I Am Here

Leigh began acting strange towards me.

A week had passed and I’d grown much closer to my friend. He told me of his family and I told him of the one I’d had. More often than not, I would wake up beside him, and I’d turn to see the most beautiful of grins. He would take me out to nice places, and show me sights I never imagined. But God’s lookout was by far my favourite, and we would visit it frequently.

I woke up one morning to the grinning face of Leigh, his arm wound tightly around my waist. He surprised me as he pressed a kiss to my forehead. His lips, light and soft, left a tingling feeling when he pulled away and I found myself snuggling into his warm body in pure happiness.

“There’s somebody I want you to meet today,” Leigh murmured into my hair.

The shock of Leigh’s kiss hummed through my body as he slowly unwrapped me from his embrace. His bright blue eyes questioned my own, catching me off guard. We’d somehow come to an understanding, or rather, I had told him that I loved to accompany him to his favourite places. He’d stopped asking, and just taken me.

“Who is it?” I asked.

A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips and in a whirl he was throwing on some clothes and pulled me out the door.

The city.

Leigh had taken me a lot of places, but the city was not one of them. It was my guess that he thought it pointless. The city was my home, and though I might not have had the luxury to dine at the wonderful restaurants, I knew every nook and cranny.

He seemed a little fidgety, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel as he nervously peeked at me from the corner of his eye. I smiled at him reassuringly, slipping my hand onto his thigh and giving a light squeeze. I sighed happily when he relaxed and wondered who on Earth he could possibly be this nervous about.

“We’re here,” Leigh said suddenly and my gaze snapped to the window.

My brows furrowed as my eyes traced over the familiar building. I looked back at Leigh, but he was intently staring at the road, avoiding my eyes. The person he wanted me to meet was at the hospital? Were they a doctor? I chewed on my bottom lip nervously. Were they sick?

I’d never been inside the hospital before. The walls were an eerie white, as were the coats that the doctors wore. I stuck close to Leigh’s side, though I knew I shouldn’t be afraid. I just couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable beneath the stares of the patients around me. As if they blamed the dirty homeless girl for whatever sickness they had acquired. Of course, it was my mind playing games with me. I washed myself every day now.

Leigh guided me effortlessly through the dash of nurses and wandering family members, coming to a stop at an open doorway before tugging me before him. I stepped forward slowly, noting three empty cots and another fenced in a curtain.

Following behind me, Leigh tugged the curtain open and smiled warmly at the cot’s occupant. My eyes widened at the woman on the bed. At her soft blonde hair, and bright blue eyes.

“Hey mum, how are you feeling?”

Leigh’s mum smiled in greeting, but almost immediately, her eyes snapped to mine. Her smile widened, so closely resembling Leigh’s that I couldn’t help but smile back. The smell of lavenders wafted off her, drifting in and out of the air.

“You must be Grace!” She exclaimed brightly. “I’ve heard so much about you! An much prettier than he described!”

A blush stained my cheeks as I glanced in embarrassment at Leigh. He watched me unblinking. His intent gaze burrowed deep inside me but it didn’t make me uncomfortable as it probably should have. It felt warm and loving. It felt proud, as if he were showing me off.

“Thank you, mum,” I answered shyly, not knowing what else I should call her.

“No, thank you, sweetie,” she gushed. “You’ve been taking care of my Leigh pea while I’ve been away. Lord knows he’s been annoying these past weeks, worrying about me.” She shook her head. “Honey, get dear Grace a drink, would you? She looks absolutely parched.”

I was about to object. I hadn’t spoken to anyone other than Leigh in years. The very thought of it made my palms sweat, but I couldn’t object to the encouraging face he gave me as he left. I never wanted to disappoint him.

“I understand this might be overwhelming for you,” Leigh’s mum said, breaking the silence that had erupted. “But you’re the only person that can seem to put a smile on my baby’s face. He’s been so down lately.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I know,” I answered. “I know how it feels to lose somebody you love. Leigh is so amazing. He’s the kindest, most gentle person I have met. And I just want him to be happy.”

She held a hand out, waiting for me to take it. Tears sprung to my eyes as she squeezed my fingers weakly, the faint scent of her lavender aroma drifting around me in a swirl.

“Leigh pea doesn’t like to hear me talk about dying,” she continued. “But I don’t have long left. Promise me you will take care of him?”

Shock burst in my chest as I looked at the pleading woman. She barely knew me. I barely knew Leigh, and she was asking me to take care of him? Of course I knew I would fulfil her request anyway. I felt deeply for her son. The only word I could think of for it was love.

“Of course,” I answered.

She smiled. “Thank you. I want to leave him knowing that he will be happy,” she said fondly. “That he can be happy and get married, and have babies. I want grandbabies, even if I won’t be here to see them.”

An ugly sobbed escaped my lips, turning Leigh’s mum’s face to guilt. I shook my head, wiping at the tears that tickled down my face and fell to the linoleum floor. When Leigh returned I could see his mum indicate towards me, obviously not knowing what to do now. His arm wrapped around my shoulders, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered that he was there. That everything was okay.

When we left the hospital, the car was silent. The feeling was unpleasant, like a hot summers day, and you’re stuck outside in the blazing humidity of the sun. When the silence was broken, I was surprised that I was the o ne to do it.

“I like your mum,” I said quietly, though my words seemed to echo in the car.

Leigh smiled, his eyes brightening with that beautiful twinkle I loved. “She likes you too,” he commented. “Almost as much as I do.”

For the first time ever, I grinned. Though I was still upset about his mum, Leigh made me happy. The fact that he could be so strong through a time like this was heroic. I knew I wanted to keep that smile on his face and I hoped that I could.

“Well I’m glad,” I added boldly. “Because I don’t intend on going anywhere, whether you like it or not.”

Leigh shot me a Cheshire cat smile. “And whether you like it or not,” he said. “I will always be here for you too.”

At that moment, we were both completely happy. I was a normal girl and he was the boy I liked.

Neither of us noticed the shadow as it enveloped the car in darkness.