Four days have passed. My face is still bruised, and my stomach hurts when I breathe too hard. But I am okay. So is Daniel. His gun injury, as he said that day, was only minor. A scratch that was bandaged that same day.
Nina is another story. I am worried about her. We've been permitted to visit George in hospital, under police supervision. I was against it at first, I didn't want to ever see him again. But Nina persisted. She said she wanted to see him one last time. She needed closure and wanted me next to her.
The freedom I've felt since the stalker was caught is indescribable. I know it will take some time for me to fully heal. I still turn my head in caution whenever I am out, and jolt when I feel someone walking too close behind me. But I'm getting better. My life is slowly returning to the way it's been before. Nina and I sit close to each other as we ride the bus to the hospital. I hold her hand reassuringly. We will be okay.
The nurse and a police officer lead us to the room where George is. As I walk into the hospital room, I see him in the bed, his face swollen and bruised, one eye nearly swollen shut. Bandages cover a deep gash across his forehead, his arm is in a sling. Tubes and monitors surround him, the machines beep softly in the background. The room is dimly lit, the curtains drawn against the afternoon sun, casting a sombre atmosphere. Despite the injuries, he is awake. He looks surprised to see us there. I glance at Nina, she has tears in her eyes,
"How could you, George?" she whispers, "you... you lied to me"
George doesn't respond. His one good eye is focused solely on me. I stare at him with venom. I have nothing to say to him at all.
"What? You won't say anything? You will be a coward?"
"I wish..." he speaks, his voice so coarse, like he hasn't spoken in a long time, he takes a breath in, then tries again, still looking at me, "I wish I killed you when I had the chance"
Nina gasps, she takes my hand.
"What are you saying?" she cries, "how can you even say that?"
"We should go, Nina. He's not going to say anything to make any of us feel better" I say dryly,
"You never saw me the way I saw you, Sofia" he speaks, "I only saw you. I only ever wanted you. You would have been happy-"
"George!" Nina cuts him off, hurt and pain in her voice, "what are you saying? How could you-" this is the first time that his eye leaves me and moves to Nina, the room goes silent,
"I never loved you, Nina" he says coldly, "you-"
"Then why were you with me?" she cries,
"Why? Isn't it obvious? Your family, your wealth"
"My wealth? What wealth? I don't have any money-"
"No. Because of your stubborn independence, you don't. You wanted..." he coughs, breaths in, then starts again, "you wanted to live independently. You wanted to show your parents you can do it on your own. But they always backed you. If we married-" he closes his eyes and stops talking,
"We should go" I whisper, seeing the broken look on Nina,
"He was my world, Sofia. You know that better than anyone. Since I met him as a teen, all I ever wanted id him... but... but... he lied. He lied..."
"And you were too stupid to see it" he speaks, my eyes burn into him, he has a cold smirk on his lips. Nina is hurting, but he is laughing. How did we never see his true colours?
"I would have married you, Nina. We would have been rich. Lived in your parent's mansion. In the luxury"
"And Sofia? Why did you go after her?" Nina whispers,
"Sofia?" he grunts a laugh, "she would have been locked up in our luxurious basement. You never would have known about it. She-"
"You're sick!" Nina whispers, tears streaming down her face, "I hate you George! I hate you!"
"You can hate me" he croaks, "I hate you too. I hate all of you. And Sofia. I hate her more than anyone. I should have killed her when I had the chance, I should have-" he pauses, squints his good eye and focuses it back on me, "I hate Daniel more. Daniel I -"
"How could you lie to us, George? You..." now I feel tears finally leave my eyes, "I trusted you. You were my friend. We grew up together!"
"Ah, that we did. I always knew what I wanted to do with you, Sofia. I always knew where I wanted you. But I wanted to wait. I wanted to wait until I was ready. Until I had that basement... so I saw Lara. She was just like you. Happy. Beautiful. Pretty. I wanted her as a taster of the real thing" he grunts another laugh, then hisses in pain.
"Let's go, Nina" I whisper, she nods her head, agreeing. We turn our backs to him and walk for the door, the officer walks behind us, then George starts yelling after us,
"I will kill him. When I am out. And I will be out. They can't lock me up forever. I will kill Daniel first. Then you, Sofia. I will-"
We can no longer hear him. I am shaken up, teary eyes, but Nina is fully broken. As soon as we're far enough from his room, so that he can't hear us, she falls down on her knees, and cries like she never has before. Everyone is watching, the officer and the nurse heard it all. They look at her with pity, I crouch next to her, my arms around her trembling body. I can't imagine the pain she must be feeling.