CH:38 MET HIM (part 1)

We finally made our way to the nearest café as Eddie said that he didn't have breakfast since he was busy with something mysterious. I was walking towards the café and Eddie was holding my hand; our fingers were intertwined, it was quite comfortable and I almost forgot everything I was thinking a few minutes ago. Eddie was always there for me from past 4 years, he was like a family to me, he was my friend, brother, and a mom too sometimes, and he always consoled me and gave me strength to survive which I needed the most, he happened to me like a magic just as Mason. I still remember how I met him.

FLASHBACK

I was strolling around the pedestrian and my face was bleeding, so do my arm, it was so obvious that even the passer-by; just taking a glimpse of me can tell that I was being beaten regularly, and mercilessly. My bruises and contusions were easily visible and the limp in my leg was making it too hard to walk properly.

I somehow tried to walk so that I can go to the nearest pharmacy so that I can bring some medicine as the cut on my leg was quite deep and it needed a proper treatment, but going to a hospital was something I couldn't afford at that time, I had some money but that was taken away by my father so he can buy some alcohol, that was the moment I thought that "a person can do anything for his addiction, even if it is doing a murder ", I mockingly laughed at my thought and continued walking.

I was waiting for the light to turn green so that I can cross the road, it was already evening and the street lamps were shining brightly over my head, I held my head high to see the lamp properly admiring its shine because it was the brightest thing I've ever seen from this close. After all, we only had candles and a broken study lamp at home which provided us light. I was so busy staring at the lamp that I didn't notice when the light turned green and people started crossing the road.

"Hey the light is green now, you can cross the road." I heard a voice which made me flinch and when I looked at the owner of that voice, it was a guy looking at me with a confused expression, maybe he was the same age as me, I stepped back when I realized that he was about to put his hand on my shoulder.

"How you got these injuries?" he asked as concern was filling his eyes.

"I... I just fell... I just fell from somewhere," I replied and again stepped back as I saw his hand again coming near my face maybe to touch my wounds.

"I won't bite you, just stay still let me see them," he said as he was still concerned and before I could say anything his hand was already near my face and as soon as his hand made the contact with my injured and bruised skin, I whimpered in pain.

"I am sorry, really sorry I didn't want to hurt you. Wait, come with me my mom is a doctor she will help you with this," he said seeing my pained expression.

"No, it's okay, I'll just apply some medicine on them," I replied not wanting to become a burden.

"I don't think you can even cross the road to reach the pharmacy without tripping twice or thrice," he said giggling a bit.

He was right, it was really becoming impossible for me to walk straight because of the pain, so I ended up agreeing with him, and as soon as I nodded, he smiled at me and said, "Wait let me call a taxi."

"No, I will walk there," I said instantly hearing his words.

"Are you sure, it is past, 2 streets, even I wouldn't be able to walk there, even though I don't have any injury" he replied,

"But I don't have money for the taxi," I muttered feeling embarrassed

"No problem, I'll pay for you," he said cheerfully as he gave me a smile.

Without waiting for my answer, he called a taxi and ordered me to sit in, I quietly sat down and didn't speak any single word. It was clearly written on that guy's face that he wanted to start a conversation, but he didn't speak anything, maybe thinking that the things will become awkward.

We were finally there after a ride of 10 minutes, it was quite of a big hospital and seemed an expensive one too, I was just staring blankly when the guy spoke,"It's free for you as you are my friend." he said as he noticed the tension in my eyes.

I didn't want to go in there, thinking of the bills and stuff, but he forced me and pulled me in the elevator which directly led us to the cabin of his mother, "so do you want me to tell the truth that how you got injured but if you want you can neglect my question."

After not getting a reply from me he said, "Ok, I won't ask again." and everything again went silent, we reached the floor and he led me to his mother's cabin.

"Hey, Ed! What are you doing here?" I heard a lady who was maybe her mother as she hugged her and kissed her cheek.

"Mom! I have a friend with me he got in an accident or somewhat like that, can you please treat his wounds," he asked his mom pointing at me as she moved her eyes to me and smiled towards me and asked me to sit on the bed which was beside her.

I quietly sat down and she checked my wounds which was a bit painful as she pressed some of them too. I tried to control my tears, which were forming in my eyes. She suddenly pressed one of the old wounds and it went out of control, I suddenly closed my eyes in pain and held the nearest thing for me to control the pain and sqeezed it tightly.

"Your wounds are quite deep, wait here, let me bring my kit." she said and went to the other corner of the room and I released my hand when a hand again held my hand and said, "you can hold it, it will hurt more, so I lend you my hand for a bit so that you will feel relaxed."

The lady again came back and applied medicine on my face, which created a stinging pain, but at the same moment, a hand was caressing mine which made me relax. She stitched the wound on my leg and bandaged it, and after treating my every wound she smiled at me, "all done, my child. It will get better in a few days, but you have to take a bed rest for 3 to 4 days to get well fast." she said and caressed my hair. And that was the moment I broke down I wasn't able to control my tears, it was already many years since my mother passed and it was the first time I felt like I was being taken care, by someone. Even though tears were spilling from my eyes, a smile crept on my face.

"What happened child, are you okay? why are you crying?" she asked and I wiped my tears instantly and said, "nothing, sorry I just remembered something." I could see they were both concerned about me and it was something new for me, something so unfamiliar that I didn't knew how it felt like.

"Now you can go," the lady said and then looked at the guy named Ed, "take care of him okay." She continued.

"I will, I am leaving now. I will drop him home and will come home for dinner," he said as her mother nodded.

"Bye, mom! Love you," he said and pecked her mother's cheek and she followed the same, and suddenly she turned to me, coming near and pecked my forehead too, as she did to Ed, "get well soon child." I uncontrollably smiled and nodded my head, as slowly tears formed in my eyes.

Seeing tears in my eyes, she gently wiped them away and said, "Don't cry, it will hurt for some time, but it will end soon, okay." and passed me a smile.

I again nodded my head and that was the moment her words hit me hard and I made up my mind to become strong, she unknowingly helped me too much, she gave me a mother's love which I was craving for, she gave the strength I needed from her words.

~~~

So here this chapter ends. It will be continued in the next chapter which will be the sequel of this chapter only and will be the further story of how they become friends.

^^~ sending love to all the readers. 💙💚