Yes, The world ended in an apocalypse but it wasn't Zombies.

                        IT WAS ME.

Just a dream.

 

It was the same exact dream. The one that I had been having on and off since three months ago. I sat up in my hospital bed and looked around gasping for air, looking for anyone to hold onto. I was alone. I hated this dream.

            It was so real, as if I could smell it and touch it. As if it was tangible. It really happened. My Doctor had told my parents that it was because I had gone through something so tragic. The dream is always the same, always so vivid. I can always smell the scent of wood when I wake up.

             I pulled my hospital gown up over my nose and breathed in to get rid of said smell. The IV in my arm was itching.

THE DREAM:

            I'm sitting stopped at a traffic light. It's a rainy day, the streets slick, but it's only a drizzle as of now. I reach down for my IPod to turn the song, and look back up at the sound of screaming. Sitting in front of me is one of those large trucks, filled with tree trunks. Somehow the binds had come lose and some of the logs were falling.

             One of them hit a car next to the truck, knocking the car on two wheels. The car rested like that between the trunk and the car next to it. I look up at the truck and a trunk is headed my way. My door was ripped open, literally off of its hinges. I smell wood.

I feel a hand on my arm, hear glass shattering, and that's it. I black out. I wake up.

*

I began to itch at my IV. A nurse comes in and I smile guilty at her.
"If you keep doing that we’ll have to poke you again." She warned.
The fold of my arm was purple and blue. Both of them actually.

"When Can I get it taken out?"

"Let's see."

            I followed her with my head as she walked over to my bed, and behind all the machines. They had taken the life support machine out last month. She took the bag in her hands.

"I'll take it out after I get your vitals."
            She set to work on my Vitals. The blood pressure cuff squeezed my arm and I winced. Both of the tops of my arms had broken blood vessels due to this. When I had first woken up last month, I was completely confused. I had a tube down my throat, an oxygen line tapped to my nose, and my parents were holding hands. They got divorced six years ago and hated each other with a passion.

            They told me what happened, and that night I had the dream. They had to sedate me to keep the tube in place, because they couldn't wake me up. I was dying. I wasn't going to survive. Then a miracle happened. I was able to breathe on my own, and my parents were over joyed.

            They had spent the last two months waiting for the inevitable. The Doctor had even given them the offer to pull the plug on me. I was a living breathing miracle. Everyone was impressed. Dad had chased away many reporters in the last month. ` .

 

            The nurse took out the IV, and took off the oxygen monitor, the heart monitor.
"Your parents are at the front desk signing papers for your discharge and dealing with insurance. I'll help you take a shower."

"Thanks."
            She sat on the toilet as I took a shower. I had been bathed so many times while I was out cold, that I had no more shame. I got dressed in my own clothes I never thought I'd miss jeans, but as I pulled them on I was at peace. I yanked on a grey long sleeved shirt, and my twenty one pilots hoodie. I brushed out my hair and let it hang lose.

            I pulled on some socks and my boots. I laced them up and stood up. The nurse smiled.

"Feel good to be back in your own clothes?"

"Oh yeah." I laughed. "When can I get this taken off?"

I pulled my sleeve over my cast. The arm that the hand grabbed was broken.

"The doctor will come in and talk you once your parents are back."
"Sounds like a plan."

She left my room with my gown. I plopped down on the bed and looked over my lunch tray. I ate the little berry pie, and drank my sprite. My parents came into the room laughing.

"You ready to get out of here?" Dad asked, with a huge grin.

"Yep."
Mom touched my forehead with the back of her hand. I was fine, but let her do her thing. She had a few grey hairs, but I didn't point it out.

"Dr. Morris." Dad shook his hand.
Dr. Morris looked at me, "Unfortunately kiddo, you have to have that cast on for the next month according to your x-rays. It's the strangest thing. Your bones are broken as if someone squeezed your arm, but no human is strong enough to break that many bones in one grab."

