A Serenade For The Innocent 12 This Is Not Enough

I slid my window close so powerfully I swear the banging it produced might have woken up three of my neighbors. I sat through my window, hiding in vain. I bit my right hand's fingernails while the other grabs it to stop me from shaking. I crept slowly towards my bed, curled myself on it, and hid beneath my blanket. I will sleep this off, I will end this day once and for all, and tomorrow I'll look for a job, move out of this apartment, and forget about tonight once and for all!

My soft mattress and the heat of the blanket along with the unbearable weakness I've been feeling since this morning has reached me, making me feel drowsy in a matter of seconds. I closed my eyes and in just the snap of a finger, I'm off to dreamland. But as fast as I had fallen asleep the same goes with how fast I've awoken. A soft knocking on my door forced my soul back to the physical world, my head in a limbo between asleep and awake. Not to mention, the hangover is starting to Batista bomb my skull until it breaks.

I took my phone out of my handbag and checked the clock. G.o.d, who's knocking at my door at 2 in the morning? I rose from my bed with a scoff, scratching my head as I took a peek at my peephole. What I saw is a man wearing an eerily familiar gray hoodie and I can't see it but d.a.m.ned if his pants are black. He turned his head towards the direction of my peephole. As usual, his hoody is hiding his eyes while the shadow of it hid his nose but unfortunately, the darkness did not stretch far enough to reach his mouth. He leaned his shoulders forward enough for me to see the highlights of his bruised lips.

He's about to whisper something when I interrupted him with a hard "No!" I shouted 'no' about five times before I ran back to my living and try to find something I can push towards the door, anything at all! I pulled my hair, panicking, trying to find anything I can carry or drag. I tried the closet, but it's too heavy, the table is not enough, ah, that's right I can push the sofa!

If I am being honest, it took a while to make the darn thing move, I'm just too dizzy for this s.h.i.+t. As I persistently took the effort to move the sofa, I can hear the stranger's knocking grew louder and louder. After a while the knocking turned into a loud banging, the loud banging turned into force so strong he might as well demolish my door.

After a few minutes, I finally managed to push the sofa as hard as I can towards my door and used it as a makes.h.i.+ft barricade.

"I don't care who you are and I don't want to know what you want but you will never set foot on my apartment. Ever!"

The banging did not grow louder, but it continued and it became faster than ever. I don't know why but I pushed the sofa harder towards the door as if to overpower his banging with whatever remains of my spirit.

Alas, the man stopped. I stood on top of my sofa and took a peek at my peephole. He's not there anymore, thank G.o.d! Hopefully, for the last time. I surrendered to my tiredness and let myself fall down the couch.

Bang.

I heard the wall to my left side emitted, perhaps because my neighbors are finally complaining from all that commotion. d.a.m.n, looks like eviction will come earlier for me.

Bang.

That one came from upstairs.

Bang.

This one came from the door.

Bang.

Another one from my right side.

Bang.

This time sound is from below my window.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

It's everywhere! All around me, there's banging everywhere! From within my walls, from the floor, from the ceiling, from the door, some banging are even coming from the wood inside my sofa! It's everywhere, it's making me go insane, it's tearing my head apart! I can almost feel my ear swell up and bleed from inside of my head after a few seconds of hearing this awful banging.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG STOP PLEASE BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG WHAT DO YOU WANT BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG I HAVE NO MONEY BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG LEAVE ME ALONE BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG PLEASE I HAVE NOTHING TO GIVE BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG WHAT DID I EVER DO TO YOU BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG IF I DID SOMETHING TO YOU IN THE PAST I'M SORRY BANG BANG BANG BANG PLEASE STOP THIS PLEASE I AM BEGGING YOU PLEASE BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!!!

"Denzel, help me, please!" I shouted to Denzel on the phone.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

"What's going on? What're that noises, where are you?" Denzel asked in rapid succession, I could barely hear some of what he said because of the loud banging from all around me.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

"Please, I need you so bad, he's coming after me, I don't know why but he's coming after me; he will kill me, no he will take me away, Denzel, please, you need to come here I don't know what I'd do I need you here so bad I can't do this anymore, I'm going crazy I-"

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

"I'm already on my car, just stay calm. Do that for me, Ashley. Hide somewhere, I'll be there. Try to stay calm, I don't get what's happening but I'm going now." I don't know how but in amidst the endless sound of banging I could hear the soothing voice of a worried Denzel.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

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"Okay, okay, please, come fast I don't know what I'd do anymore, Denzel, I'm so confused, they suddenly banged out of nowhere I don't know where they came from." Tears welled up from my eyes and my voice becomes coa.r.s.e. "I'm so afraid, Denzel, I don't know what to do anymore, help me, please!"

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

"It's okay, I'm already driving. Are you still living in your old apartment?"

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

"Yes,"

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

"Okay, are you hiding somewhere already?"

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

"Yes, I'm inside my closet right now."

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

"Good, you're doing great, Ashley, I'm so proud of you. I can already see your apartment from afar. I'll park somewhere near and run towards your room real fast. I'm driving like crazy so don't worry I'll be there soon. I promise."

