Alicia's POV
I was starting to settle into my job at the hospital lab again, the slow humming of machines, the
scent of antiseptic filling the air, the familiar sound of glass against metal. Everything was as it
had always been everyday.
But yet…my mind kept drifting.
Bryan.
It was becoming a problem. I would be labeling some samples or running tests and I would
suddenly catch myself staring blankly into space, wondering if he was okay.
I didn't expect him to be taking over my thoughts.
Maybe It was because he helped me five years ago or something else. But I couldn't just stop
thinking if he was okay.
I rubbed the back of my neck, annoyed at myself. the more I tried to shake him off my mind, I
found myself thinking about him more.
I just wanted to know if he was okay. After yesterday I didn't know if he was fine and so I
couldn't focus on anything else.
When lunch break came, I decided to step outside for some fresh air, hoping the quiet might
help clear my thoughts.
I inhaled deeply, letting the air cool me down. It was a small relief from the constant sound of
machines and voices inside.
I walked toward the edge of the courtyard and sat on a bench under the only tree that offered
shade. I closed my eyes, letting the silence around me take over.
No matter how much I tried to refocus, my thoughts kept taking me back to him. The look in his
eyes when he fainted.
I was lost in my thoughts when I noticed someone familiar, standing just across the parking lot.
Rowen.
He was standing not more than twenty feet from where I sat. He held a bouquet of flowers in
hand, with that same firm, confident smile on his face, acting like nothing had gone wrong. Like he didn't betray me five years ago, he smiled like the whole incident didn't happen five years
ago.
I froze.
Anger rising in my chest so fast it nearly showed on my face.
The audacity.
Did he really think bringing me flowers could fix what he had done to me five years ago? That
he could show up like some hero with a weak smile and expect me to fall in his arms?
His smile grew wider as he waved at me and started walking towards me hurriedly.
I turned my face away, my anger clearly showing, refusing to look at him. I'm not giving him
anything.
I didn't know when my body. I stood up from the bench and started moving. I walked straight
toward the hospital doors, anger and frustration in me.
How long had he been standing there, waiting for me?
He was Planning for that moment.
Disgusting.
Wanting to Ambush me in broad daylight like some nonsense romantic gesture. Like this was
the movie. Like what he did in the past could be wrapped in paper and forgotten over an
apology.
Let him stand out there. Let him wait.
He wouldn't get any second chance. Not from me.
My supervisor's words flashed across my mind. Telling me not to make sure whatever Rowen
was planning wouldn't repeat itself.
Whatever he was planning. I definitely do not want anything to do with it.
I wouldn't get into trouble for that liar.
But as I tried to go around the building, hoping I could avoid him, I heard his footsteps.
Familiar steps. Hurried steps.
Before I could pick up my pace or make the turn. There he was.
Rowen stepped right into my path, blocking the way.
I tried moving past him, he blocked me again. I tried again and he held his hand up, to block me
again.
I stopped moving and crossed my hands. My face twisting into anger.
Of course. Of course he would do this.
"Alicia please wait, just listen to me." Desperation filled his voice as he pleaded with me.
"Alicia, please give me another chance. Please Alicia, I would do better this time around." He
continued.
I remained in silence, looking at him with the biggest scowl on my face. I had heard enough
from him. I had given him enough chances before.
"Please Alicia, say something…please tell me you still love me, Alicia. Because I still love you."
He said.
But there was nothing left to say to him. I just want him to leave me.
I pushed hard past him. I was tired of hearing him plead.
But just as I pushed and walked past him.
His hands fell to his sides and he dropped his head.
Then he said it.
"Jane's condition has worsened. She's in a critical condition again. You're still her only match."
My breath caught.
The word hit me hard in the face, causing me to stop in my tracks.
Jane.
I had almost forgotten that name. But now the sound of it, made my anger shoot right out.
I turned slowly to face him, my expression twisted in nothing but anger.
Of course he was doing all of this.
I turned my gaze towards him, no words came out of my mouth. I didn't need to say anything.
Just a very cold glare was enough to make him swallow hard.
I wanted to make him feel the anger I carried with that look. Let him feel it. Let him feel every bit
of disgust within me.
Then I turned and walked away. This time he wasn't going to try and stop me. He didn't.
Of course He had come all this way…..or her. For Jane.
Not because he missed me.
Not because he regretted what he did.
Because he needed me again. Because he needed my blood. To use me and dump me. Again.
The hatred I felt toward him didn't soften, it only deepened.
Deeper than anger.
Deeper than the betrayal he had shown me.
It was the kind of hate born from knowing someone could betray someone and still do it again.