Well then what was it? It was a human hand I felt, was it not?

"But there won't be any nerve damage and the bones will heal right?" Mom asked, looking at Dad.

"The broken bones will heal, yes," Dr. Morris nodded quickly, and Mom relaxed a little bit, "As for the nerve damage it's hard to say. If it does come to that we can try some physical therapy. We'll get you back to yourself in no time. Sound good Solan?"

"Yep."
         I just wanted to get out of here already. I missed my bed. I missed my Mom's food. I missed Peirce. Mom and Dad thanked the Doctor and we finally were able to leave.

          I denied the wheel chair, but Dad kept close in case I fell. He opened the door and held onto my hand as I got into the car. Here in the town of Stockbridge Georgia, it was raining. Yet again. It was October twelfth.

          Dad waked around the car, and got in shaking off the umbrella. He handed it to mom who closed it with the strap. As we drove, we passed all the familiar places I knew. The store, gas stations, coffee shop. When I had first woken up I had amnesia.

           It lasted only for two weeks, and then random memories came back. Like the memory of my Mom. I didn't know who she was. Maybe it was because I spent most of my time with Dad. He had custody of me. I chose him six years ago.

        Mom had cheated on Dad with some Beach Model named Gabe. He was almost half her age. What happened to him? I was discharged with three refills of Norco, for my concussion. I also had brain bleeding but so far that was all taken care of.

        I had a few other meds that would help my brain not swell and others. Out of everything the Doctor had talked about in front of me, no one mentioned what had happened during the accident. Dad pulled up to the drive-thru pharmacy. The inside of the car was getting humid. The windows were fogged.

         I reached up with a finger, and drew a star. The lady took my prescriptions, and Dad pulled away. They'd be done in no longer than two hours. We pulled up to Dad's house. I had no idea where Mom lived.

             I stopped all contact with her until the accident. Dad hopped out of the car and jogged around to my side of the car. He helped me out of the car and held me close, as we walked to the door. There was a bitter wind on this side of the town. Dad and I waited as Mom plugged the key into the door and pushed the door open.

            Dad hurried me inside, and sat me on the couch. He started on a fire, as Mom grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and put it around me. She untied my shoes and took them off like I was a little kid. She felt my feet and took my socks off.

"I'll get you a new pair sweetie." She kissed my head and diapered upstairs.

"What is she doing here?"
"You were dying Solan." Dad said, lighting the wood in random places. "What did you expect?"

"What is she doing here, here.”?
"She's going to stay with us until you're completely stable."
"What about Gabe?"
"That never worked out."
"Like you said."
He smiled a bit, and Mom came into the room, rolling up a sock.
"Give me a foot."
I held up my foot and she rolled it on. She did the same thing with the other foot.

"You two go ahead and get warm." Mom patted Dad's shoulder and kissed my head, "I'll start on dinner."

I grabbed her hand as she turned, "What are you making?"

She looked down at me, "None other than your favorite."
"Good." I smiled.
She smiled back, and squeezed my hand before she headed into the kitchen. Dad waited until he heard the sound of pots and pans banging. The sink flipped on.

"Be nice okay, Solan?" He asked, "She's trying."
"Do you forgive her?" I asked, looking at him.

            I was the spitting image of him. Brown eyes and Light brown hair. I felt like my looks were basic at best, but I was told by many strangers how pretty I was. I would thank them, on a nervous laugh.

"For what?"
"For Cheating."
"Honey," He sighed, and put his arm around me. I leaned against him, "She cheated on me. Not on you."
"She cheated on me by association."
He sighed, "To answer your question, yes. I do forgive her. I was working all the time. I'm surprised you weren't mad at me."

            Dad is a criminal law Lawyer. Mom is a phycologist. Dad did work a lot, but only because the guy he worked for died, and left the entire franchise of businesses to him in the will. Everyone had quit pissed off they didn't get it. So Dad had to hire all new Lawyers fresh out of college.

"You want to watch a movie?"

