Closing my eyes, I curled deeper into Reggie’s chest as I cried for everything I lost. My love, my innocence, my son, my baby, my family. I just wanted to disappear into his embrace and let the world fade away, taking me with it.
His arms tightened as my head rested against his chest, letting me hear the beat of his heart. I missed him so much. I thought of him every day. And when my nightmare became too much for me, I closed my eyes, and there he was smiling at me. Arms wide open as I ran into his embrace.
His face kept me from losing my mind all those times, and when I saw him return to me the other night, I thought I was dreaming. Then he touched me, and the darkness fell away.
I found a love for me…
Oh darling, just drive right in and follow my lead
Well, I found a girl
Beautiful and sweet
Oh, I never knew you were the someone
Waiting for me, because we were just kids when we fell in love…
I listened as he sang to me. I held him close, letting his words wash over me and purify my soul. I could hear the love and reverence in his words.
He still loved me.
Even more, if that was possible.
He was my saving grace.
My savior.
As his words faded, I could hear a pin drop in the infirmary. Looking over my shoulder, I saw that the door was open, and several of the wounded men were listening, each of them smiling.
“Didn’t know you could sing, Player,” Healer grinned.
“Shut up,” Player growled.
“I think he should try out forAmerican Idol,” Ink suggested.
“No,” Chisel said, his voice raw. “We’d have to kill that British fellow if he said anything bad. I say we sign him up forAmerica’s Got Talent.”
“Dude, that British fucker is on that show too,” Chaos sighed. “No, I say we just march into Sony Records and demand a recording contract.”
“Fuck you all,” Player said, throwing a pillow at all of them as they backed away laughing. Healer shook his head at their antics as he quietly shut the door.
Looking back at Player, I could see his reddened face. My Reggie was still the sweet bashful boy I remembered. Caressing his face, I whispered, “You can sing to me anytime.”
Fifteen
Player
Days had passed as Catarina fell into a deep depression. Nothing no one said or promised helped. According to Healer, what she was going through was expected, and it was her body’s way of processing and dealing with all the trauma she suffered.
I wasn’t so sure.
For some reason, I just knew the only way to make her better was to put our son in her arms. She still said his name at night, and it broke my heart not to be able to give her what she truly wanted.
Since the incident in the main room, she has been holed up, refusing to see anyone. I tried several times, telling her that no one thought any less of her, but she wouldn’t listen to me, not even Ari, who had taken to sitting with her when I was needed somewhere else.
Phantom, Matrix, and Sypher were working overtime to find anything that would help us get Colin back but so far, nothing.
Reaper left for Chicago shortly after the conversation he had with her in the infirmary, and when Healer released her, she went straight to our bedroom and hadn’t left.