Mark inhaled sharply and went inside, Vanessa saw him, she was shocked and suprised, her eyes widen, on nearing her bed, she looked away.
Mark....Hi, long time.Oh, you cant talk yet because of the oxygen mask, sorry.
Vanessa started crying.
Mark....Oh please, dont be like this, we are not strangers so dont be shy with me.Am really sorry about what happened to you that i wasnt here for you through all this, i really am sorry Vannessa.
He left the room.
Sam....How is she?
Mark....She is emotional, but am glad that she is back to us.
Martha....Dont come back ever again to see her.
Sam....I suggest that you leave Martha because you dont know anything going on here.
Mark....Sir, i will come back later to see her again.
Doc....Sorry to interrupt but can i please get your autograph?
Mark....Sure thing.
Nurses....Us too, please!
Mark....Fine.
After he wore his mask and left.Hanna called him, they met at his house.
Hanna....You only have one thing left to do honey, is to marry someone, your life will be complete then.
Mark....What do you want mum?
Hanna....I know about Vanessa, am really sorry honey that she ended up like that.
Mark....You think she wanted this to happen to her? She was fucking depressed mum, her mum left them, her soccer dream didnt come true, i abandoned her and on top of that, she had to earn aliving for her and her dad to survive.Do you really blame her?
Hanna....Calm down son, am not blaming her, i just feel sorry for her that she went through all that.
Mark....Thanks for your sympathy but i wanna be alone for now.
Hanna...I understand honey.
After a few days, Vanessa was better and breathing on her own without the oxygen mask, Sam fed her and even told her stories to cheer her up.
Martha....Am i interrupting?
Nessa....What are you doing here?
Sam....I told you not to show up here again.
Nessa....She came here before?
Martha....Honey, am really sorry for leaving you alone yet you were just nineteen, your like this because of me.
Nessa....No, you left us, remember? We starved for days because we had no fuckin money and i had to work my ass off to survive.
Martha....Am sorry.
Nessa....I will never forgive you, you never loved me, you said it yourself that i was a replacement, you have no conscience at all, i was depressed and i needed you, but you just left without even a goodbye.Get out! We dont need you anymore.
Martha....I feel guilty Vanessa, i cant sleep anymore at night.
Nessa....So your here to clear your conscience? Just please dont come back.
Sam....Martha, leave this instant!
She left crying, so was Vanessa, that moment, Mark arrived.
Nessa....Mark?
Sam....I should excuse myself.
Mark....Hi, how are you feeling?
Nessa....I dont wanna see your face Mark, leave please.
Mark....I know how you feel, but you expect me to leave when your like this?
Nessa....Why? You left as if i didnt matter, now your concerned? I dont wanna see anyone of you people....you depressed me...and...and...and...i...hate you all....
Mark went to her hugged her.
Mark....Cry all you want, blame me all you want but am not leaving.I depressed you, yes, i did and am sorry, please.
He comforted her until she cooled down.
Nessa....Am sorry for being agressive, this is the new me you didnt know of, i changed and i hate it, it sucks.
Mark....To me, you will be always the kind caring girl i once knew.
Nessa....No Mark, dont say that to make me feel better about my shitty life.I've blamed you for my bad habits this whole time, but its all on me, people change only if they want to.
Mark....Its not that.
Nessa....Yes it is! I chose the wrong path because i was lonely and you were doing great, it hurt me, maybe it was jealous.
Mark....Do you really think i was that happy?
Nessa....Obviously! How did you even know about my hospitalization? Why did you even come to see me?
Mark....I went to your house and your neighbor told me everything.
Nessa....Ugh! That lousy big yap old man!
Mark....I came because i missed you and i....
Nessa....Enough Mark, i dont want to talk about the past anymore, and mostly, about what we had.We will never get back together Mark, it was for the better that we broke up, i made a pact to myself that i will never fall in love again.
Mark....I see, i didnt mean anything like that either, lets just be friends i guess.
Nessa....No, we should both stay in our own lane as we've been these past years.Mark, i want to build my life again and start afresh as a new changed person, i dont wanna live in the past again, its been traumatizing me for long.
Mark....I wish i could make things right.
Nessa....Its too late to change the past, but early to fix the future.Your a world champion, being friends to an addict, a loser, i will only drag you down the path i took, and i dont want that for you.
Mark....But Vanessa....
Nessa....This time round, God has given me a chance to become a better person, am gonna use it.Mark, thanks for coming by but please dont come back again, i really wanna move on from you for good and focus on myself, we are adults now.All the best, i wont miss your matches ever again, thats my promise.
Mark stood up with his heart broken again, tears flowing from his eyes down his chin, he wore his mask and went outside, he drove to Aaron's place.