"Sure."
            We watched a movie, and then dinner was finished. But I needed my pain meds. So dad ran out to get them leaving me and Mom alone for dinner. I was eating a burger with lettuce, thousand island, extra pepper jack cheese, and fried onions on top. Homemade onion rings and cheese sticks accompanied it.
"You know you can talk to me right?" Mom asked, "About anything."

"You mean about the accident?"
"Yes." She nodded, taking a drink.
"I don't even know what happened." I lied not wanting to get into the mother daughter bonding again.
"Do you want me to tell you?"

I shrugged.
"One of the trunks smashed through the wind shield. When the paramedics came, you were lying on the floor. They said they think you tried to get out of the way. But there was something weird." She shook her head in disbelief, "Your door was missing."

"My door?"
So I hadn't imagined it.

"Yes," She nodded, "Completely gone. Ripped off clean."

"All I remember was the log coming for me." I shook my head, and put a hand on my arm that was broken, "And a hand, like this."
"What did the hand do?"
"I don't remember." I shook my head.

"Why didn't you tell the Doctors?"
"Because I didn't know if I was imagining it or not. I wanted to go home. It could have been one of the medics taking my pulse for all I know. I could have been fading in and out. I didn’t trust the doctors anyways."
"Why are you telling me?"
"Well, you know, because you're my Mom," I lifted a hand, "Besides, who knows what really happened. You heard the Doctor, it was impossible. It could have been anything. The mdeic makes the most sense to me."

She took a bite of her burger, and dad walked in.
"The Phyc will handle the pills." Dad handed her the bag.

            Mom dug through the bag, and came up with a bottle. She shook a pill out onto her hand and held it out to me. I quickly took the pill. Mom got up to make Dad a plate of food. It was strange. It felt way too homey.
"Can I call Pierce?" I asked.
"You'll have to use the land line." Dad pointed, "Your phone got smashed."
"But eat your dinner first sweet heart." Mom pointed at my plate with the spatula.

"When can I go back to school?"

"When the Doctor says so." Dad stole one of my onion rings, "You have weekly Doctors’ visits."
I moaned.
"Don't worry sweet heart." Mom comforted, “Just Cat scans. A quick IV to inject dye that will make everything pop."
"Joy."

            I finished off my food and took the phone to my room. Dad stopped eating to walk me upstairs and Mom stood at the bottom of the case. I closed my door and shooed Dad away. I changed into my favorite pajamas, and tossed in a few logs into the fire place. I lit the fire and sat down on my couch.

 I pulled a blanket around me and dialed his cell.
"How is she?"

No hello.

"Alive."
"You're home!" I could hear the smile in his voice, "Solan, I was so worried about you. They wouldn't let me see you. They said there were too many risks. Family only."
"Well you can make it up to me and come and see me. I'm on house arrest until Doc deems me fit for school."
"Can I come over tonight?"
"My parents are here."
"Parents?"
"Yeah it's weird. Come by first thing in the morning."
"Okay. Just call me when you wake up."
"I will." I yawned.
"You need sleep."
"But I want to talk to you!"
"I'll be there tomorrow." He promised.
"Okay."
"I love you Solan."
"I love you too."
"And no freak accidents on the way to the bathroom."
I laughed, "No promises."
"Comforting."

"I'll do my best. I promise."
"Alright, bye."
"Bye."

            I hung up the phone and stared at my fire. How many people died in that accident? How lucky was I to have survived the initial accident. How many kids and parents where morning their lost ones? Brothers and sisters?

There was a knock on my door, and I jumped.

I cleared my throat, "Come in."

Dad opened my door, "You done with the phone?"
"Oh yeah," I held the phone out.
            Dad came over and took the phone from me.

"So you need anything?"
"A goodnights sleep."

"I'll have Mom bring you your sleeping pill."
"Thanks."
"Sure." He kissed my head, "Goodnight, I love you."
"I love you too."

