Chapter 10: Expressionless Tears

Her grey eyes opened slowly, squinting at the sterile white ceiling and flouresent lights as they shined in her eyes. Wherever she was it smelled of medical supplies and fresh bedsheets. Kayla carefully sat up with a slight burning sensation in her lungs, but waved it off as her eyes took in her surrondings. She was in a hospital bed inside a white room with a heart monitoring system and two vases of flowers sitting upon the table to her left. She glanced to her right and froze.

Ether was sitting there with his head down and resting on his fists. He looked strange in such a position, looking not only small but lifeless. Kayla recalled the last events she could remember, and the horrid nightmare that had gripped her in reality forced a tremble through her.

Ether glanced up, his eyes wide as he saw Kayla awake. He immediately stood and took the space near her side. Kayla looked up at him as he towered over her, but nothing like anger or rage was in those coal eyes. In fact, Kayla could see the dark circles under his eyes and the relief that shone in their depths.

"Your alright." he stated, as if to reassure her as long with himself. Kayla nodded silently, her mind clouded as she stared back into his eyes, seeing only her reflection. She looked away, hiding her entire face from Ether's sight.

"Kayla... I should never had said what I did. I was angry, I promise you I don't mind you living with me." Ether whispered, taking her refusal to look at him as a sign that she was still hurt by his words. But it wasn't what he'd said, it was the overall reaction he'd shown. Streams of tears ran down her cheeks, falling onto the soft hospital blanket in pitter patters. She turned her head to look at him, his expression taken aback as he saw the hurt face of Kayla.

"I already knew you didn't mean it. But it still hurt... but what I can't figure out, is why the only emotions I ever see..." her eyes fill with tears and a choked sob escapes.

"... are the ones I'm afraid of." Kayla finished and looked down, hiding her face once again. Warm, strong arms wrapped around her, the surprise obvious as her body jumped. Ether's cheek rested against her hair, his face was expressionless and he stared out the window with such a blankness that it would have seemed no different then his usual appearance. Yet, as Kayla sat there, wrapped in his embrace, she could feel the warm drops of water that leaked from Ether's eyes and landed on Kayla. As much as she wanted to look up to see his face, Kayla wanted to just stay in his arms forever. The warmth she felt, the longing for such contact she'd experianced since her mother had died, it was all here. Present in the embrace of the person she cared about, no matter what he did to her, she could never leave behind such a precious moment.

"I'm so sorry Kayla." Ether said in a near whisper. She leaned against his chest and closed her eyes, to tired to talk any further.

{{Short chapter, but at least Kayla's alright!}}