OLIVE
I walked down the stairs, my hand moving across the handrail of the stairs. My eyes were red from the sleepless night and constant tears. My head was banging so hard I could feel I might collapse very soon. I couldn't stop worrying about Nolan. Bella and Ella had tried to cheer me up but with Nolan's absence, nothing could cheer me up. It's been a day and Nolan is not back. I couldn't help but think something bad had happened to him and as much as I was assured he is fine and will be home soon, it was difficult to believe them. I dragged my already tired body to a nearby stool and sat down.
"Are you ok, ma'am?" One of the guards asked. I nodded and smiled slightly. "You don't look ok, ma'am. You need some rest"
"I-i am fine. Thank you"
Duncan walked into the dining room. "Olive, look at you. You look horrible"
I sighed. "Any news yet?. Any news that can cheer me up?"
He walked closer to me, placed his hand on my shoulder, and patted me. "He will be back home, I promise. I will make sure he's home today"
I sniffed, trying to hold back my tears. Why can't I control my tears?. Why can't I believe he will come back to me?. Why do I feel so bad that is he missing?. I wished I had told him how much I love him. Maybe he would have had a change of mind and not gone missing. Maybe he would have been here with me. I let the tears flow out freely. There was no point holding the tears back. There was no point in trying to be strong when I am not. "D-Duncan. I-i just wants him back. I want to see him come home. I want to tell him I love him. I..."
Duncan hugged me. "He will be back soon. And you will be able to tell him how much you love him. And I know he loves you too"
"Olive, you're going to fall sick if you keep crying," Ella said
I raised my head and sniff. "I can't help it" I answered, smiling slightly.
Duncan patted my shoulder. "I will you both to talk. If there is any news I will let you know"
I nodded. "Thanks, Duncan"
After Duncan left, Ella pulled a chair beside mine and sat down. "Olive, you're getting us worried. You can't keep breaking down like this. You know Nolan won't be happy when..."
"Y-you can't let him know". She furrowed her brows. "Promise me, he won't find out I cried so much. Promise..."
"I won't let him know. And I am sure Bella and Nigel will keep it a secret too but you have to eat something. You've not eaten for a while now"
"I-i don't feel hungry. I..."
"You have to force yourself. That's it. If you don't eat, you will fall sick and when you do, Nolan will have to find out why you fall sick. You see.. "
"O-ok. I will take something light. Just make sure you keep your promise and not tell him"
She chuckled. "I promise. So what will you like to eat?"
I rolled my eyes. I wasn't having any appetite at all. But I needed to eat something just to stop them from getting too worried about me. "Just get me anything"
She sighed. "Are you sure?. Anything will do?"
I nodded. "Sure"
She stood up and held my hand. "You don't have to worry, ok. Nolan will be back"
I sighed but said nothing. What I wanted is not the words of encouragement they had been given me. All I want now is to see him walk through that door and into my arms.
**
"Olive, Olive, Olive" I could hear someone call my name. I was already drifting to sleep but had to jump off the bed. I could tell there was excitement in the voice. It also sounded like Ella's. The door opened and Ella ran in. "What's going on?"
"N-Nolan is back" her words were so fast it took time to process what she had said. Without asking any further questions, I ran out of my room. "Olive. Wait up. There is nothing I need to tell you" Ella yelled, running. I could hear her footsteps as she tried to catch up with me. I ran down the stairs and into the living room. It was so quiet with nobody close by. I slowed my footsteps. Did Ella lie to me?. Did she...
"Olive" she called and I turned. "I was about to tell you he is in his room but you ran off before I could". I sighed. That's good news. "And, he's kinda injured too"
I batted my lashes. "H-he injured?. Did he say what was wrong with him?"
"He was brought in unconscious. You..."
I raised my hand. "It's a good thing he's back and alive"
She sighed. "Please don't cry when you see him"
I nodded. " I will try not too"
She stretched her hand to me. "Let's go"
As we walked closer to Nolan's room, my heart began to beat so fast. When Ella had told me not to cry when I see Nolan, I had quickly concluded that he must be in a very bad condition. I had also wondered what could be wrong with him. I had promised myself to be strong irrespective of what I see but getting closer to his room, I began to feel I might break the promise I made to Ella as well as myself. We got to the door and I stopped moving. My body was reluctant to move. Ella must have noticed I stopped cause she turned. "Are you not going in?"
I sighed. "I-i don't think I am ready to see him yet. I..."
She held my hand. "You are sure ready to see him. Even if he is still unconscious, I can bet you, he is going to feel your presence. Remember how many sleepless nights you had. How you had starved yourself. Now that he is back, don't you think you need to see his face?"
"I-i..."
"I know you want to. Follow your heart, Olive
I nodded. "But..."
"Just do what you think is right, ok?"
I nodded. "I will go in"
She smiled. "I will wait here"
She moved backward but I stopped her. "You should go in with me"
She nodded. We entered to see Bella and Nigel sitting beside him. They stood up when they saw me. I stood, staring at him. "He was brought in, unconscious a while ago," Nigel said
I nodded but said nothing. I couldn't take a step forward until Ella poked me. "You should go close" she whispered
I took a few steps, stopped, and turn to look at Ella. She gave me an approving nod and I nodded too. I moved closer to him and sat beside him. His eyes were closed and his lips slightly opened. He had a bandage on his chest with was soaked in blood. He was looking pale and I wondered how many pants of blood he had lost. I placed my hand on his face as I held back my tears. I had promised not to cry but seeing him in this state, it became difficult not to cry. I sniffed.
"N-Nolan is good to see your face again, after some days. I had thought my life was over the moment you got missing. I had so many sleepless nights and cried myself to sleep whenever I had to. All I wanted was to see you again but not in this unconscious state. I want to see you smile at me once more. I want you to scold me. I want to..."
Tears dripped down my face and I held his hand. "Please, just wake up. I can't bear to see you in this state, please..."
I turned to face Bella. "I will stay here until he wakes up"
Bella made to resist but Nigel stopped her. "It's ok if she wants to stay. It will be nice for Nolan to wake up to see her face first"
I smiled at Nigel. "Thanks"
Bella sighed. "The doctor will be here soon. Please take care of him"
I nodded. "I will"
**
It's been over three hours since Nolan was brought back and he is to gain consciousness. The doctor had come to stop his bleeding and had also changed the bandage. I placed my hand in his, squeezing it slightly. I wanted him to wake up so badly. I wanted to know who had done this to him. I was furious, seeing him lie down on this bed without saying anything to me. I wouldn't imagine the kind of pain he must have passed through when he got pierced. I shivered with the wave of rage that swept over me. I was losing control of myself and needed to get some fresh air. I pulled my hand off his and made to stand up but he held me back. I turned to face him and his eyes were opened. "O-Olive" he called and I felt my anger subside. He smiled. "I-it's good to see your face again"
I smiled at him as tears flew down my face freely. I sat down and held his hand. "I-it's good to see you too"