            After he left my room I got up and walked to my bed. I moved the pillows and pulled down the blankets. I sat down, and was pulling the blanket over my legs as Mom came in. She walked over to me and handed me the pill and a glass of water. I took the pill, handed her the glass of water, and lay back.

            She set the glass on the side table and sat next to me.

"I know what I did was wrong." She started, "Cheating on your Dad, breaking your safety net. I'm so sorry, and I'm really trying to move past that. These last six years have been... There are no words. I don't even know why I did it."
"Dad said it was because he worked too much. You were lonely."

She nodded sadly, "I guess. But it still didn't make it right. I made a promise, an oath, and I broke that. I can never make that up to your Dad. Never erase it from his mind."

"He seems to of forgiven you."
"Yeah," She shook her head, "But I know the sting is still there. I can see it when he looks at me."

"I feel funny."
"It's just the Ambien." She kissed my head, "Go to sleep. I love you."
"Love you."
            I watched her leave through heavy lids. She turned off the light and closed the door. My room was lit with the warm glow of the fire. My eyes slid shut, and I tried to open them, but they wouldn't.

You're home.

 

The next morning I woke up to nothing but the sounds of my fire cracking and dying. I jumped as a loud boom of thunder roared. My black curtains light up from lightning, and rain poured. I sighed. Almost no rain.

I still felt sleepy, like I was heavy. But that was the best night’s sleep that I had gotten in a while. And no dream. I yawned and stretched. I got up, peed, and headed out onto the landing.

            That's when I smelt it. My favorite breakfast. French toast. I held tightly onto the railing and made my way down stairs.

"Look at you!" Dad beamed.

"I have your favorite." Mom smiled, "Have a seat."
            In the weeks leading up to the divorce, I would wake up every morning to the sound of them yelling. They always fought in the kitchen, which evidently, was right below my bedroom. I sat at the table and tucked my feet under my legs.

"How'd that sleeping pill work for you?" Dad asked.
"Good. I woke up not tired. And I didn't wake up."
"No dream?" Mom asked, setting down my plate and a cup of milk.

"No dream." I took a bite of my toast.
Mom had pre-cut it.

"Thank God for that." Dad muttered.
"It comes and goes."
"When was the last time you had the dream?" Mom sat down with her plate.

"The night before I came home."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
I shrugged, "Not much anyone can do."
"It sounds like its PTSD." Mom said.
"Don't phyc our daughter."
"I'm sorry, but honey, you might want to talk to someone whose specialty is that department."
"Maybe."
She smiled, "Just think it over and get back to me on it. No rush."
"I will." I nodded.

“So we've been discussing somethings." Dad began, "About getting you a new car."
"I don't want one." I quickly shook my head, eyes getting wide.

They looked at each other worried.
"Honey-"
"I don't want one." I cut Mom off.

"But sweetie-"
"I don't want one!" I yelled covering my ears, “Never again!"

"Sweetheart," Dad touched my arm.
"I said no!" I screamed.
            I jumped up and ran to my room. I slammed my door and jumped into my bed, and tossed my blanket over my head. I wouldn't drive. They couldn't make me. I tried to calm my breathing. Slow deep breaths. The door opened, and the blankets were pulled from my head.

I looked over and opened my mouth to yell, but stopped. I grabbed Pierce and yanked him to me.
"Whoa!" He said, dropping the bag held and falling on top of me.

            My cast dug into my arm but I didn't care. Pierce just lay on me, pushing his forehead to my neck, and sniffing. We stayed like that for a while. Peirce and I have been best friends since kindergarten. He was my very own secret angel.

"I brought us something." He rolled off of me and grabbed the bag.

            It was doughnuts and milk. Thank God, my stomach was growling. I wolfed down three doughnuts, and drank my milk.

"What do you remember?" He took another bite of his doughnut.

            And as always, I told every single minuscule detail.

