Eliza's pov

The smell of iodoform and chemicals purged through my nose when I jolt myself awake from another terrible nightmare.

This is my usual morning now. To be waken up by the terrifying eeriness of darkness and fearsome, ghastly sounds of metal scraping against the rough wall with a numbing deep cackle that is etched onto my brain.

Everytime it is the same. The same eyes, the same laugh, the same touch. Fear, that is how I can define my past few days.

It's been four days, I have been admitted in the hospital, and two days I have been staring at the old white framed window with nothing but a withered tree to see as a landscape.

I don't know why, but I keep relating myself to that scorched tree. In some ways I feel dead. I can't seem to think differently. For me everything felt dry and shrivelled.

"Ela, honey you're awake?" I heard my mom's voice pulling me from my thoughts.

"Yes." I replied. Although with enough effort, I can speak now. Now that the bruises around my throat have healed I can voice without straining much.

"Were you crying?" She worriedly came near me, wiping away my tears which I didn't know I had.

"Let's get you to the washroom and freshen up, shall we?" My mom asked me, to which I was forced to agree.

I hate it, I'm hating everything about me now. I can't even do anything by myself. I have to depend on someone now. Everytime my mom come to aid for me I can't help but feel sad that instead of looking after my mom she is burdened to look after me. How pathetic am I?

After my morning routine, she brought me some homemade food. A break from the hospital food to get to taste my mom's cooking warmed me in some ways.

"Your dad will be here in a few min-." Before she could complete as if on cue my dad entered.

He didn't say anything he just silently took the seat near the bed. I was not sure about what should I speak. Our last conversation with each other was not something I want to recollect either. I went a little harsh on him and I regret that. But I won't be the first to apologise, I am adamant on that.

I stopped thinking about it and tried to see what my mom was doing. She was getting my food ready. I couldn't move my hand on my will so mom had to feed me, which is something I always loved although not under such a circumstance.

"Sorry I will come right away." My mom excused herself when her phone blared disrupting the silence of the room.

My dad still sat there silently and I feeling a little too awkward turned my head to gaze at the withered tree through the window. We didn't really have a proper conversation in this hospital stay.

A muffled cough made me turn to look back at him. He was on his feet walking to my direction. Without making any eye contact with me he sat beside my bed taking the bowl from the side table.

"I don't think she will be returning anytime soon." Even if hoarse, his voice was gentle.

He lifted the spoon bringing it to my mouth still not looking at me directly. I tried to control the urge from breaking a smile. I couldn't deny I felt happy.

"Have the pain gone?" He asked to which I simply nodded. He wiped the food from the corner of my mouth mumbling a 'Good'.

I felt so happy hearing him speak to me like that, care for me like that. The troublesome thoughts from the nightmare instantly vanished and was replaced with happiness to see him here with me. Not to quarrel but to look after me.

My eyes were burning with tears but I tried to keep it in control, too scared if he will leave me alone in this room.

"Did you have food?" I asked him maintaining a firm voice without breaking in between.

"No." He said while filling the spoon with another scoop.

"You should." I don't want him to risk his health. He already looked very tired and I didn't like that. He didn't give me a reply.

"After you eat this, I will have my food." He said shortly after helping with the last spoon. I smiled this time and he did too. A smile I so longingly wished to see.

"Are these the medicines?" He asked me pointing at the small box on the table labelled 'after food'. I nodded.

He brought it to me along with a bottle of water.

"You still can't swallow it without breaking it into two." He shook his head with a small smile.

"It's hard." I smiled. When I was a kid I used to run around to avoid medicines. If they forced me to take it I will just spat it all out. Those times I wished Emily and I were conjoined twins so she could eat the medicines for me. Dad was the one who always managed to somehow make me take it. He would act like taking the pills along with me and me being the kid gets too excited to copy him. Those were happy times.

Just then mom came in, informing it was Evan who called. He and Jenna reached back in Victoria. They left early morning but I was asleep and I couldn't see them off.

I saw dad looking at mom sadly but she didn't even spare a glance, instead came and took the emptied spoup bowls.

"The medicines?" She asked.

"She took it." Dad told her to which she only hummed nonchalantly.

After some time me and mom was left alone in the room. I wanted to ask her why the silent treatment to dad and was waiting for the right moment.

"Did he give you the food and medicines?" She asked once she took the seat.

"Mhm." I hummed happily. "Mom what happened between you and dad?" I asked straight away.

"Nothing." She denied right then and there. But I know her too well. The sulk on her face was too evident. After prying for a few more minutes she caved in.

"It's just I can't forgive him." She told looking down at the white floor. I quirked my brows questioningly.

"Not after what he said to you, I just couldn't look at him. It really broke my heart seeing you like that. I couldn't even forgive myself. I felt guilty for not being able to stand up for you." Her eyes welled up with tears, regret washing over her face.

"Mom it's okay. It's not your fault, okay? All were said at the heat of the argument." I tried to reply strongly although I myself was trying to forget that day, the argument and everything after that.

"But what he said I couldn't just forgive him. H-he went too far. If that didn't happen, if he didn't make you leave like that, you would be okay right now. You would not have gone through any of this. I am sorry Eliza, I'm so sorry. Can you forgive me for not being there with you, for not standing upto you?" She was crying, her hands trembling, holding onto mine gently.

"There is nothing to forgive ma. It was not your fault. Neither was it dad's. It it j-just happened. None of you are at fault."

I placed my hand on top of hers ignoring the pain and squeezed it to assure her. "Forgive dad. Don't fight with him okay. He seems genuinely sorry for whatever he said. And I babbled a lot of things too. I am already giving him a hard time and I don't want him to have one from you too."

"Ela-"

"Mom, don't cry. He fed me food today. Can you believe it? He fed me, gave me medicines too and talked to me and smiled at me. How wonderful is that? I-I won't be able to forget everything that happened in the past. It's hard for me to let go. But he is making effort and that's what it counts. So please try to make up with him. I don't want to come in between you two."

"Ela, I understand what you mean. I can feel how suffocated you must have felt because of us. I will try to patch it up. I will not make you upset. I promise." She wiped her tears away and smiled trying to ease my heart.

"Thank you mom. I just want you to be happy. Dont mind me. I will be too." I felt bad lying to her face. I was far from being happy. I felt like I lost everything. There was nothing to erase my mind of all the images etched onto my brain. The horrors I see, the screams I hear, the fear I feel seems too engrossed to be washed away that easily.

"You are really the sweetest, honey. I am proud of you. Please get well soon. I just wanna see you like how you were. I love you Ela." She kissed my forehead before helping me lay on my bed and cover me with the duvet.

"Love you too mom."