Chapter III

Dear Journal,

You know that feeling that you get in your stomach when you anticipate something bad happening in the future? That's what I feel at this moment. I've been feeling it since Egypt arrived in the hospital and it's such a sinking feeling. It's like when this trial began, there was no hope of us ever winning. 'Us'.....what am I using that word for? It's Gypsy who's having the trouble, but I'm involved. I want support her, and I'm supposed to keep that promise to her. I don't want her to be hurt again.....

Adam closed his journal and sighed. His anguish over Egypt made him feel invulnerable, and even though she was leaving the hospital on this day, he knew things would just get harder for her. She needed to be there in court tomorrow, the next day.....whenever the hell it was.

Egypt was dressed as she walked out of her bathroom, and her hair was swept into a loose bun. She was in the clothes she had been wearing before: her flower print black blouse and her long khaki dress. She approached Adam, who seemed to be in a trance at her presence.

"You're staring, honey," she whispered, smiling at him.

Cautiously, he put the journal down on her bed and took her hand, placing a small, gentle kiss upon it. Her other hand slipped underneath his chin and lifted his face. Adam closed his eyes and sighed again. She had a gentle touch....a caress. For a teenager, she was simply beautiful. There was no one else like her. Adam wanted to hold her so badly, but he didn't know how she would react to his touch. He had hugged her before, but his hands around her waist? It seemed unfathomable. She told him that she always loved when a man touched her waist, but he wasn't sure if he should do it at this point. He just wanted to bury his face in her womb, inhale the scent of her remaining innocence and everlasting beauty. He wanted to taste the sweetness inside of her. Sweetness....like candy. A baby in his arms, so pure and fragile. He couldn't fight the urge and slowly slipped his hand around her waist, kissing her stomach. She was firm and soft, and he held her tightly while her hands combed through his hair.

Then he started to cry.

"I'm sorry," he sobbed. "I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I feel helpless, baby. I don't know what to do to help you. I feel like I'm at my wit's end."

"Adam," she cried, "you have all my feelings. I'm trying my best to be brave, though. You are such a good person. It hurts me more than you because I'm the one to go through all of this. But I know what you mean."

She pressed him against her, her arms cradling his head as he continued to cry in her embrace. He was in so much pain over her. Suddenly, as he inhaled, he caught a whiff of her scent---she smelled so sensually sweet and exotic, like jasmine. He ran his fingers up and down her body and slowly stood to face her, his hands upon her cheeks. He pulled her closer, his arms caressing her back. She leaned her head against his shoulder as her hands wrapped around his waist and a tear fell from her eye.

"I can't believe I have to be there tomorrow," Egypt said.

"I know," Adam replied, "but I'll be there, too. You know I will."

"Right now I just wanna be home in my bed, wrapped up in my sheets....without a care in the world," she confessed. "Maybe you could give me a back rub....and tell me stories and then I could fall asleep. That sounds better than the trial. Sounds better than any trial."

"I would agree," Adam said. "Are you all packed up?"

"Just about," Egypt said, walking over to her suitcase. "Listen, Adam.....I wanna thank you for what you did. I probably would have been lost without you."

"Gypsy, you don't have to do that....."

"Yes, I do," she exclaimed. "Look, if you hadn't found me on the floor, I probably would have been dead. I know you have a big heart and you're so understanding. I couldn't live without you, Adam Copeland....and you know that. Now.....let's go home."

To be continued....