"I was at a stop light. I was listening to twenty one pilots, and went to change the song on my iPod, and everyone was screaming. The trunk hit the car next to the truck, and then one was coming for me." I grabbed his arm, "Someone grabbed me like this. I remember the smell of wood, glass breaking, and that's it."
"Did you see the person?"

"No." I shook my head. “But it was real.”

            He nodded, and took another bite of his doughnut. I admired how much he could eat.

"I have this dream every once in a while. Mom says it's PTSD." I reached for another doughnut. "She wants me to see someone about it. To talk it out."
"How do you feel about doing that?"
"If it'll help me get over these dreams then I think I want to give it a shot. These dreams are killing me. It's too real."

"I'll go with you if you want."
"Yeah?"
"Of course." He smiled, "I'd follow you anywhere."

            I smiled back and took a drink of my, milk. The door was knocked on and Dad came in.

He held his hands up, "No car talk. I promise."

"Come in." I nodded once.

"I wanted to take you to the mall to get you a new phone." He sat on the edge of my bed, "And a lap top."
"What happened to my lap top?" I asked, glancing at the place I usually kept it.
"You had it in the car with you. Don't you remember?"
I looked down at my doughnut, and shook my head.

"Well how about it?" Dad asked, trying for a cheery voice, "You coming along for the ride Pierce?"

"Yeah, I'm in. Solan?"
"Can I finish my doughnut first?"
Dad laughed, "Whenever you're ready honey."

            We watched him leave.

"Your parents are getting along." Peirce stated getting up.

"I know." I watched him walk over to my dresser.

"You need more clothes." He said, digging through my drawers. "You'll catch something and die. Where are all your long sleeved shirts?"
"I only have one. I need winter clothes."

            Every summer I donate my winter clothes to the shelter, and do the same with my summer clothes in the winter. That’s what I actually was doing before the crash. He grabbed a white shirt, a pair of jeans and my hoodie. I took them and when into my bathroom. I quickly got dressed and we headed to Southlake mall.

            Dad bought me a lap top and a phone. He gave me a new card and sent me and Peirce on our way. He had shopping of his own to do. The first thing I bought was a wallet. I had lost mine in the crash, and everything in it. My parents had ordered mew a new ID, medical card, social security card, and this credit card.

            Then I went shopping. I mostly got coats, gloves, scarves, and hats. Then Peirce talked me into getting boots, more jeans and some warm tops. Stockbridge had an average of two hundred and thirteen sunny days out of the whole year. The hottest it's gotten was ninety-one degrees, and the lowest was around thirty-three.

            I grabbed a black rain slicker.

"This is cute." I held it up for inspection.

            Pierce made his way over to me, around a rack of clothing. He took it into his hand.

"I like it." He nodded, "I'll be back. I'm going to go see if I can find one in the guy section."
"Okay."

            I tossed the slicker over my arm. When I was younger Mom made me go to school in a yellow one. I hated it. I tossed white one over my arm, and looked through the rest of them. I grabbed a dark blue slicker, tossed it over my arm, and went in search of Peirce.

            I grabbed a cool looking jacket and walked over to him holding it up.
"Hey," I waited until he looked at me, "Can you buy this for me for you?"

"Sure." He took it, "Good taste as usual."

            He tossed it over his shoulder and pulled a black slicker off the rack.

"Here we go." He tossed it over his shoulder, "I had to find my size. You ready?"
"Yeah," We headed to the checkout counter, "We should head towards the food court. I'm starved."

"Okay."

            We walked down the hall of the mall. I saw a store with back packs hanging in the window.
"Oh wait," I took his arm, "I need a new one."
"Okay."

We headed inside. I tried on different back packs finally buying one. Then we continued to the food court.
"Sorry." I looked at him pointing at a store that had a stand of notebooks and binders.

"It's okay." He smiled down at me, "Take your time."
            Pierce was taller than me by easy. I had to stand on my tip toes, him bend down, for a hug. He had black hair that he usually pulled back into a little pony tail when he was doing something that called for concentration. I got a pack of highlighters, pens, and pencils. I grabbed a calculator, notebooks, a binder and paper, post it tag markers, and some dividers.

