Richard
It was all a mistake, I was drunk. I didn't know what I was doing. I'm sure Zoe can understand, she knows I love her, I didn't want any of this to happen. It wasn't my fault anyway, I blame her for everything, why did she have to ask so many questions. And Since when, did she became interested in Harper. She should have trusted me. But she didn't, I still remember how she always say that she trusted me. She's just a liar, no difference from that woman who loves her job more than her own family.
No one can find out, no one must know. If my staff and friends know what will they think of me? No! I thought. they just can't find out the truth. It took me so many years to build up this image of respect. I can't lose it now all because of that woman, I wish she had died immediately before getting to the hospital just like Harper.
"Zoe please..."
"I don't want to hear it," she said in a hoarse voice.
"I was drunk Zoe, I didn't know what I was doing," I said, trying to convince her.
"Is that the reason you lied?"
"I don't know wh_"
"You lied Richard!" she interrupted me "Liam told me you told the police that I was attacked by arm robbers."
"I was afraid to tell them the truth, Zoe you know I didn't mean any of this." Faking tears from my eyes. I wonder how much Liam knows.
"I won't fall for those fake tears of yours Richard, this isn't like the old days"
"I want a divorce Richard, I won't take any of this from you anymore, it pains me that I brought Liam into all of this mess."
"I... I can understand that you want a divorce but please wait until after a year or two." I hold her hand but she drags it away, glaring at me. "If we were to divorce right now, people are going to talk, they will find it suspicious. Think about our children. Liam and Layla, think about how it's going to affect them."
"You are just trying to manipulate me as always, when," she started crying "when will you stop all this, I can't believe I gave my life to you. I even gave up on my career just because of you. Richard how could you."
"I want a divorce, Richard." She said with a hard look on her face "get yourself prepared Richard because I'm going to tell the police the truth about Harper, I'm going to help Layla's mom get justice."
"You can't," I said, feeling my heart beating fast in fear. "It's been years already, just... Just let it go."
"You are a monster Richard, I can't believe I got married to someone like you. I'm going to say the truth not just to the police but also to your daughter let her know who her father is."
I look around the hospital room, checking if there was any camera, I saw that there was no camera. I look at Zoe as I said "I'm sorry."
*****
Layla Pov
"I can't believe he killed her," Liam said, holding me in disbelief. We were at the hospital and I still couldn't believe that Zoe was dead, Liam had told me that she was awake. He said he heard from Dad that she got attack by arm robbers. But He didn't believe dad stories, I overhead him asking mom about what had happened to her but she remained quiet only saying that she wanted to talk to Dad.
I was afraid when I first got a call from Dad about mom being in the hospital. I was afraid that she was going to die. It reminded me of the first time I got a call from Dad that mom had been taken to the hospital. I was afraid that the same thing that happened to my mom Harper was going to happen to mom Zoe. When I overhead her asking Liam for Dad I had thought that everything was going to be okay. I had thought that the incident of that night won't happen again. But now she is dead.
I look at Liam as I thought it can't happen to him, it just can't be the same thing that happened to me, it just can't happen to him. "Liam!" I shouted at him holding the both sides of his arms. "It wasn't Dad." We were all standing outside Mom's room. The doctor was still inside mom room with the nurse.
"I know you did it!" Liam shouted at Dad.
"Son I know_"
"I'm not your son!" Liam shouted, cutting dad off.
"Liam," I said, "blaming Dad for mom death isn't going to bring her back."
"No, let him." Dad said, "it's alright, he is right anyway, it's all my fault." Dad bows down his head as tears drop down to the floor.
"You conniving basta_"
"Liam!" I shouted out.
"I'm just going to go," Dad said as he walked away.
"Liam, how could you?" I asked him "she wasn't just your mother, she was also his wife."
"His wife," Liam said darkly "do you think that man cares about the people in his life? Just looked. look at you for example and how he treats you like dirt." He said and I became silent.
I know that Liam is right about the way Dad treated me. He doesn't give me the best treatment. But still, why does it hurt more when Liam said it.
"I'm sorry," Liam said, hugging me. "I was stupid, I shouldn't have said that, I'm sorry Layla."
Crying I said, "it's okay I know you didn't mean it."
"Layla" Liam call
"Huh?"
"I hate Richard"
*****
Liam and Dad were no longer in the hospital. I should go back home too but I didn't feel like going home. So I walk aimlessly around the hospital. I felt like if I leave the hospital then I would have to accept the reality of what was happening. I would have to accept the fact that mom was Dead. I would have to accept that once again I have lost my mother. Maybe. I thought. Maybe Dad was right. When he said that I killed my mother. Maybe that was why Zoe die even though, she had woken up. Maybe it was because I was here at the hospital. I killed her.
"Hey! It's you again"
I snapped out of my thoughts as I look for the owner of the voice. The voice sounded familiar.
"It's me, James"
I look at the red hair boy, who was now standing in front of me smiling. Red hair, I thought. Then I remember the weird street art painting of the lady and the rose with thorns.
"James," I said, "how are you doing?" I asked trying my best to smile even though I was dying inside. If only Liam was here I won't have to lie, his presence always gave me the courage to be truthful. I should have left with him, I shouldn't have left him alone.
"I'm fine," he said smiling. "What about you?" He asked.
I'm starting to hate the way he always smile so easily. "I'm fine," I said "I see your hair is still as red as ever."
"Well, I have been thinking of dying it green." He brushes his long rough hair with his hand "but what about you, your eyes are almost as red as my hair." He said
"What?" I asked.
"You know," he said, "this is the second time you are passing this hallway."
"What?" I asked again confused.
"The first time I saw you, you walk passed me like a ghost whose eyes were daze." He said
I look around the hallway again trying to remember if I had passed it before but I couldn't remember.
"Don't try thinking about it," he said "I'm sure you can't remember because your mind isn't here."
"Are you following me?" I asked feeling a sudden need to somehow defend myself.
"No, I'm not," he said amused, raising his hands in defense. "I came here to see my Dad"
"Your Dad? I asked, "Is he sick?"
"No." He said "he's one of the doctors here. The first time I came was the first time I saw you. The second time was when I forgot something my mom had asked me to give to my Dad, so I came back again and saw you again."
"Ohh," I said.
"I can see you didn't think about it." He said.
"Think about what?"
"The questions I had asked the first time we met." He said, "if only you thought about it, you wouldn't be here trying to lie to me and yourself through that forced smile."
I stare at the smiling red-headed boy who was smiling sadly at me. I stare at those piercing gazes that looks like he was looking at my very naked soul itself. His smile this time wasn't as bright as the first day I met him, his smile wasn't a disguise like mine. His smile was him entirely, his smile this time was like the way Liam smile. Once again I thought. He reminded me so much of Liam.