The familiar voices from before started arguing in Ginger's head once more. He shook his head vigorously, trying to drown them out.
***cough wheeze***
Ginger leaned back and replaced the breathing mask.
"A part of me tells me to believe you, but another part says to run and hide," Ginger said.
"Don't listen to the voices in your head," Alex said. "Listen to your heart," he said.
"What if my heart is wrong?" Ginger asked. Alex placed a hand on Ginger's heart.
"Your heart never lies," Alex said. "Listen to it instead of the anxieties and fears that reside in your head," he said.
***cough cough***
With no objections from Ginger, Alex maneuvered himself so that he sat upright against the pillows and had Ginger lean against his chest. Alex took one of Ginger's hands and slowly released his pheromones.
"Close your eyes and breathe slowly," Alex advised. Ginger's eyes closed, and his chest rose and fell as he inhaled and exhaled slowly. A few moments later, the room was filled with the sound of Ginger's soft snores.
Ginger's parents entered as the door opened. They took a closer look at the situation.
"How is he?" Lance inquired.
"He just fell asleep," Alex explained. "It took a lot of tears and convincing, but I finally understand why he was in such a deployable state," he explained.
"What exactly do you mean?" Irene inquired.
"He craves love and acceptance," Alex explained.
"But he is loved and accepted by us," Lance explained.
"He knows that," Alex pointed out. "Your love is paternal; he's craving love that only a lover or mate can give him," he explained.
Ginger's parents looked at each other, then returned their attention to Alex. Alex carefully slid out from behind Ginger and walked over to a corner of the room.
"We thought he had given up on love," Lance said as they followed him.
"Not given up; just afraid to let himself be loved," Alex said.
"Why?" his parents both asked.
"He considers himself disgusting," Alex said. "He thinks that's why all these bad things happened to him," he said.
Ginger's parents stared at Alex with shocked eyes. Alex reached into his pants pocket when his phone buzzed. He unlocked the screen and glanced at it.
"I've got to go," he said, placing the phone back in his pocket. "If Ginger wakes and becomes scared, tell him that I'll be back later," he said.
"Drive safely," Irene said. They said their goodbyes, and Alex headed home. Ginger's parents sat down in chairs and watched over their sleeping son. Irene stood up and stepped up beside her husband.
"Lance, I'm worried," Irene said.
"What about?" Lance asked.
"The fact that our son thinks he's disgusting," Irene said, sighing sadly.
Lance glanced at his wife and then at their son. "I'm worried also," he said. "I wish he would've told us how he felt," Lance said. The sound of rustling sheets ended their conversation.
"Who's there?" Ginger asked, groggily rubbing his eyes.
"It's us," his parents said as they walked up to the bed. Ginger waited to let his blurred vision clear.
"Where's Alex?" Ginger asked, glancing around the room frantically. "He was just here," he said.
"Relax, son," his father said. "He said that he'd be back later; something came up, so he had to leave," Lance said. Ginger's hazel eyes turned sad.
"Mom, dad, can I ask you something?" he asked.
Ginger's parents stepped up to the bed. "You can ask us anything," his mother said, smiling.
"Why do bad things happen to me?" Ginger asked. His parents stood there, unsure how to answer.
"What's troubling you?" his father asked.
"Alex said that he loved me," Ginger said.
"That's great," his mother said.
"He seems to care about you a lot," his father stated.
"I'm scared," Ginger admitted. "What if this is a way to lower my guard?" he asked.
"He has proved to us many times that he genuinely cares about you," his mother said.
Lance sat down beside Ginger and said, "Answer us this." "Why do you think that you're disgusting?" he asked. Ginger glanced at him, stunned.
"He told you?" Ginger asked.
"Yes, but it's only because he was worried about you," his father said.
"If I wasn't weak, maybe Thomas wouldn't have cut off our relationship," Ginger said.
"You are not weak," Lance stated. "He never truly loved you," he said. Ginger sighed in frustration.
"I don't want to be hurt again," Ginger said.
"Nobody likes being hurt," Irene said. "You just need to pick yourself up and move on," she said.
Tears brimmed Ginger's eyes. "How can I move on when my dream to be a recognized artist was just taken away from me?" he asked.
"Just try again, and keep trying until your talent is recognized," his father stated. Just as Ginger wiped away the tears, the door opened, and a nurse entered.
"Ah, you're awake," the tall, brunette woman said. "Here's your menu; check off what you want, and I'll be right back to collect it," she said. Ginger glanced over his choices and chose beef ramen noodles, peaches, and milk.
"I'm going to take a nap until the food comes," Ginger said as he laid down on his side.
***At the same time***
Alex sat in a chair in his dad's study. His dad sat at the desk while a middle-aged man dressed in a gray suit sat in a chair not far from him.
"Hello, Mr. Rivers," Alex said.
"Hello, Alex," the raven-haired man said. "How can I assist you?" he asked.
"A friend is having troubles with an ex-boyfriend," Alex said. "His health is not good, and I'm wanting to get a restraining order," he explained.
"What exactly has the ex done?" Henry asked. Alex reached into his bag and laid papers, phones, and documents on the table.
"Everything you need as evidence is there," Alex said.
"Where is your friend right now?" the lawyer asked.
"In the hospital, the last incident decreased his health," Alex stated.
"I'll talk to your friend's doctor, then get things ready," Mr. Rivers said. They all stood up, shook hands, and went their separate ways.