Warning. This will be heavy. If you are not comfortable please skip this. You have been warned.
Mia
I washed the small amount of blood on my palms. I washed my face too. The cold water felt good. I wanted to go back to my apartment and wear Melissa's T-shirt and sleep I was very sleepy.
James wasn't here so I decided to take a nap. I needed it.
James
This Brian William was getting on our nerves. Every person here was angry and frustrated with this nuisance of a man. But Ryan was shaking with anger. Naomi managed to calm him down, it was somewhat working.
One of our detectives, Brandon was undercover in the club and he was trying to get some evidence against Brian William. Tonight he gave us a tip. A huge drug parcel was coming in Brian's club. If he got caught red-handed court would sentence him for a long time. Then we would get enough time on our hands to make this city a better place and collect more evidence against him so that he would never breathe fresh air. He deserved to rot in prison.
So Ryan called all of us in the middle of the night. I was a little worried about leaving Mia alone at home, she had got pretty hurt this morning. I would be home as soon as possible.
We raided the club without any warrant only on the basis of the tip our detective gave us. When we reached there it was completely normal, no signs of any kind of parcel. It was like Brian William already knew that we were coming.
He smirked when the search went fruitless. He surely looked like he was hiding something. He told Ryan that we need to leave an innocent person like him alone.
"Innocent?" I scoffed.
"We need to do something about this team, he is challenging us. " I said.
"We have to gather intel on him. That's the only way we can get him." Ella suggested.
"He still owns everything except us, it's nearly impossible for us to get him." Richard contradicted.
"I mean he came to know we were coming and he hid the drugs well. The man still has power." Jules supported Richard's statement.
"Brandon, why didn't you click any photos?" Maxwell inquired.
"I tried to but a drunk man pushed me while he was trying to imitate a peacock's dance. The push broke my camera. I had to call Ryan before the situation went out of our control, well the situation still went out of control." Brandon sighed.
"It's not your fault Brandon." Riley put her hand on his shoulder to comfort him.
"What's done is done detectives, I will not tolerate his man in this city anymore. Enough is enough. We need to form a plan to get this bastard behind the bars." Ryan commanded.
"After all we don't want commissioner Brown to come and beat up Ryan now, would we?" I tried to light up the situation.
A burst of slight laughter bounced across the room, yeah that's how I prefer it. Why do my mates need to get so tense? This was better.
"But jokes aside detectives, we will get to work tomorrow first thing in the morning. Now go and get some sleep now. I'm too sleepy for this right now." I said yawning a bit.
"I'll give you your duties tomorrow morning. " Naomi said.
We saluted at our respective team members and went on our way.
I came home and just crashed on my couch before remembering I had to check up on Mia. I totally forgot about her.
I got up and reached to knock on my door when I heard a faint cry.
I slowly opened the door and saw Mia holding her necklace in her hands and sobbing quietly as if she was afraid that anyone would hear her crying.
"I'm so sorry Melissa..... I am... I really am..... I hope you forgive me....." She whispered between her cries.
"I'm a failure Melissa..... I couldn't be there when you needed me the most." She whispered.
I was stuck in my place. There was a slight pain in my chest seeing her like this. She looked so hurt, I wanted to go comfort her but I felt like I would invade her privacy. So I just stood there waiting for her to calm down a bit before I went inside.
I never thought she would do anything like what she did next. She got up and went towards my study and I saw her pick my stationery scissor. My eyes widened.
"I deserve this." She said and she raised her other hand to dig into her flesh.
I gripped her hand and stopped her from harming herself. What was she doing?????
"Mia, what are you doing, sugar?"
It seemed like she was frozen. Her hands felt so cold. It was like I was touching ice. Her eyes were wide as saucers.
I took the scissor from her hand and threw them somewhere in the study. I'll pick it up later.
"Mia, sugar are you okay?" That's a stupid question, James.
Mia tried to jerk her hands away from me but I was not having that.
I gently took her hands and intertwined my fingers with her and sat her on the bed and I sat beside her to give her some space.
I gave her a glass of water but she didn't take it. It looked like she was ashamed that I saw her doing what she did.
"Mia, can you please tell me what were you doing back there?" I asked with a gentle tone.
"I... I was punishing myself."
"You don't deserve any punishment, sugar."
"I do. It all happened because of me."
"What happened?"
She didn't reply. She just shook her head.
"It's okay, sugar. You can tell me where you are comfortable, I'm always here."
"You are not going to be here."
"Why would you say that? I'm your friend I would always stand by you." I touched her soft hands and gave them a squeeze.
She gave me a shocked expression. She was not expecting me to say that? Then I saw her eyes filled with tears but she was blinking them back rapidly.
"It's okay to cry, sugar. Your feelings need to be expressed, you can't keep it all locked up."
"Crying makes you weak, I can't afford that."
"That is completely wrong, sugar. If you cry you are strong, which means you are brave enough to understand and express your emotions and feelings. They are meant to be expressed that's why they are there don't you think?"
She shook her head. "If you show emotions people use it against you."
"Sugar, if you express your emotions regularly it will be a healthy habit and in that way, they can't be used against you."
She was thinking about something, then nodded.
"I was not killing myself, just punishing myself. I am not a quitter."
"Of course, you are not. But don't ever punish yourself. Now go and get some sleep. I need it more than you trust me."
I kissed her forehead and tucked her in.
"Where are you going?" She asked in a scared voice.
"I am in the living room, just on the couch."
"You'll leave me too?"
What is that supposed to mean? I'm just outside. Where will I sleep then?
Oh, she means that I should stay with her. I'm so stupid.
"I'll sit on this chair okay?"
"Your back will hurt."
"I will be okay, sugar. Go to sleep."
She nodded.
I removed my uniform in the bathroom and wore a black t-shirt and grey joggers and sat on the chair. This was going to be a long night.
After a few minutes, I could still feel her uneasiness.
"James..." She spoke in such a low voice I thought I was just imagining it.
"Yeah?"
"Can you come here? I'm scared."
"Of course, sugar."
I got up and slid myself beside her. I lay on my side until I couldn't take it anymore. Her anxiety wouldn't let her sleep and that won't let me sleep.
I pushed myself behind her and turned her towards me. She came closer and made herself comfortable. She had wrapped one arm around my stomach and slid one leg across mine. In turn, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her even more close.
I heard her sigh in relief and together we had a peaceful slumber without any worries of the outer world. Now, I know how wrong this might look, a new friend snuggling with me but I didn't know anything else through which I could comfort her. She was sad and I have dealt with many sad people in my life. I mean I am Sergeant, I witness death, suffering, and pain almost every day but somehow I couldn't see her cry. It was painful for me to see her holding tears from her beautiful eyes.
I thought what would have happened if I didn't come to check up on her? I shivered at the thought of it.