Our Hearts Beat For Anne

Vincent's pov

She stared at me as I held her arm. Her eyes were puffy from crying and I knew the reason.

I had followed her when she entered the hospital and made her way to my brother's room after seeing the nurse at the desk.

She was far from what I had imagined, with her dress and all. I had been expecting to see, well, someone who didn't look as innocent as her. I know being a psychopath wasn't written on the face but everything about her didn't tally with what I had created in my head.

The door to Andrew's room was slighty left ajar allowing me to hear everything that transpired.

I was so angry at my brother. How could he stoop so low. Women where there at his beck and call. Why her?

When she came out and made her way down the hall, I rushed after her.

She looked confused as to why I was holding her hand until recognition dawned on her.

"Please, let go of me."she said trying to wriggle her hand away. I just stood there speechless.

She freed her hand, turning to leave and tripped.

I moved quickly without thinking and held her, steadying her.

She straightened and looked up at me, still in my arms with tears brimming in her eyes.

I came undone. I couldn't bear this. My hands unconsciously wrapped around her drawing her close and she surprised me by resting her head on my c.h.e.s.t, staining my shirt with her tears.

"Am so sorry for everything that happened, everything that my brother did. If I could stop you from hurting, I would." I don't do mushy stuffs like this but she managed to bring it out of me.

She sniffled and move away looking surprised. "How did you...."

" I heard everything." I told her.

She looked to the floor and then back at me. "Am going to be fine." She said wiping her eyes. "He didn't succeed. It just gets to me every time I think about what would have been of me if he had." She said. "I should be going."

"Let me drop you." I said moving past her towards the exit.

"No, don't bother." She said dismissively.

"I insist. That's the least I can do." She looked at me thoughtfully. "But if your uncomfortable with it, I'll understand. " I told her.

"You can drop me." She said and I breathed a sigh of relief.

The ride to her hostel was brief so I didn't really get time to talk to her. She was staring at her hands all through the ride.

I parked in front of the hostel. She looked up when she realised the car had stopped moving and sighed, mumbled a thank you and turned to go. I held unto her again. 'Whats with me and touching this girl.'

She looked expectantly at me with those big brown eyes and I almost forgot what I was going to say. "Here, take this for your bruises." I said offering her money.

"Thank you but I can't accept that. Like I said earlier, am going to be fine. I know your trying to help and make me feel better, it's okay, I've forgiven your brother. Besides, am not the one in the hospital bed. You should go and take care of him." She deadpanned.

I didn't push it because she was angry and it was obvious she thought I wanted to buy her credibility which wasn't true.

"Hey, am not trying to bribe you or anything of that sort." She didn't respond.

I really needed to let it go. The worst was over. "Take care of yourself." I said and she left mumbling a bye.

* * *

I had a long talk with my brother when I got back to the hospital. I was so angry with him but my anger simmered down when I found out he felt remorse for what he attempted to do.

He didn't need to tell me his reasons. I knew dad was a handful and he really got to him but I didn't know it was that bad.

Severally, I have talked to dad and he had assured me he was going to take it easy on Drew but from the looks of things, it wasn't getting easier.

I was exhausted, hungry and I needed to get to work.