"I'm sorry al" she said weakly working to him.
"It's all my fault" tears ran on her cheek as she caressed his cheek. Drop felt on his face.
"I used you. I lied to you making you think I love you so that I could easily manipulate you. I knew your feelings for me and used it at my advantage. I made you empty promise and let you stay here just for my protection. I'm horrible person, how can I do this to you who did nothing put loving me?" she cried out. She hate seeing tears on her face but she couldn't help it. It has being years ago that she promise herself not to cry anymore and it was what she did but since the death of her father tears didn't stop falling. Since that day, it has being tears after tears.
"Sheryl??" a weak voice called her to her surprised. She open her eyes just for her gaze to meet his wide open eyes. He seem to not belief his eyes. She abruptly took a step back, she never thought he did wake up given the state he was in when she entered thus it gave her courage to pour her heart out, now having him awake wash off her courage.
'Did he hear me,' she worried out.
"Sheryl is it really you?" he asked with his weak voice. If it was a dream please don't wake him up. He must be in the paradise.
Sheryl got out of her stupor and closed the distance between them.
"Yeah" she caressed his cheek, "it's me" a smile appeared on her face. She was happy to see he was fine. Since his wake up, it was good sign right?
"Is that so? Then I'm happy. It seem as God answer my last prayer. He made be able to see you for the last time" he was worry Liam won't let her come near him after what happen. Seeing her there was a surprise to him.
Sheryl frown no liking his words "What non sense are you saying? You would get better soon" she said. "I even brought soup, she will drink it and get better in no time. I did it myself!" she said putting a chair in front of him before taking the bowl on the table and sat on the chair.
"Seriously?" he never knew she know her to cook.
"Don't belief me? I'm a chef if you want to know" she bragged.
"I will feed you" she uncover the bowl of soup. She suddenly paused in her movement and looked at him weary.
"Are you allowed to eat this kind of food?" she asked more to herself. She should have asked the nurse earlier. Before she could get up to go and ask her Alfred stopped her.
"I would drink it"
"Are you sure?" she was worried.
"Yeah, plus you did it yourself. I'm going to taste your food" he reassure her. Sheryl nodded and arrange him so that he would be able to eat before she start feeding him.
"How is it?" she asked after the first spoon.
"Delicious" he said to his surprise, he thought it would be horrible and he would have to pretend to like it but it really delicious. With her character he never thought she knew how to cook.
"You thought it would have been bad right?" she joked
"Of course not, how can something made by you be bad?" Sheryl laugh and they continued the small talk will she was feeding him. He didn't take much and with a couple of spoon he couldn't anymore no matter how much he force himself.
"It's okay, you don't have to finish it" she said taking notice how he was forcing himself. She placed the bowl on the table.
"I would cook you dinner if you love my cooking that lunch" she giggled.
"I would love it but I don't think the boss would allowed it" he said. It was already a miracle that she was in front of him.
"Boss? Why giving him some much respect after what he did to you? He made you…" she couldn't finish her phrase. She could just imagine how painful it was for him.
"Why shouldn't I? I was the one at fault. I betrayed him and deserved all of this but I don't regret it"
"How can you remain loyal to that monster" she sat on her chair.
"He is not that bad" he defended. He worked for Liam for years and he knows him well.
"He kill with no rumors! How can someone like that be good?"
"What about me then?" if she has such an image of the boss what about him who did the same may be more than him?
"You are an angel and he is the devil" Alfred smile at her words. Him an angel? It was a words never used to describe him, who have a pile of corpse behind him but he said nothing wish for her to keep that image of him.
Silent settle in between them, while Sheryl was trying to muster the courage in her to apologies, Alfred was simply enjoying the moment with the only woman he loved.
"Alfred, I'm sorry" she finally said, she didn't dare to look at him.
"I used you and because of me you are in such a state. Sorry, I lied to you making you believing that I loved you, I made used of you. I know it won't change something but I want you to know that I regret it." She lift her head to look at him, ready to take in the hate he must have for her at the moment but she saw nothing but adoration.
With a subtle smile on his face he said "I know. I knew it from the beginning" his words made Sheryl eyes widen. He knew, knew it all from the beginning but still he played along with her and help her even though knowing all were false, that she was using him. And that was the break point for her, silent tears ran down her cheek without her knowing.
"You're cry?" it was until he pointed it out that she notice. She stared with her shaking eyes at the man who loved her so much that he didn't mean her lies. He sacrificed himself knowing what was waiting for him.
"I'm sorry" she burst on him crying her heart out.
"You don't have to be, I choice it by myself" he wanted to caressed her head to console her but he couldn't move a limb.
"Yes I am! I seduce you, I…" Alfred let her cry still her heart contain. She must be feeling guilty for his state. His eye full of love he stare at the woman crying on him, crying for him. But it troubled him a little bit, he never thought she could cry for him at the very least sad but crying? Not impossible that wasn't her, she couldn't cry for insignificant people like him. For a man who was stupid enough to fall for her and let her used him. What cause such a change? He pondered.
Her sob finally died down and she lift her head and smile with her wet face, Alfred heard beat a bit, it was a sight to behold.
"I will make it up to you from now on and I would start by preparing you dinner. When you would be ok we would spent time together like in the past, I would make you happy I promise" she took his hand in hers and look at him with determination.
"I would love that but I don't think the boss would allow me again by your side. It is a surprise I'm still alive by now"
"Of course he would! I will make him!" she said, it would be her way to make up for what happen even if it won't change what happen.
"Even if he does…I don't think I be able to live like this, I'm not a man anymore. I…I can't live like this"
"What?"
"I'm sorry Sheryl. Even if I want to live I'm sure the boss won't aloud me. You are here now, there is no need for him to keep me alive anymore"
"But he promise…"
"That he would kill me if you don't come not that he won't kill me" she face fell, she saw the loophole. She thought coming here would have safe his life but what now? No matter what he would die?
"Don't be sad, the moment I spent with you was the best of my life and if given a second change I won't change something, if not, may be meeting you long before the boss" he said with his voice becoming smaller by the end of his sentence.
"What's wrong" she notice the change in his voice.
"The drug seem to have took effect"
"Which drug what are you talking about?"
"I asked the nurse to kill me, she injected me something. It seem to have start." His voice becoming fainter.
"Meeting you was the best thing in my life" he said closing his eyes.
"No! No!" she jet out of her seat and gently tab his cheek.
"Wake up, you can't leave me not like this" be he didn't open his eyes but he wasn't death yet she knew because of his love rising if his chest. Without thinking she scratch her lips with his and kiss him gently. She could do nothing else that that, it was her goodbye kiss. Alfred was shock by her sudden action. He timidly kiss her back, afraid she would retract but she didn't. He muster all the energy left in him to kiss her. He dreamed about countless time, having it finally happening was like dream coming true. He could die in piece now.
The movement on her lips stop and Sheryl open her eyes just to see the lifeless Alfred with his eyes close.
"Al…Al…Open your eyes please. Don't leave me, Al…" she screamed.
Before she could understand what happen she was pulled to the back, she turned and her eyes met with Liam burning once. He was furious, his nose flare and he hold her wrist with way to much force.
"What do you think you are doing?" he said
'I'm death' she thought. The last time she saw such a fury in his eyes ended with him almost assaulting her, what would happen now? Her body was trembling in fear as she stare in his red flaming eyes.