Chapter 13

Full Of Choices - Life

Stella winked her eyes twice and thrice. Edwin was shifting on his feet restlessly.

He could not wipe that smile off his face since she was fine now.

He was longing to see her ocean blues and now he'll make it a point that he brings happiness in them.

He was all set to start 'Mission Love. He will make her fall in love with him all over again.

This time it is going to be perfect!

But he was nervous as hell. It felt like he was back to college and was giving his assessments all over again, the important ones at the end of high school where your entire life depends on your performance.

She opened her eyes and he felt like he could breathe now.

For the first time in the whole day he felt as if he was alive, earlier it was such that his breathing was locked in Stella's eyes, which were closed due to her suicide attempt.

It breaks his heart all over again every time he realizes what she did to herself and he would never be able to forgive himself for that.

"Edwin" her stuttering voice reached his ears adding a cold wave to the flaming heart of his.

"Stella" he called back and both of them stared into each others eyes answering unasked questions.

He clenched her fragile palms softly confirming that he would never let her go. She was his and he was always there for her.

"You want water?" he asked and she nodded in agreement.

He lifted the jar beside her bed and filled the glass, not missing to look at her. He didn't mind the water dripping.

He couldn't miss looking at her as if she'll disappear if he took away his gaze.

He lifted her head to feed her with water. The touch was the same as if he was touching her for the first time.

He wanted to hug her tight and hide her in the crook of his neck to hide her from the pain and stress that had haunted her life.

If only he could erase the pain that she was suffering inside he would do it happily at any cost.

He too was hurting inside. It was loss of 'Their baby.

But this was a new beginning.

"Stella you look so beautiful." he said with tear filled eyes.

"Do you really think so? With my messy hair and.." she asked innocently.

He put a finger on her mouth and admitted, "Yes look with my eyes. My Stella is the most beautiful woman in the world."

"This woman is incomplete." she said avoiding eye contact.

"Not again Stella. With you and me together the world seems so full, so complete." He kissed her forehead.

"Were you at some library last night reading some chick flick novel?" Stella asked sarcastically. But her lips pursed tightly. No smile.

My last night...

How could he admit that he was stuck in a cheap hotel room with a prostitute? It'll rip her already broken heart even if he did clarify that all they did was nothing but talk about her, his and Stella's love story that is yet to be completed or there's a new beginning.

His mind now drifted to the tensed looks that the charming little girl had after the phone call but he backed it up to his Stella who has to be taught that life is worth living for.

'My love is going to teach her that.' He promised himself.

"You can take her home now" Dr Grecco who had been attending Stella said from the other edge of the bed, reading notes from the scheduler about the progress or something as filled in by nurses periodically.

"Really.. Are you sure? I can take her back. Is it okay I mean I don't want to take any chances?" Edwin couldn't control his happiness.

He wanted to take Stella back home in their room and their bed where he could cuddle her in his arms and be with her.

He had missed her so much. Though she was lying right in front of him, her attempt of suicide took miles apart from each other.

"She's perfectly alright. You can take her home, compiling to all the formalities and payments. And yes you have to come back tomorrow to collect the reports of random tests done by us." doctor explained. "she'll have to join the rehab too."

Edwin simply nodded knowing well that she was suicidal and they wanted to make sure she doesn't repeat it again

"Time to go home beautiful" he winked at Stella and rushed to finish the formalities.

By the time he returned, Stella was on her feet packing up with her teeny meeny things scattered here and there and was changed from her patients gown to the yellow dress he had brought for her when he went home to change mine. The one she was wearing was all soiled up with the blood and he would never want her to wear that again.

He picked her up bridal style, "No you are not walking." He insisted at her reluctance

"I am fine. Let me down." she rebelled.

"Not on your feet Princess." Edwin said as he took her to the carpark. The stuff could be picked up later by one of the staff and nothing was more important than Stella.

Once they reached home, Stella leapt out of the car in a rush. She did not utter a word on the ride home and now too was avoiding any sort of conversation.

It did hurt but he knew what he had planned inside would surely melt her fury.

He parked the car and sprinted after Stella to see her expression as she entered the house.

