over the past few days got her thinking.
" Who was he ?" She thought but then, her decision to find out his identity this time around got her into action on seeing him depart from where he'd stood, staring into the room. She'd on one or two occasions seen him taking care of her daughter in her absence and wanted to thank him but always met his absence on her arrival from wherever she'd left to but not this time around.
" I must have a word with him or meet him at least." She mumbled.
A few meters away, Ben heard a voice call from behind which brought his gaze back, making him halt in his steps~for a moment, he was surprised on realizing who it was.
" Can you spare a minute?" The familiar face queried on nearing him.
" Um.... sure~" He stuttered of which she smiled.
" Well..." She mumbled as her eyes swiftly scanned around for something unknown to him. On finding what she'd been searching for, she stated. " There... we can talk over at that seat." She pointed to a seat at a far corner along the corridor, taking the lead. With a faint smile, he nodded, tailing after her.
RUBIN'S ROOM
Locked up in his room for the past three days, Rubin just kept reflecting over Laura's words at the hospital. " Was that really the end of them?" He'd thought over and over but his heart wasn't ready to accept the fact. He just couldn't stay without her presence around~ every aspect of the house just reminded him of her, her jokes, and her laughter.
Worried by her son's sudden behaviour, Audrey kept knocking on his door from time to time to get him to come out but always had the same answer.
" Leave me alone, mum.... just want to be alone, please." He'd answered.
" But... you can't just stay in there like that~ I'm worried here, please."
" Just go, please....."
Anna who had noticed what had rather turned into a routine for the two, decided to step in ~ knowing perfectly well what the cause might be. She on the other hand had also noticed her absence but didn't know the reason behind it.
" Maybe they fought " She guessed but to solve this sudden change of his brother with just a guess game, things may rather turn messy. " Why not approach him, maybe he might listen." Her subconsciousness opted.