             I grabbed a few erasers, and a pencil box. I grabbed a glue stick, a pack of colored pencils and a pair of scissors. I didn’t like getting up in front over everyone so I got my own things.

"Am I missing anything?" I asked Peirce, holding out my basket.
He dug through my basket, "Maybe you should get a ruler just in case."
"Good idea."
            I looked them over and grabbed one. I dropped it into my basket, and we headed to the checkout counter. Pierce was holding most of my bags. My head was hurting. I got dizzy. I grabbed onto Pierce's arm, and he dropped our bags and grabbed me by the shoulders.

"Solan?" He bent down so his face was in mine, "Look at me."
"I need to find my Dad." I touched my cheek. "He has my next dose of medicine."

"Here," He guided me to a bench. "I'll pay for this and you call your Dad."

I nodded. I handed my basket over to him and pulled out my pone. I typed in my password and typed in Dads number.
"Hello?"
I could hear a bunch of people in the back ground.

"Dad?"
"What's wrong?"
"I'm Dizzy."
"Where are you?"
"I'm at the notebook store. It's next to Wet Seal."

"I'm on my way. Stay with Pierce."
            I hung up my phone. Peirce gathered our bags, and headed over to me. He sat down next to me setting the bags at our feet.
"Did your Dad answer?" He felt my forehead.

I was too dizzy to push his hand away.
"He's on his way."

"I see him."
Price got up, walked to the front door and waved. Dad appeared in the door way, and they rushed over to me.

"Are you okay?"
"Dizzy." I had the heel of my hand pressed to my forehead, "It hurts."
Dad looked at his phone.

"Here." He handed Peirce his lemonade, and dug into his pocket. He pulled out a baggy and handed me the pill. "Here Honey."
            Pierce handed me the lemonade. I took a sip and took the pill.

"We'll wait here until it kicks in." Dad took the cup form me, and rubbed my back.

I left my head squeezed between my palms, my elbows on my knees until the pill kicked in. Outside I heard a bunch of girls screaming about a sale. I wish I was normal like that. But instead I was-

"There she is!"

The three of us looked up at the shout. A guy with a video camera rushed after a woman with a microphone. She stood in front of us.

"I'm here with Solan Daniels, The girl with no chance to live, at Southlake Mall." She turned to me, putting the microphone in my face, "Solan, how does it feel to have a brush with death? What is it that you think made you able to survive?"
"Excuse me," Dad interrupted, "Please do not speak to my minor child."

"I just want a few answers." The woman said, as Dad helped me up.
"No comment." I said.
"Just one question Solan-"
"She said no." Pierce took the microphone and tossed it across the hall.

The woman turned to the man, "Did you get that?"

He nodded.
            She followed us out of the mall shooting off random questions. More Reporters surrounded Dad's car, a few of them looking into the tinted windows.
"There!" Someone yelled.

            The other reporters lunged at us. We were almost to the car when a guy shoved a microphone so far into my face that I flew back to not get hit. I fell backwards, and Dad hurried to get me off the floor. Pierce grabbed the person, and punched him.
"Pierce!" Dad called, shutting my door and locking me safely inside.

            Pierce ran over and hopped into the car, at the same time Dad did hitting the lock button.
"Are you okay Solan?" Dad asked, as he yanked on his seat belt. "Did you hit your head?"
"I don't think so."

            Flashes went off as they snapped pictures.
"Text your Mother and tell her to meet us at the hospital."

"Is the hospital really necessary?" I asked pulling out my phone.

"You have a concussion." Dad honked the horn, scaring a few reporters, and made his escape, "Any time you fall you need to get checked. You don't know if you hit your head."
            I texted Mom. Pierce took me over to the chairs and Dad went to the window to check me in. Mom ran through the automatic doors, and looked around. I waved at her and she hurried over.
"What happened?" She asked feeling my forehead.