She stood still at the entrance with indecisive mind. But what he was looking for was missing.

"You are spoiled. You want me to pick me to your room too." He asked holding her waist.

"No. Thank you so much for all this." she said politely but flatly.

She walked slowly to her room stepping on the pathway of flowers with a no expression face troubling him more.

Doctor was right. She did need a rehab

She huffed her breath as she reached the room and went to the wash room to change into some comfy tee and pyjamas. She opened her hair and tied them once again. A girly gesture that she did quite often.

She was about to lie down and then

"Hey this is for you." he switched on the music system where he had already set her old time favorite "Please forgive me" by Bryan Adams. He handed her the red rose he had hidden all this while and asked, "May I have the pleasure of dance with you?"

She unwillingly took it and started dancing. After a step or two..

"Edwin I feel tired. Can I.."

"Sure love." he let her lie on the bed and got some hot soup for her to have.

"Stella please have it." he offered.

"I ain't hungry." he shifted on the other side.

"You have to. I insist." He lifted her and made her take a back rest on the bed post.

He fed her first spoon and then second, suddenly she stopped. He expected a huge breakdown from her but instead she picked the spoon from the bowl and filled it with soup and offered him to have it.

That was the only reaction he got from her since she arrived home. She was swallowing and living the same frustration that she had been through before leaving the house.

That night was quite tiring for him too and I was tired of the whole sleepless last night.

He tucked himself into the covers with her and brought her to my shoulders inhaling her scent as she snuggled her small body close to his trying to gel up into one.

It was so natural for them and within no time the two drifted to sleep.

Edwin was mentally thanking Iris for her companionship. It was only because of her that he was able to maintained his composure otherwise he would have freaked out.

It's another dready day for Iris as Jason was undressing her.

He hates to do all that and does with such force as if ready to rip them off. He cannot control the temptations and it always starts with physical violence.

She wondered how many times his ring the big one with white stone is going to hurt her.

Once she told him to remove it but the consequences was that he slapped her and said that it was his masculine thing and she was not a chooser. Slaps anyways are common when he was high.

He takes girls like her as nothing but a piece of trash but one thing he makes it a point to down couple of shots before starting up. That helps to the numbness and all is left is aftereffect. So in the present he can peacefully enjoy his abuse and his piece of pleasure. He finishes it with lot of spanking and hurting and harshness that is worst to be experienced. He was the hardest one in the circuit.

"You were good last night" he said as he threw 5 , 100 dollar bills towards her.

"Thanks" she said cheerfully hiding her pain and soreness from last night.

"Tonight at 8, Shacks and Shags bar." it was more of an order than invitation.

"I am sorrr.." she was stopped in between.

"You know I hate to be rejected." he pulled her , his nails digging into her arms hurting scorching and he smiled giving her a kiss, a long wet kiss saying 'there's no way out.'

"This club is at...." she asked directions convinced there's no rescue.

"Baker's street. It's a stripper's club. Dress well." he looked her up and down raping her again with his greedy looks.

Iris still had to dress myself.

Ugggh... few more pills and missing classes tomorrow again!

And what do I do with the soreness?' Iris couldn't help the stray tear staining her cheek.

'Time to rush now.' She pep talked herself.

She at least had some money with her. She went home to her brother.

She had picked some medicines and grocery on the way after leaving aside Brent's share of the money.

She did not want to go to the hospital to her dad how much so ever she wanted to see that man who is madly in love but won't because he makes her feel like a girl and she enjoyed that.

She expected him to be there and she wanted to be with him.

She knew his wife would also be awake by now and he'll be occupied with her so if he ignores her she had no idea how she'd feel.

Also the wounds on her neck and face were clearly visible.

What if he asks questions?

Will she be able to lie to him?

But why was she thinking about the same person again? I have forbidden myself for it." She scolded herself

"Beeep Beeep"

"Hello"

"Yes Miss Iris."

"Speaking"

"I am Dr katniss. This is regarding your father and its urgent."

"Yes sir you can speak it to me."

"There is Dr Marshal who is a very good surgeon and is in town. He is ready to take your dads surgery. So if you could deposit 10,000 $ at the hospital, we can start the surgery."

