Lesson Learned✔

28

Christian

I did not lie, what came after I knew but I didn't.

I knew I would have talked to them eventually, after all the report of Aspens kidnapping was still there and that complicated things. I also knew Aspen hadn't talked to them because Penelope had made sure they didn't which I was grateful for.

It wasn't that I wanted her to lie, I wouldn't ask her of that. In reality I never confirmed nor denied what I did, or didn't do. Aspen could only say what she knew for a fact, could only say what she saw until she left. That was all I asked her to do, to tell them what she saw. And really the most I had to fear was Aspen hating me and she didn't.

The rest? I didn't care.

When the police came for me, I was sliding Aspens robe in place- no I hadn't touched her the way I wanted, nor had I kissed her. I had only checked her stomach, her wrist, had roamed my eyes around her skin to check if Nydia had done more than just drug her. She hadn't.

Upon seeing them, Aspen had gripped me tightly, had whispered in my ear to run but I didn't do that. Instead I only held her a little tighter, kissing her forehead as I whispered how much I loved her. It wasn't a goodbye, I wouldn't say that, I wouldn't leave her because I knew I wouldn't be going to prison. Or so I hoped.

I had felt her body shake against mine as I carefully slid her off my lap, lowering myself as I tried sitting her on the chair but she didn't. She tried keeping me, my heart aching but I had to sooth her over because I didn't want her worrying because I'd find a way out, even if it meant lying.

When I finally did manage to go with the police, I was dumbfounded and struck with what they said.

What Giovanni said, what he told Aspen was not a lie. Nydia did overdose but not by my account, or not completely. I fucking laughed when they told me that, when Matt came up to me and told me what he really gave me.

When I called him after Nydia showed up, I asked him to get me something lethal, he questioned me but did as I asked, or as much as he thought acceptable.

Matt did give me a drug but not the one I wanted, he gave me a relaxant, thinking it was for me, one that did not mix well with the drugs already in Nydias system or with the drugs she tipped in both our glasses.

Honestly I didn't even feel the drugs in my system, didn't even know what I was given because by the time they drew blood they were gone. One thing I did know was that whatever Nydia gave me was a smaller dose than what she drank because I didn't feel anything more than a light sickness that I had thought was associated with her death.

So entirely, I wasn't the one to blame for her death. Yet it still didn't make it any easier on me, it still didn't change the fact that I was there, that I would have killed her.

The police allowed me to leave that day but I couldn't leave the city, well not until all was settled which didn't take long because no one pressed charges on me. And given the circumstances, it was a debate on who did what and what exactly happened.

The hospital board however was another deal, they didn't revoke my license but they did ask me to take a few months off. I wouldn't get penalized, wouldn't even get a mark on my record because I didn't entirely do anything wrong. They only did that because in the end I did lie and because even I thought I should take a break, think about what I did and would do, which I knew well.

And in the end, I didn't mind those months given to me, not when they allowed me to spend it with my wife.

Yes, wife.

Aspen and I got married as rain tickled down on us, my fingers holding her hands as I promised her everything. There was a calm in me as I slid the ring on, my gaze on her with each word I said. Her eyes glimmering with tears, cheeks flushed with the word I said to her, promises I wouldn't break.