"I already told you."
"Where is your Father?"
            I pointed. She hurried over to him. He looked down at her and then began to talk. I sighed and slid lower in my seat.

"I hate this." I pulled at my sleeve, "I hate getting poked. I still have bruises."

"At least it's only one poke."

Mom and Dad walked over to me.

"I heard Solan's in?" Dr. Morris looked around, and smiled when he saw me. "Come on back guys."

"Can Pierce come?"
"Sure."

            We headed back into his office.

"So what happened?"
"We got ambushed by some reporters." Dad said.
"And one of them shoved a microphone in my face. I jumped back so it wouldn't bust my lip, and I fell."
"Oh," He became worried, "Did you hit your head?"
"I can't remember. I was trying to get up so I wouldn't get trampled."

"Alright, we’ll do a scan just in case." Dr. Morris stood up. "Come on Solan. You guys can wait in my office. Who'll it be? Mom? Dad?"
"I'll go." Mom said.

"I'll stay with Pierce." Dad nodded. "That's okay Solan?"
"Yeah."

            I changed into a gown, and sat on the tray. I was injected with the dye.

"Okay just lay back." Dr. Morris said.
"How long is this going to take?" I asked, "I don't want to be in there for too long."
"Fifteen minutes top." I looked at the tube as he said this, "Only your head will be going in."

"It's okay sweetie." Mom guided me back. "Just close your eyes."

            The machine whooshed to life, and I squeezed my eyes shut. Think of something else, anything else. Anything but the dream, the crash, the new car. Anything. Sumer.

             What was I going to do? Maybe I'd go to the beach. Pierce and I could rent a beach house as a gift for graduating. His parents would okay it. They trusted him, and Dad trusted him to keep me safe.

            I trusted Pierce with my life. Now I know that you're not supposed to trust anyone besides family, but where my family had failed in the loyalty department, he excelled. We could have bonfires right on the beach, and light sparklers and fireworks. We could have private barbeques. If you married people souly on their friendships, Pierce was my soulmate.

            Ever since that day in kindergarten he had my back. I don't like confrontation, it makes me nervous, and I shut down, using the only coping tool I have. Laughing. I was being bullied by Mike Henderson. He yanked my braid and pushed me down.

            Then he grabbed a bucket of sand and poured it over my head. Now, for a five year old, that's very traumatic. I felt like I was going to drown in sand. Pierce was new to town, and He wasn't having any of it.

"Hey!" He yelled, shoving Mike, "Didn't your Dad ever teach you to not push a girl?"

"Didn't your Dad ever teach you not to push guys half your size?" Mike pushed Pierce making him stumble back.

            And that's when Pierce snapped. He tackled Mike to the ground and punched him. Then he got up and filled a bucket with sand.
"Pour it on him." He instructed.
            I shook my head.
"It’s okay," He said, taking a step to me as if I was a scared abandoned animal," It's only fair."
            I took the bucket and poured it over his head.
"Solan Daniels!" Mrs. Kingston yelled.

            I dropped the bucket, and promptly began to cry. Pierce jumped in explains the situation. Mike had to sit in the timeout chair, and Mrs. Kingston gave Pierce and me this speech about how two wrongs don't make a right. There was a Bing and I opened my eyes, I was sliding through the machine.

"All done Solan." Dr. Morris called to me.

            Once out on the other side, I sung my legs over the table and quickly got up. Didn't want the thing to take me back through the tunnel.
“Why don't you go ahead and get dressed and head to my office."

            I got dressed and made my way to his office. Mom and Dad took up two of the four chairs.

"Where's Pierce?"
"He went to go get some food from the vending machines." Dad answered.

            I took a seat and we waited in silence.

"I got you a sprite, and a bag of Cheetos." Pierce said, rounding the corner, "What? Bad news?"

"No," Mom quickly said, "We're still waiting on the results."

