Opened Sores by Zarah Smith (uplifting books for women .TXT) 📖

restaurant. His mother and father used to always take him there and tell him all their secrets and show him how to prepare different dishes with just that "right touch." As smile rose upon Gavin's face as her remembered these times. He also remembered of how his mom gave up the restaurant when his father had died. She said there was no point in having the restaurant without the whole family and his father was a big part of it; they all were. Just thinking about it made Gavin a little teary eyed. Gavin blinked a few times and took a slow, steady deep breath, being sure to not let Alyssa hear him. He stood up from the table and looked at Alyssa. Alyssa took her focus from eating and looked up at Gavin with confused eyes.

"Excuse me," Gavin calmly with an assuring smile.

************

"Gavin! No! Gavin! Stop!" Alyssa playfully squealed as she felt Gavin trying to pull her into the salty ocean water below. Wiggling and laughing, Alyssa falls into the water bringing Gavin with her. They both resurfaced and quickly caught their breaths. "Just to let you know, I never go down alone." She scolded. "One day I'll be successful," Gavin promises. "Wooh!" Alyssa yelps jumping up and immediately clinging to Gavin's body. "I STEPPED ON ONE OF THOSE.....those....Well I forgot what they are called." She says tightly hugging Gavin. "It's okay, It won't kill you or anything like that." Gavin laughs. "Come on let's get out of this water." Alyssa's says trying to tug Gavin to shore. They stand up on the sand and Gavin lifts Alyssa onto his back while walking over to his beach towel.

"Gosh Alyssa!" You're fat!" Gavin says wobbling.

"No I'm not!" She scoffs playfully. "Besides, if I was wouldn't you-----!" Alyssa squeals as Gavin's knees purposefully give out. Gavin falls on his back as Alyssa topples over him.

"Uh, I think I beg to differ." Gavin laughs.

"Pfft..." Alyssa says looking away. "I am not." She whispers. "Am I?" She asks knowing his answer.

"No. Of course not." Gavin says his smile slightly fading. " Has anyone ever told you otherwise?" He asked.

"Only every other day of my life." She muttered under her breath.

"Well I think you're beautiful. I like you just the way you are." He says looking into her eyes and she smiles.

*******************

Night falls and Alyssa just got out of the shower. She walks out of the bathroom and throws her clothes into a hamper in her room. She walks around and finds Gavin outside on the balcony. Gavin stars up at the stars and Alyssa could tell that Gavin was thinking of something really important. She took a minute and thought back to dinner; Gavin suddenly got up and left excusing himself. She remembered looking at his face and his eyes were slightly watery. She wondered if it was something that she said but couldn't remember her saying anything offensively. Her curiosity got the best of her and she stepped into the balcony space next to him.

"Hey," She spoke softly.

"What's up?" Gavin said looking at her smiling softly. She seen that his eyes were slightly red.

"It's your father isn't it?" She asked whispering without thinking. She hoped it wouldn't offend him.

"What?" Gavin asked slightly embarrassed that he's been caught.

"It's why you left the dinner table so immediately. And it's why your eyes our red, isn't it? You're thinking about your father?" She softly stated.

"Uh, yea." He softly laughed.

"I'm sorry, Gavin."

"Don't sweat it. It's not your fault." He assured.

"Yea..." Alyssa looked down. "I hope it doesn't....well..." She stopped.

"No, it's fine. I'm glad you cared enough to ask." He softly smiled. Alyssa stepped closer to Gavin and gave him a hug. "Thanks." He said. Gavin looked down at Alyssa smiling softly and laced his fingers through hers. Without thinking, Gavin leaned down and placed a kiss right upon her lips. "A lot." He said.

Chapter 7: Alone

Alyssa woke up and searched the house for Gavin. He was no where in sight and hasn't been for the past two weeks. Alyssa tried calling him but he never answered. She became worried, scared even. What if something had happened to him? What if he never came back? Alyssa knew that she was probably being paranoid but with her it seemed to be a natural reaction. As Alyssa came down the stairs, she heard a knock on the door and stopped moving instantly. Who could it be? She thought.

"Alyssa, It's me! Gavin!" He yelled.

"Gavin?" She whispered to herself. "Wait, It's Gavin!" She quickly sped to the door and opened it. Alyssa ran into Gavins arms and gave him a hug.

"Gavin," She mumbled. She pulled away and squinted with her eyes.

"Where have you been? I was worried and seeing as how you weren't in school didn't make it any better."

"I'm sorry." He answered. "I was...well...sick. I didn't want you to see me like that."

"Well," She started but thought against it. "Come in."

Later that day Gavin left and promised to come back. He went home to see his mom.

"Are you feeling better?" She asked him.

"I'm fine, mom." He sighed.

"The doctors said they finished the test. They also said that you'd be fine. It's a good thing it's Friday, you get to relax. Now do me a favor and go back to that girl you have been spending so much time with lately." Gavin opened his mouth to say something but his mom held up her hands to silent him. Seeing the look of bewilderment on his face, she threw her head back and started laughing.

