EroticReverie

Kane 

“You don’t have to stay if you’d rather-“

I stop her. Shaking my head 

“There’s nowhere else I want to be Charlie Girl” I say softly as she sniffles and nods.

Her mother wasn’t doing well at all when we came home, was in a lot of pain and Charlotte gave her some special pain killers by orders of the Hospice lady that authorized the administering of the of the drugs they gave her for instances like this. 

“I’ve got you baby” I say softly and pull her into me and wrap my arms around her. She cries quietly into my chest as we stand in the kitchen. 

I want to tell it will be okay. But I can’t lie to her and I know it won’t be. Because it’s never okay to have to watch someone you care about suffer or be sick and in pain. 

I gently stroke her hair. 

“I’m here. I’ve got you Charlie.” I say quietly and she nods as she cries into my chest. 

When she’s calmed down and I’ve helped her dry her tears and wiped her face with a cold damp cloth. She takes a few deeps breaths and we go back into the front room.

Her mother is asleep and Charlotte walks over to her and looks down at her.  Her lower lip trembling and I swallow hard at my own emotions clogging up my throat. I look to Charlottes father who is still awake. Looking at his daughter and his wife. Then his eyes come to me. His face shifts, giving me a look that says it all. That he knows his wife doesn’t have much longer. That maybe he doesn’t either.  I’m that look I can see him pleading with me to take care of his daughter. So I give a slight nod. I don’t need him to say it. I already promised them both that their daughter would be taken care of. He nods slightly back at me and I walk over to Charlotte and place my hands on her arms. 

“Come on , sit” I say and she sniffles and lets me walk her to the recliner between both of the hospital beds and she sits and looks at her dad. 

He gives her a soft smile. 

“It’s okay Charlotte.” He says and fat tears roll from her eyes and she reaches her hand to him. 

“Daddy” she cries softly. 

“It’s okay, it’s alright” he says and she shakes her head. 

“Daddy” she cries again and he opens his arm , his frail arm lifting the best it can, and I watch Charlotte as she stands and moves right onto the side of the bed and cuddles up against him and lays her head gently on his shoulder and wraps her arm around him. 

I hold back the tears as I sniff and then leave the room , giving her time alone with her father. 

——

“I’m sorry” she says a few hours later as she walks into her room where I’m laying on the bed on my phone. I put it down the second she walked in. 

“You didn’t have to stay, you’re probably so bored, I’m sorry” she says and I shake my head. 

“Don’t worry about me. I want to be here Charlie. Come here.” I say softly and open my arm and she walks over. She looks so tired, so exhausted and defeated and I hate that there’s nothing I can do other than just be here for her.

“I’m a mess” she says quietly as she gets on her bed and lays beside me. 

“You’re allowed to be a mess Charlotte” I say , knowing she means emotionally and mentally. 

“If it’s too much, dealing with me , with this, I won’t be mad at you if you change your mind about -“

“Stop it baby. Please. I love you Charlotte. It’s not too much. It’ll never be too much. I’m not going anywhere. I’ve got you. Always. Okay?” I say and she sighs and nods. 

“Yeah okay” she sniffs.

“How is she doing, she still asleep?” I ask and she nods. 

“I’m scared Kane” she says quietly. 

“I know baby.” I say gently. Rubbing her head softly and playing with her hair. 

“I don’t think she has a lot of time.” She says and sniffles. 

“Dad won’t say it, but I know he thinks it too. He says she’s not going anywhere yet. But he’s acting like I’m a little girl, like I’m not right here, watching it all happen.” She says. 

“Youre his little girl. I think maybe he just wants to try to protect you from hurting. Even if he can’t really. And maybe protect himself from hurting too. Maybe he’s saying it because he doesn’t want to believe it.” I say and she lifts her head and I look at her. Slipping my fingers into her hair and pushing it behind her hair. 

“I’m not ready to lose her. Or him.” She says and her lip trembles. 

“I know baby.” I say and she sniffs and drops her lashes. 

“You don’t tell me it’s going to be okay.” She says and then lifts her lashes and looks at me 

“Do you want me to?” I ask softly. She shakes her head. 

“All I can say is what I know Charlie, and what I know, is that I’m here and I’m going to be here. I’m going to take care of you. Always. So whatever you need from me, just ask. I’ll do anything for you Charlie.” I say and she nods.

“My dad told me he doesn’t have any regrets. Except for one.” She says and I just watch her as she plays with my shirt. Her fingers scratching the fabric gently on my chest. 

“He said he regrets not giving you a chance.” She says and I swallow. She looks from

Her where her hand is on my chest to my eyes. 

I just smile softly and nod. 

She lays her head back down on my shoulder. 

“I’m so tired.” She says softly and the pain in her voice, rips my heart in two. 

“I know baby. Get some sleep.” I say softly even if I know that’s not entirely what she means. 

“I’m scared” she whispers. 

“I’ve got you” I say and turn and hold her in my arms. “I’ve got you baby” 

She cries quietly, for a long time. I just hold her. Letting her cry as much as she needs to. Till she tires herself out entirely and falls asleep in my arms.