Make You Mine(Redemption 2) - Episode 9

 

Phillip:

"Gosh you're soaking wet!" I exclaim when my hand comes up behind her back to pull her up into my arms. She mumbles a few incoherent words but her clattering teeth makes it difficult to hear anything coming from her mouth. A stray tear slips down her left eye and I my chest feels damn stuffy.
"Shhhh. I'll get you warm." I use my leg to navigate the car door close as I take us quickly past the front door into the house . The rain doesn't seem to have fallen in this part of town but the air is a bit chilly. When Cheryl's hand comes up to wrap around my neck, it feels like she's choking me up. Not because her hold is too tight but because of the feeling I'm getting inside my chest. I realize this is from the adrenaline rush I got when I couldn't wake her up earlier but it just feel... Intense. Being this close to her. I push my keys into the keyhole shakily and it takes longer than normal to open the damn door. Cheryl's clinging tighter to me and her body is starting to shake too hard for her small frame. I need to get these clothes off her.
I don't bother with the door as I take long strides to Cheryl's room. I vaguely register the scattered mess which is her room before I gently place her on the edge of the bed. As soon as she's on the bed, she curls up into a fetal position.
I throw various clothing down from the bed to create a much better space for her in the middle of the better before I climb into the bed on my knees

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/make-you-mine-redemption-2

. My eyes scan her body and the wet clothes and I swallow hard. I have to get the clothes off her but I know when she feels better, she won't like that I did.
"I'm going to turn the light off now, Cher. I don't want to ogle you. Nod if you hear me." I whisper quietly. Her hand only comes up to a fraction and I take that as a yes. I jump off the bed and turn the light off, throwing the room into a resemblance of darkness. I climb back on the bed and touch her shoulder.
"Up you get, Cher. You can't sleep in that." I brings her head up to stare at me then shakes her head.
"No. You have to__" My hand freeze on her when I feel how hot she's getting. It's alarming.
"Cheryl!" I pull her up to my chest to zip down the little zip at the back of her top. She just remains pale in my arms.
"I'm taking it off, now." I don't even know why I'm talking when she's unresponsive. I slip the white material off her skin and throw it unto the pile on the floor.
"Now, your bra." I bring my hand around her again and expertly unsnap her bra. The flimsy black material drops to my palm and I throw it to the ground like it's branding me. Cheryl falls into my chest limply and I inhale a harsh breath when I feel her n*ked front against my front. God, get your head in place, Phillip!
"Let's get you something dry." I peel her off my body and hold her at armlength. Her eyes are closed as she hangs on my outstretched arm. I quickly grab the sweatshirt I find on the floor and pull it over her head. There. Much better. I gently put her on the bed and release the breath I've been holding.
I don't waste time getting her wet trousers off but decide to forgo more clothes. I cover her up with a blanket from her wardrobe instead. I don't even know if I should be covering her up with how hot she is. I know nothing about taking care of another person. I suck at this. I can't have her get worse on me! Gosh, what if something more than the common cold is wrong with her?! I rub the back of my neck harshly as anxiety creeps up on me. I can't do this, maybe I should just take her to an expert. A doctor. Maybe call a doctor since she doesn't want to go to the hospital. I scan her restless features on the bed and shake my head at the idea. She was adamant about not wanting that. Who should I call now? Benedicta! Yes! I should call my sister and her friend. She should know what to do.
I find myself flying out of the room, back to the van to get my phone. I punch in Benedicta's phone number into the phone as I hurry back into the house.
"Phillip."  Her voice sounds a bit strain but I push that aside for now.
"It's Cheryl, I__"
"Don't tell me you both already tore each other apart?!" She sounds exasperated.
"What?! No! Maybe? God I don't know." I scrub the tip of my nose roughly. I'm beginning to shiver in my cold clothes as well now that the adrenaline rush is gone. I make my way into my room to change my clothes.
"What's going on, Phillip? You sound distraught."
"I don't know. Something's wrong with Cheryl. She fell into a river a while ago. Then she wouldn't wake up. I almost had an heart attack before she came to. God! Then I wanted to take her to the hospital because she kept mumbling and shaking and falling in and out of sleep but she didn't want to. And__"
"Calm down." Benedicta cuts into my rambling and I take a calming breath that does nothing for me.
