MARI'S POV
"No, Mari! You're not trash." Kelly rushed to my side and hugged me. This was something I was not expecting her to do – yet, she did.
She held me tight in her arms, it felt warm. It was like coming out in the sun after a cold morning.
"You are not trash!" She repeated, gently rubbing my back with her palm.
"Don't you dislike me?" I asked, sobbing.
"How do I dislike you Mari? You are the best person in my life right now." She said. Then she kissed my cheek.
"You should rest." She said, standing up from the bed.
I suddenly felt like the world was leaving me again, just like I felt on the day of the accident.
"Don't leave me!" I pleaded softly.
Just then, the guy with whom I had shared this space with before Kelly's arrival, walked in with a lady right behind him.
She looked like she was in her late 20s, slim and curvy. Her hips well defined in her skirt.
"My assistant will take your signature." He said.
For a second, I didn't know his words were directed at me. My eyes had gone wide, and if not for the sake of decorum, my mouth would have followed.
Did I just hear him say 'assistant'?
"What is she signing? I don't understand?" Kelly got all defensive again.
But all my mind could think of was how rich this guy could be.
"You haven't even told me your name." I said, interrupting he and Kelly's little argument.
He looked at me with some sort of skepticism in his eyes. "I mean, no harm." I said, forcing a smile on my lips.
Flashes of being hit by that silver Audi, and my body crashing to the ground suddenly emerged in my brain.
I instinctively retract my hands, feeling the pain all over again. "Ah!" I whimpered.
"Mari? Are you okay?" Kelly's concerned voice brought me back to the present.
"Yeah!" I said, batting my eyelids. I couldn't steady them.
The assistant suddenly dropped a couple of papers and a pen in front of me.
"This is a statement of the actual incident that happened on the 15th day of the month of May."
"The clauses ensure you'll take responsibility for your actions and help restore Mr Grant's image, as well as an agreement of indemnity for Mr Grant to whatever damages this has cost."
"What are you saying?"
"Miss Amari White will have to refund Mr Grant at least, fifty percent of the money spent on hospital bills over the last 48 days."
"She would also need to tell the public that she ran into Mr Grant's car. That is the least she can do for the damage incurred by the company." The assistant kept going on and on, and my fears would not stop magnifying.
Then, he left. He left, saving me one less a crowd to see my shame unfold.
"This is unfair." Kelly said, running after him as she called his name.
The assistant dropped urged me to sign, and in that moment, I didn't know what else to do.
"Can I at least go through the clauses myself?" I asked timidly.
Just then a familiar face walked into the ward.
It's Professor nonchalant. Kelly's most hated professor. But I often tease her by calling him her crush.
"Mabel," He said as soon as he got in.
I wanted to ask why he was here, but it seems he and the assistant knew each other.
"Don't you ever advice my cousin?" He said.
"Sorry Mari." He said, taking the papers off my hand.
'He knows my name!' The voice in my head shrieked.
Damn! He does know my name. "I will go talk to Raymond." He said as he walked out of the ward with what looked like my doom – the papers.
"Don't think you're getting off this." The assistant suddenly hissed at me and walked away.
That's it! That's my cue to run away.
I carefully took out the needles. This time, I wasn't going to fall to the ground, nor feel weak in the knee.
I saw a bag under the bed, and opened it. It contained some clothes – looked like Kelly's.
I took a dress and walked straight into the bathroom, changed into it, and wore a nose mask over my face.
I wasn't going to sit here and wait for people I don't trust to decide my fate.
And since I didn't die from the accident, it was time I run.
"Amari," The voice in my head called, as if trying to stop me. But I wasn't going to take a pause.
I quickly made my way to the elevator, and got out of there. When I got out, I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, taking turns at different street alleys.
I got to a phone booth, and tried to make a phone call. That was when realisation hit me.
I don't have money.
"Fuck, Amari!" I cussed under my breath, and then winced in pain.
My wrist was bleeding where the needle from the IV drip once was.
"Mari!" Kelly's familiar voice caught up with me, making me jump in shock.
"Kel… Kel... Kelly.." I stuttered.
Without no warning, she raised her hand and slapped me across the face. "Kel?" I half yelled, but she slapped me again. This time felt more painful.
My eyes stung with tears, and I tried to open my mouth to speak, but couldn't say a word.
"Forty-seven, that's how much days I spent cleaning after you not knowing you wanted to be left alone and dead." She said with bitterness in her voice.
"You don't deserve my sympathy." She added and walked away.
I had not even noticed the third person until he placed a coat over me.
"It's cold for you." He said.
That little gesture jotted my memory a little bit, reminding me of Washington. Perhaps, he and I were not meant to be, seeing that I did not die when I wished it.
"Let's get you back to the hospital." He said, swooping me in his arms.
I glanced at him for a moment. Why is Professor nonchalant helping me?
And just as he carried me across the street, I leaned my head on his shoulder. It wasn't because I felt comfortable – Shame filled my body.
All of a sudden, he stopped.
"Hand her over!" A masculine voice forced my head up, causing me to stare in dismay.
All the enzymes in my body was objecting that demand. I instinctively tightened my grip around Professor nonchalant's neck.
"I told you not to meddle, George."
"She's my burden to bear."
I don't know what he meant by that, but I wasn't going to count it as a good thing. "You don't have to do this, Ray." Professor nonchalant replied.
"Yes, I do." The so called Ray stated.
Then he pulled professor's nonchalant arms off my body, almost causing me to fall.
"Ahhh!" I cried, thinking my body was going to hit the ground, but it didn't.
It was as though I was nothing, he had me in one hand. And in one swift swoop, I was in his arms.
"I don't know how messed up your head is, but I'll definitely make you pay for the last 48 days." He said.
"One way or the other, I'll make you pay."
I blinked, unable to keep staring at his face. He wore a smirk on his lips, one that frightened me. "I.." I opened my mouth to speak but couldn't say anything.
Just then, a car stopped right in front of us. A wave of relief swept through my body when he placed me inside the car. "Thankfully!" I muttered under my breath.
He got in right next to me. Then he looked at me like I was going to run away. "Don't look at me like that. I can't run anymore." I muttered.
"Carlo, my private house."
"What?" I busted out, unable to digest what I just heard. "I thought we were returning to the hospital." I was yelling and pleading at the same time.