"Good-bye son." She said getting up and walking out of the room.

*****

That night after dinner, Gavin and Alyssa sat down for a movie. After minutes of deciding which one they should watch, they settled on Last Holiday. It was about a girl who got the wrong diagnosis from a doctor and was told she had a number of weeks to live. Alyssa cuddled up in Gavin's arms on the sofa. About halfwat through the movie, the two of them fell asleep.

******

"Gavin?" Alyssa called.

Alyssa turns around and sees a hospital right behind her. Her phone vibrated and she viewed a text message from an unknown number. Gavin's at the hospital. After reading, Alyssa rann into the hospital and looked around for some help.

"M'am. I'm looking for Gavin, Gavin Reed. I was told that he was here."

"Just a minute." The lady said. "He's in the room down the hall. Make a left and he's the first door on the right. The lady watched Alyssa leave and frowned. She knew that she was the one the he has been asking for. She wished that she could keep her from going into that room, from finding out what was happening. To keep it from happening.

Alyssa ran to his room; her heart beating through her ears. She spotted Gavin laying on the hospital bed looking at the doctor as he explained some things. His mom stood by his side with eyes that were blood shot. Alyssa's heart nearly broke as she watched Gavin's mom sob. She knew the news wasn't going to be good. It took her a few minutes to walk inside the room. The doctor had already left and it was just her, Gavin, and Mrs. Reed. Alyssa looked from Gavin to his mom and his mom silently left the room. Tears welled up in Alyssa eyes as she heard the door close. She walked over to Gavin's side grabbing his hand in hers.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked.

"I don't like you to worry." He replied weakly.

"Either way, I was going to worry." She said, her voice now breaking. A tear fell down her face as she stared into her boyfriends eyes. Alyssa didn't want Gavin to leave her, ever. She would be so alone without him.

"Don't cry over me." He whispered, wearily wiping a tear from her face.

"How could I not? I care about you too much." She said through short breaths.

"I'm sorry." Gavin said touching his hand to Alyssa's cheek. It almost angered Alyssa to hear Gavin say I'm sorry. It assured her that this wasn't going to end well.

"Kiss me," Gavin whispered.

"What?" Alyssa asked confused; Gavin gave a faint laugh.

"I want you to kiss me, Alyssa." Gavin feared he only had a few more minutes left and wanted Alyssa to be the last thing he felt. She kissed him softly with tears still rolling down her cheeks. She pulled away and slid her hand through his soft hair. Gavin smile and moaned softly, treasuring the feeling. Alyssa gave a quiet laugh, a laugh that almost sounded like a whimper.

"I love you." Gavin says. Alyssa looks at Gavin in shock. She didn't want to hear those words. She knew it was his way of telling her good-bye without actually saying it.

"No, don't say that." She cried, her voice hoarse. "Not now, not like this.

"It's okay, Alyssa. Everything will be alright." Gavin was lying through his teeth, but he didn't know what else to say.

"I love you," Gavin gave one last smile and squeezedd Alyssa's hand gently. Tears streamed down Alyssa's face as she heard the sound that told her Gavin wasn't coming back.

"No! No!" She cried. "Gavin! I'm sorry! I love you! Come back! Please! Gavin, come back!"

*****

Alyssa's eyes shot open and she found herself staring at the blank t.v screen. She could see her arm draped over Gavin's body as he slept. He looked so serene and peaceful to her; a smile smile playing on her lips. She felt Gavin move under her and heard him taking a deep breath. Gavin moved his hand across Alyssa's back slowly and cleared his throat.

"What's wrong?" He asked. Gavin could feel Alyssa tense up.

"Nothing," She whispered. "Bad dream." Gavin kissed Alyssa's forehead as she squeezed him tighter, holding her in his grasp making her feel warm and secure.

"It's just a dream." He said after a moment. "Come on, let's go upstairs. You'll need more rest than a two hour nap." He softly smiled.

"Okay," She whispered reluctantly. She was afraid of another horrible dream about Gavin.

Gavin watched her walk upstairs and waited until he heard the click of the bedroom door closing. He felt a sharp pain in his chest and clutched the area over his heart. He sat there unable to move for a brief moment. Soon he fot up and went to the bathroom. He coughed a few times and spewed up small amounts of blood into his hands. He didn't know what was happening to him but didn't want to tell Alyssa. He didn't like her to worry so much, he hated her to worry. Gavin didn't want to be another burden in her life. He decided to take a shower to fully cleanse himself.

About twenty minutes passed when Gavin got out of the shower. He came into Alyssa's bedroom and lay beside her with his back facing her. Gavin inhaled deeply as he felt Alyssa scoot towards him. He felt his heart jump as Alyssa touched him; him almost cried right then and there. Gavin shifted his body to his side and wrapped his arm around Alyssa's waist. Alyssa put her hand over his signalling for him to not move it.

*******

"Sorry about