"I'm so damn scared, Benny. She just wanted to save me and she fell into the river." Putting the phone on speaker, I make quick work of my trousers and shirt before making my way to my suitcase to find dry clothes.
"This is not good Phillip. Cheryl has a phobia of water. It's a trigger for her." Benedicta says from the phone and my hand pauses on the sweatshirt in my suitcase. Trigger?
"What does that mean?" I ask.
"There's no time to explain and it's her story to tell really. I just need you to take care of her for me. She'll feel better tomorrow. It's just an episode." She says. I pull the sweatshirt out and shrug it on before answering.
"I don't know what to do Benny. This is unchartered territory for me." I say truthfully. I grab a practical pair of cargo shorts and pull them on, feeling a bit warmer.
"Just keep her warm. A cold cloth on her forehead should bring her temperature down and well__"
"Well what?"
"I don't know if you could this but she always feels better whenever I sing her a lullaby her mother always sang to her before she died."
"I'll be damned." I mutter.
"You don't have to__"
"I'll do it." I say before Benedicta talks me out of it. Cheryl was trying to save my life and I feel responsible.
"Really?" She sounds surprised.
"Don't tell me you forgot how I would always sing you those lullabies when Mom died." I say and I think I hear her sniff in the background.
"I can never forget that. You were the cool brother." She says and I don't argue that I'm nothing but cool.
"What lullaby did you say will help to calm her?" I change the topic subtly.
"Sarah, Sarah." She says and I must admit it's not what I expected. I know the lyrics to the lullaby though.
"Yeah. Got to go." I say into the phone.
"Take care of her okay?"
"I will. Bye." I say and end the call. Oh God how I miss my sister.
"Don't! Please! Please!" I'm jerked out of my reverie at the frightened screaming coming from the other side of the wall. Thinking that someone could be in the room with her and possibly hurting her,with the way she sounds, I fly out the door and into Cheryl's room. I'm confused to find the room empty and quiet. My confusion turns to shock when her shrill cries pierce the momentary silence and she starts to jerk on the bed.
"Cheryl!!" I jump on the bed and have to hold her flailing hands to stop her from hurting herself.
"Stop! Let me go!" She screams as she fights my hold. The fear etched on her pale face, I can't begin to tell you how real they are. Her eyes clenched shut in sleep. What kind of nightmare is she having?
"Cheryl!" I scream her name to wake her up but that only serves to make her more livid.
"Get away from me! I'm sorry, okay, I'm sorry! Don't! It hurts!" God who is she seeing behind those closed eyes? I want to pull her into my chest but I know that will only make her panic worse so I do the first thing on my mind. I don't know the last time I actually sang but my scratchy voice clears briefly.
" *When I was just a little girl, I asked my mother what will I be, will I be pretty, will I be___ happy* my voice cracks on the last word as Cheryl's eyes blink open and she stares confused into my eyes. I don't break the contact. She's finally seeing me and not her demons.
" *And guess what she said to me? Oh Cheryl, Cheryl, whatever will be, will be. Your future so hard to see e, oh Cheryl Cheryl*" how I want to change the lyrics of the song to something better. To assure her that her future is a happy place.
"Phillip!" She exhales audibly and lunge herself at me. I catch her with a huff and pat her hair down.
"You're okay. You're okay." When I hear deep breathing in my ear, I pull her from my chest and I look down at her face to find her sleeping peacefully.
"Your future is a happy place." I say quietly as I brush the hair off her face. My limbs have a mind of their own as I feel myself press a chase kiss on her forehead. I notice she's not so hot anymore. I start to get off the bed when cold hands grab my arm.
"Don't leave. It's cold in here." I frown at that. I'm actually getting sweaty in the sweatshirt I'm putting on so I decide to put it on her. It's much thicker than the one she has on. I help her sit up and shrug it off me.

Read " Stolen innocence " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. She doesn't try to help me as I battle to get her into the huge sweater. It covers her whole and I smile at the visual.
"You're so tiny." I say quietly as I lay her head back on the pillow.
"Sleep beside me." Her voice is small but I hear the words clearly. I start to shake my head no but her eyes does me in. I shrug like it's no big deal and get into bed behind her, which is the only space on the bed. There's a bit of space between us thankfully. I don't want her to think I'm taking advantage of her state. I practically lose my mind when she rolls over to press her face into my chest. I try to scoot backwards but she closes any space I create.
"Warmth." She mumbles  sleepily and u just about groan. I don't move  any more inch though. I'm already at the edge of the bed. This woman will be the death of my patience.