Gilbert’s eyes were dark and bloodshot, with fine lines etched into them like cracks on a parched desert floor.
“Is it because I’m an impostor that you despise me, that you look down on me? Is that it?” His voice was a mix of despair and vulnerability.
Sherilyn watched him with furrowed brows, clearly seeing his inner turmoil. Perhaps admitting the truth, allowing him to let go of hope, might actually be a kindness.
She took a deep breath and nodded, “Yes, you’re right! Uh…” Before she could finish, a sharp pain shot through her jaw, as if he had crushed it with his grip!
“Sherilyn!” Gilbert was oblivious, lost in his own world of sorrow and despair, his gaze fierce and wild. “You! Well, aren’t you something!”
Tears suddenly spilled from the corners of his bloodshot eyes. Sherilyn paused, taken aback. Was he… crying?
“Ha! Haha…” Gilbert burst into crazed laughter, “How could you do this to me? I thought, I thought…”…you were different! Even though she didn’t care for him, he had still believed she was different! But she wasn’t! Gilbert retracted his arm, releasing her. “Leave!” His voice was quiet yet clipped.
Sherilyn didn’t catch his words at first. “What?”
“I said leave!” Gilbert shouted, lifting his head to glare at her with intense eyes. “Go! Get out of my sight!” His eyes were dry, devoid of any tears.
Sherilyn hesitated, as if the tears she had seen were just an illusion. Clutching her bag tightly, she quickly turned and jogged out.
As her hand touched the door, she impulsively looked back at him and opened her mouth, “Take care, Jenna’s dad!” With that, she stepped out, closing the door behind her.
Inside, a cacophony ensued. Crash!!
Clatter… Staring at the ruby ring on the table, Gilbert yelled out in anger, sweeping the dining table clear in one swift motion. The room was left in chaos. But it wasn’t enough, the pain was unbearable! How could he make it stop?
Outside, Sherilyn listened to the noise, closing her eyes tightly, taking a deep breath, and then exhaling… She didn’t look back…
The sun shone brightly over Sunhaven that day, blinding her as she stepped out of the hospital building. With reddened eyes, Sherilyn forced a smile: It was over, this time it was finally… over!
…
Inside the room, Gilbert had
smashed everything smashable and overturned everything that could be
overturned: “Ugh!” Suddenly, he
clutched his head, a severe pain net
throbbing inside. What was
ver
happening? He tried to ease it by pounding on his head but to no avail. Shaking his head, he stumbled into the bathroom.
Francis received a call from the hospital about Gilbert nearly tearing his room apart and rushed over. Entering the room, he saw the staff still trying to tidy up. Even though they had managed to clean up a part of it the room was still a mess, as if a tornado had swept through it.
“Where’s Mr. Gilbert?” Francis asked one of the staff.
“In the bathroom,” the staff member replied. “He’s been in there for a while. We knocked a few times, but Mr. Gilbert didn’t respond.”
“Alright.” Francis nodded and walked towards the bathroom, knocking on the door. “Gilbert, it’s me, your brother… Can you hear me? Can I come in?” Inside the bathroom, Gilbert stood under the shower, letting the cold water cascade over him, washing away the pain in his head.