"Oh."
            Pierce handed me my bag of chips, and then the soda, after he popped the tab. The cold liquid felt good to my mouth and throat, which were dry. Like I had been walking through the desert. Dr. Morris came in with a folder in his hand and took a seat. He opened the folder and spread out the pictures from the scan on his desk.

"There's good news and there’s bad news." He Began, "The good news is that there's no bleeding. The bad news is that the brain its self is swelling a bit."
"What does that mean?" Mom asked taking Dad's hand.
"I know you don't want to hear this Solan, but we’ll have to readmit her for just the night hopefully. We'll double her dose of the medicine to get the brain to un-swell and then we'll take it from there."

I sighed. More hospital time.
"I'll go grab you a room." Dr. Morris said, and left the room.
"I'll go home and get some stuff." Mom said, "Pierce, you might want to come with me. I'll drop you off at home."

"Okay," He said sadly.

            He gave me a hug and left with Mom. I followed Dad and Dr. Morris to a room. I changed into a gown, and got into the hospital bed. They took my Vitals, and hooked up an IV, giving my meds through it. Mom came back Solo, with a black duffle bag.

            After I was checked in, I told them I was fine and that they could go down to the cafeteria to eat. I looked out my window, rain pounding on it.

"Sorry it took so long." Pierce said coming into the room.
            I looked over at him. He had a blow up mattress and a pillow under one arm, a back pack on his back, and a bag from McDonalds in the other.

"Here." He handed me the bag.
"What are you doing?" I asked, a smile coming into place.
"Setting up camp." He said, rolling out the bed.

            There was a blanket on the bed. I ate my fries as he pulled out an air pump from his back pack. He hooked the pump to the bed, and blew up the mattress. He tested it out with a hand and set his pillow down. He wrapped up the pump and put it into his back pack.

"Where are your parents?"
"Food."
"Oh." He nodded.

            He walked over to my bed and used the remote on the bed to turn on the T.v.. He found a channel and turned up the volume.

"That's not too loud is it?"
            I shook my head as I stuffed some fries into my mouth. He lay down on his bed and we watched T.v. until my parents came back. Dad laughed when he saw Pierce's set up, Mom smiled and shook her head.

"As long as it's alright with your parents."

"It is. Dad grabbed this out of the basement for me." He said, patting the mattress.

"I brought this for you." A nurse rolled in a chair, which turned into a bed.

"Thanks." Dad took it from her.
"You know how to use it?"
"Yep."
"Okay." She checked my IV bag. "Is there anything that you need sweet heart?"
"I have to pee."
"Okay. When you have to pee you can unplug the IV machine and take it with you."
"Okay."
She unplugged the Machine and helped me up.
"You good?"
"Yep."
"Alright. Just roll it with you, and then plug it back in when you get back in bed."

"Thanks."
"Sure. Can I get you guys anything?" She asked my parents and Pierce, "Blanket, Pillows?"
"Both would be lovely." Mom said.

            I peed and then went back to bed. Mom plugged my machine back in just as the nurse came back in with the blankets and pillows. She set them on the bench seat.

"And just push the call button if you end up needing towels or anything like that."

"Thanks Hon," Mom smiled at her, grabbing a blanket.

            She made up the chair bed, and Dad stretched out on it. She arranged some pillows on the bench bed, and settled in with her blanket and romance novel. I looked at Dad, with his arms behind his head, as he watched T.v. Both of them seemed perfectly at ease. As if the hospital was a second home. And Peirce, well he just adapts to his surroundings really well.

            I looked over at him on his mattress. He had a large baggy full of popcorn, and he was tossing pieces into the air, and eating them. I settled into my bed, and watched T.v. Forget the plans for the beach. If I kept these hospital visits up, who knows how long I'd be living with my parents.

Impressum

Texte: Rebecca Marien.
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 08.01.2018

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Widmung:
To my sweetest Jace, for letting me write as you watch five little ducks on youtube. I love you.