Saving Grace

I stared across the room where the television was playing on mute. I wasn't watching it though.

"Amelia, please?" Nick's voice was almost begging. "Please, eat something."

I flickered my eyes down to the tray that was before me were jiggly red Jell-O sat in a small cup and a grilled cheese awaited me. I wasn't hungry though, and Nick- along with the medical staff- was getting worried.

I hadn't spoken much, not feeling any motivation. Dismissively, I turned my eyes back to the wall.

Nick sighed from the chair beside me but I ignored it.

A light knock distracted Nick from pleading for a moment though I didn't move. In my peripheral vision, I caught John's figure. Nick rose, clearly agitated by me. "Convince her to eat," he cried, exasperated as he jutted a finger at me.

He never was the most patient person...

I merely blinked and lightly moved my hand up and down my arm in attempt to rid myself of goose bumps. Nick walked out of the room to do whatever, leaving John and I. He walked over, not bothering look like he was walking on eggshells, and sat down in the chair that Nick had been sitting in.

"Not holding up so well, eh?" he asked. I didn't bother to look at him. After a moment of silence, he let out a sigh. "Amelia, starving yourself isn't going to fix anything. Nick's really worried about you, as is everyone else. Please, for our sake and for yours eat something. Even if it's just a little."

"I'm not hungry," I stated, my voice rough and cracking from lack of use.

"I don't care if you're not hungry. Eat, girly, or I'll force you to eat."

Since when had John become so pushy and demanding? "I won't be as nice about everything like Nick," he continued.

I turned and gave him the iciest glare I could manage. He returned it with an intensity that sent a little fear through me. I had never pictured John to be like this.

"You probably think I'm being insensitive but I'm doing this because I care for you. You're lucky you didn't die from internal bleeding!"

I glared at him but said nothing. We kept our gazes connected and before I gave in and turned to my food tray. John picked up my spoon after a moment of me staring at the food and held it out to me. "Are you really going to make this difficult? I'm not afraid to force feed you."

I swiped the silverware from his hand and jabbed it into the Jell-O before popping a spoonful into my mouth. "That a girl!" John said with a smile.

I scowled but ate a little more before giving up. "I can't eat anymore or I'm going to be sick," I said. "And I'm not lying either."

He leaned back in the chair with a look of satisfaction slapped across his face. It turned serious though. "Have you cried yet?"

I shook my head and looked at the television screen, not wanting to talk about it.

John didn't seem to get the hint. "Maybe you should just cry and let it all out..."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "I w-would if I could..."

I could feel his eyes on me and I felt paranoid once again, something I hadn't felt in awhile under his gaze. My fingers drummed on my thighs as I shifted carefully. Suddenly, John's hands fell over my own, stopping my fingers from tapping.

My eyes met his green ones and for the first time since he had waltzed into the room, I saw concern in them. "Everything happens for a reason, Lia," he finally said.

I shook my head in refusal and looked to the mattress.

His fingers caught my chin though and forced me to look at him. "This isn't your fault, I hope you know; there was no way that you could have done this. Bad things just happen sometimes and not necessarily to bad people."

I swallowed back the ball of emotion suddenly choking me and turned my eyes downward.

"Look at me," he whispered. I didn't move. "Amelia, look at me," John said with a little more firmness in his voice.

With tears blurring my vision, I slowly lifted my eyes to study him.

"This is not because of you," he said, his tone almost forcing me to believe him.

His thumb wiped away the moisture that was starting to spill from my eyes. I pulled away from him though and buried my face in my hands.

"Jesus, Johno! What did you do!?" Nick suddenly cried before a hand touched my shoulder. "I told you to get her to eat, not make her cry!"

"I didn't do anything wrong!" John said in his defense.

Now that tears were finally filling my eyes, I couldn't get them to stop. Sobs escaped from my lips and my shoulders shook as each one echoed through the room. I could taste the salty liquid as teardrops rolled uncontrollably down my face.

Nick rubbed small circles on the back of my shoulder as he and John argued.

Suddenly, Nick was on the bed with me, hugging me to him as I cried. John wasn't in the room anymore so I guessed that he had been asked to leave.

Tears still ran down my face though my sobs quieted after a while. Nick continued whispering reassuring words to me as my tears lulled me to sleep.