"10000$ what is the deadline?"

"By day after that is this Thursday."

"Okay I'll do that. Thank you."

"But Miss. the success of the surgery is only 50%. He may or may not recover completely."

"I would still go for it."

"Goodbye maam. Have a great day."

"Goodbye"

Iris ended up the call with a happy sigh.

But how would I arrange that much of money in such short time? was the thought clouding her mind.

I'll have to do it.

She knew if her dad recovered with that treatment there would be nothing like it otherwise she would simply be contended that at least she tried.

She had 500$ now.

Tomorrow she can earn another 500$. That makes it 1000$.

How could she multiply it by 10?

Why is life so rude to her?

'But I'll fight. I'll find a way out.' She promised herself.

She decided to quit her classes and start earning and try if she could get a job. If possible she'll talk to her customers who are happy with her to put her into some vacancy.

"Beep beeeeeeeeeeeep" her phone rang bringing a smile on her face. It's amazing what effect this lover boy has on her that she forgets all her worries and get lost in his world.

"Edwin. Relax. Calm down and speak."

"What? Now!!!"

"Okay. Don't panic. I'll be there."

Edwin woke up couple of times last night to check if Stella was fine. He loved to see her angelic face when she was sleeping. But after 4 in the morning, he slept so tight that he woke at 9 am.

The sun was shining outside. Stella wasn't besides and he got scared.

First thing he did was check the washroom and there was no sign of her. He was somehow relaxed, then in the kitchen and hall room only to hear the noise of the engine and Stella driving it out of the gates in a higher speed than normal.

"Oh shit, Oh! No Not again.

Where has she gone?

Hope she doesn't do it again.

What if she intends to?

Why did I sleep so sound?

I am such an a##h##le. I cannot take care of my own wife." He cursed himself . Thousands of negative thoughts were wrecking his brain, each concerned of her wellbeing and safety. "What will I do if she does something....?" he feared

God I am ruined!

He panicked.

Then all he could do was search the contacts and press the green button.

"IRIS Edwin. She left me. I woke up and she was all gone." he did not realize he was sobbing.

"Meet me now. At Smoke Inn's cafeteria"

"Yes now. Only you can help me. Please please please." he forced her as if she was the angel of heaven, only one who would take lead her to Stella.

He quickly dressed into my tracks and tees and rushed to the cafeteria to see Iris in same dress as yesterday. Only she looked little tired and blotchy and had covered herself, every visible part of her body with her scarf, which she always carries in her bag.

He was too stressed to greet her. He went to sit besides her and she sympathetically looked back at him.

"She left me and went." He said in one breath referring to Stella.

"Where did she go?" She asked with concern.

"I don't know. I just woke up when she left."

"Did you fight last night?" Iris was now in her interrogative mode.

"No, not at all. Everything seemed to be okay." he replied.

"Okay?" she raised an eyebrow.

"She was okay, she did not smile, did not talk, but she seemed fine." he was recollecting last night

"So she was giving you the infamous silent treatment?" Iris asked.

"Not really I actually ..." he stuttered as he mentioned last night "it was not good but she seemed relaxed by the time we went to sleep."

"How could you say that?" she asked confused.

"Because she fed me with her hands and even hugged me to sleep." he said blushing sheepishly like a small boy.

"So why do you think she left you?" Iris asked confused mentally calculating the stats.

"Where does she normally go when she is confused or upset?" Iris asked again enlightening his brain.

"F##k what day of October is it today?" he asked more to himself than to her.

"14th. how does that matter?" Iris was perplexed and Edwin restless.

"Thank you sooo much. You are an angel and I know now where to get Stella." He waved the owner as to keep the bill in his account since he was a regular customer

"Please have coffee and then leave. I have to rush." he told her.

"It's okay. I too have to leave." she nodded. Only then did Edwin see the bruise on her neck and she hid it immediately composing herself.

"Go Edwin you need to hurry." she showed himthe doors of the cafeteria.

He ran and then stopped in my tracks wondering, "Shall I go and look for Stella or stay back to this girl who needs my help..............................?