Alex
I am glaring at the television in the hospital waiting area. Ma, Frank, Oliver, and Thomas are sitting with me and none of us say a word. We have been waiting for nearly an hour for the doctors to give us the status on Alexis. She never opened her eyes on the way to the hospital. I hear Ma crying and I look over as Frank consoles her. I decide to head to the hospital chapel to pray for my sister. I walk in and face the hanging cross and I close my eyes wondering if I am going to get struck down for just entering the chapel. I can’t lie to myself and believe that God is happy with me. I have always chosen the side of the devil and I can’t deny it. My life has always been full of violence, drugs, and sex. Would God even listen to me if I spoke to him? I walk to the front of the chapel and sit on the first bench and close my eyes. I take a deep breath and for some unknown reason, I feel a calmness that doesn’t feel familiar to me. I ask God for forgiveness. I won’t promise to be perfect because God would know that I am lying before I even open my mouth to say it.
I ask God to heal Alexis. I don’t know what injuries she may have suffered, but I want her to heal quickly and fully. I also say a prayer for Adele. I know her husband has her and I have no idea what he’s doing to her. I pray that God keeps her safe and lets me find her in time. I know God doesn’t owe me anything after the life I have lived, but Alexis and Adele are innocent in all this. He must keep them safe even it is me asking. As I am silently pleading with God, I feel a hand touch my shoulder and I turn to find Frank.
“This is the last place I thought I would find you,” Frank tells me with a small smile on his face.
“It’s the last place I thought I would come. Did you hear anything about Alexis?” I ask him and he shakes his head.
“Ma was worried about you, so she asked me to come check on you. Alexis will be okay, Alex,” Frank tells me and I turn away from him to face the cross.
“I did this, Frank.”
“You had nothing to do with what happened to Alexis or Adele,” Frank says and I look at him.
“We know for sure that Adele was with her?” I ask and Frank nods his head.
“Thomas grabbed Alexis’ purse and Adele’s backpack from the backseat of the car,” Frank responds and I close my eyes in anger.
“I did this, Frank. This is all my fault.” I stand up to face him.
“Alex, this isn’t your fault damn it! We can sit here and blame ourselves, but it’s not going to help Alexis or Adele. The only thing we can do now is pray for Alexis and once she is out of the woods, we’ll find Adele.”
“I killed for the first time when I was fifteen, Frank,” I tell him and Frank’s eyes widen in surprise.
“Why are you telling me this, Alex?”
“I skipped school when I knew Ma and Pop wouldn’t be home. I brought a buddy home and we found Pop’s gun. We played around with it and took turns pointing at each other. I accidentally pulled the trigger. I shot him in the middle of his forehead. He was dead instantly. I didn’t know that Pop had come home and he heard the shot and came running into his office. I thought he would call the cops on me, but he didn’t. He told me to take off all my clothes and had me walk to my room to change. He told me not to come out until he called for me. Within one hour, he called me back to the office and it looked like nothing had happened. There was no body or blood, there was no signs that anything bad had happened. There were men all over the place making sure the office was spotless. Pop drove me to school telling me that I was never to mention what happened and told the school I had a doctor’s appointment.” I share with Frank what I have never told anyone.
“I had no clue, Alex,” Frank says with astonishment as he sits on the bench.
“I have been a monster ever since. Adele and Alexis are being punished for my sins, Frank. I have tried to protect them both and look at what happens,” I moan as I shake my head.
“I don’t think that’s how it works, Alex. You were a kid when that happened. You made a mistake and Pop protected you. I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same for my own kids. What you could do is maybe stop focusing on yourself and focus on being strong for Ma and Alexis?” Frank suggests and I notice he has a small smile on his face.
Alexis is in the hospital for two weeks because of a hematoma. The doctor said he didn’t see any brain bleeding, but I think the four of us surrounding him had him nervous. He wanted to make sure that Alexis was in the clear before he released her. Ma stayed by her bedside, which made it difficult for any of us to question her. I am not sure how much we would get from her since she has been oddly quiet. When Frank finally can get Ma out of the room, I decide to question Alexis. I know she has been through a lot, but two weeks is a long time for Adele to be with Garth.
Alexis turns to look at me as I walk into the room. As I approach her bed, I notice her eyes start to water and I feel sick as I sit beside her. As Alexis starts to cry, I grab her hand and give it a squeeze letting her know that everything will be ok.
“Is Nick dead?” Alexis asks me and my eyes rise at hearing his name. How in the hell does Alexis know Nick?
“Nick?” I ask believing that I misheard her. Alexis nods her head waiting for my answer.
“How do you know Nick, Alexis?” I ask not wanting to give her an answer.
Alexis closes her eyes and turns her head looking up at the ceiling. I can tell she is squeezing her eyes shut because she does that when is getting pissed at me.
“IS… HE... DEAD?” Alexis yells at me and this time I close my eyes as I run my fingers through my hair.
“Yes,” I answer and she breaks down and cries as I try to comfort her.
When I finally have calmed Alexis down and she can talk, I ask her about Nick. She tells me that she met him at the mall when he was visiting with Lola. They started dating, but he wanted to keep it private. He didn’t want Lola or Frank to know they were involved. He told her it was because of Frank being overprotective, but I am sure it has more to do with his own Mafia connections. Alexis tells me that Garth practically bragged about killing Nick to her and Adele. She tells me how afraid she was that he was going to kill them both and then she tells me how Adele promised to go home with him and work on their marriage.