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

"Thank you so much, Denzel." I cried I can't contain my tears any longer. "I don't know what I would do without you. Please don't hang up, please talk until you get in my room." I begged as I wept, almost shouting since the banging is becoming louder than ever.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

"I wasn't planning to hang up in the first place," Denzel said in a similar shouting tone but his words felt like a cherub's serene melody.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

"Thank you, Denzel, thank you so, so much!"

BANG BANG BANG BANG

"No need to thank me. I'm already here inside the building." I can hear his panting as his voice ring on my ear. "Just a bit longer, I'm already there."

BANG BANG BANG

"Please, hurry!"

BANG BANG

"Ashley?"

BANG

"Yes?"

Bang!

"I love you."

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

The banging on the walls grew louder more than ever and I could physically feel the sound hurt the insides of my skull. I feel like if this continues my head will explode.

"I love you, Ashley!" But Denzel was unfazed by this. I can hear his pant grew louder than ever but he repeats those words of confession over and over and as he does so the banging sound just kept growing and growing in volume. I can hear some of my appliances fall and break as the banging shakes the walls of my apartment.

But Denzel did not stop proclaiming his love.

BANG BANG BANG BANG I LOVE YOU, ASHLEY! BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG I LOVE YOU, ASHLEY! BANG BANG BANG BANG I LOVE YOU, ASHLEY! BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG I LOVE YOU, ASHLEY! BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG I LOVE YOU, ASHLEY! BANG BANG BANG BANG I LOVE YOU, ASHLEY! BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG I LOVE YOU, ASHLEY! BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG I LOVE YOU, ASHLEY! BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG I LOVE YOU, ASHLEY! BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG I LOVE YOU, ASHLEY!

"I'm here outside of your apartment."

Silence.

The banging stopped as if the presence of Denzel alone is enough to make the sp.a.w.ns of Satan to stop their curse upon me. I escaped from my closet and ran straight to my door. I peeked on my peephole and I can see a panting Denzel, confusion written all over his face and sweat bathing his body. But all these don't seem to destroy his calm demeanor.

I pulled my sofa from my door and unlocked my door. By the time Denzel saw me he brightens up as if everything in the world is irrelevant compared to this fateful union. And I know I felt the same way. I jumped towards him and cling my arms on his neck, embracing him as tightly as I can, not planning to let go.

I buried my face on his firm chest, my tears wetting his s.h.i.+rt as if it needs more of it since he's drenched in sweat already. But I like this, I like the feeling of his body, his heat, his sweat, his heartbeat, him. I love him. I can't believe I almost made this man leave my side again.

"I'll never let you off my sight ever again." He whispered as he embraces me back as tightly as he can without hurting my body.

I look up at him, my tears fall again for the nth time in the last twenty-four hours. "Don't you dare leave my side ever again."

"I won't." He smiled, his gentle whisper fills my heart with an unbelievably soft sensation I've never felt for a long time.

He kissed me and I kissed him back. I pulled him towards my room, not letting his lips off mine. I pulled myself from him, Denzel's face filled with longing, those sharp begging eyes tells me he wants more. I took his s.h.i.+rt off and feel the sensation of his skin.

He may not have the most perfect body in the world but wow, this man is the hottest person I've ever seen. I felt his body, his black hair, the heat from the lower half of his body, and feeling of his smooth lips. Everything about him made me forget my apartment is in ruins and everything about that wall banging business.

I touched a tattoo on his arm, one I'm well acquainted with but one I never expected to see again. Suddenly, countless memories flooded through me one where he put a tattoo of my name in his arm and up until now that same mark still lingers on his skin.

"I thought you'd get rid of this."

"I was planning to." He pulled me towards him, making me release a soft moan. "But I guess I never moved on from you."

I sighed, a soft smile painted on my face. "We never changed."

That night we drowned ourselves in pleasure.

The warm caress of the morning woke me up, blinded by the s.h.i.+ne of the sun, and the smell of fried eggs, bacon, and the sound of someone cooking on the kitchen revive my spirit. Isn't this just the best way to wake up? Good day, good bed, good food, and clinging to the arms of a good man.

Wait.

If I'm clinging Denzel's arm who's cooking in the kitchen?

I pulled the blanket off and saw my white mattress turned into red. My eyes widened and I slowly turn my head to the 'arm' I was clinging to the entire time. Well, it's true, I was clinging to Denzel's arm the entire time, but where's the rest of him? I quickly rose from my bed, trying to piece together what is happening while I was asleep.

That's when I saw it. Behind my bed, words too big not to notice, written in blood, the letters dripping on the walls, some are just about to dry up.

YOU LOOK

PRETTY

WHEN YOU

CRY.

I turned my head towards the door. The sofa is still there, but the door itself is wide open. I'm stunned, in awe, thinking of what is happening, unable to move my body but my eyes got enough energy to release a torrent of tears.

"You look really pretty right now." A voice whispered in my ears. "But this is not enough."