Color Me

Tough Love

The clock said 4 a.m.
Kai was just looking at the ceiling. Thinking random things.
A low groan pierced the silence.
Another one came a bit louder this time.
"Its okay. You are okay."
Her eyes werent open but she could see in the one that wasnt swollen shut that her eyeball was moving fast trying to see.
Zoe was about to panic when all she was met with was darkness. Not a box again. Not a box again.
But she was lying somewhere soft. Her anxiety and fear didnt slow pace. She could already feel the scream building in her chest. Then that voice clear as day cut through the fog.
Anywhere, anywhere in the world and she would have known who it was.
Kai..
Her body calmed but she still couldn't see anything.
"Cant." Talking hurt a bit.
"Dnt talk. Here its water."
The coolness of the glass hit her lips and she drank from it. When her lips were free she tried again.
"Cant see."
"I know baby. Your right eye is swollen shut. Your left is a bit black but it will open soon and its gonna hurt like a bitch."
"Already hurts."

She kept nursing her and by 8a.m when the rest of the house was awake and functioning, Zoe was awake.
In pain but awake.
Austin was so glad she was awake. Finding out that she was in a coma would have killed him.
Everybody was happy Zoe was awake.
Kai just stood back and let them talk.
She used the guest room to shower and change.
Clad in a black slack, black tshirt and navy blue blazer and white kicks. She looked like damn. Her eyes were shining as the light refracted off them. Her hair was in her usual updo messy bun. She needed a cut.
She walked back into her room to find Zoe alone.
"Where aree you going?"
"Your energy is improving. I have a school tour today."
"Ohh okay. But if you are older than the twins why are you in the same year?"
"Because i missed a lot of a school year i chose to repeat it. Hence I'm in your year."
"Okay. Have fun."
"Thanks."

Kai left the house feeling a tightness in her heart and a foreclosing darkness in her aura.
Just keep it together.

Zoe was alone again. Her body hurt, everything hurt. She couldn't keep smiling like it was just gonna be okay.
Her good eye well the least damaged one filled up with tears. She couldn't wipe them it hurt to even blink. Her shut eye just had a tear flowing from the corner.
Her silent tears turned to sobs. It made it hurt worse but she couldn't keep the strong front.
In her despair she didn't hear the door open.

Austin walked in to his best friend crying. He didn't say anything just hugged her as tight as possible without putting pressure on her wounds. If only he could take her pain.
The rest of the day was dull. Zoe was barely talking. She refused to eat and she couldn't have medicine without eating anything.
Alyce tried everything she could think of and nothing happened.
She had moved from the bed to the sunroom downstairs.
All she did was stare at the tree outside through the floor to ceiling glass.
Sometimes she blinked away a tear. And others she just let fall..
She could see the siblings taking turns to watch her and convince her to eat but she just kept quiet.
Her heart whatever still existed of it was dying.
A very slow painful death.
She just wanted to disappear somewhere and cease to exist. Perhaps this pain will go away.
Your body will heal but your mind will not.
It made so much sense right now to her.

Kai came back from the school tour. If she decided to stay on campus it would be cool. The dorms were shared in two and the Dean was awaree of her situation so he said it would be better if she stayed in the boys side. She didn't mind.
She could watch out for herself now.
The moment she walked in the house. She could feel the air was charged with pain and despair. The vibrant energy thats usually there was missing.

It was almost dinner time. She went to the dinning and everyone was already there.
The hellos and how was your day came. Zoe was sitted as well.
She looked pale and solemn.
Her eyes lacked their usual light. Kai could tell something inside was broken.
Her own heart seemed to slow and shrink. Thats impossible i know.
But the feeling still existed.

Dinner was served. Everyone was eating in silence. Zoe's energy was affecting everyone. And the girl in question wasnt eating. Austin noticed her untouched plate.
"Zee, you gotta eat man. You haven't eaten all day."
Kai looked at Austin then Zoe,
"Why didn't you eat?"
"I dont have the appetite."
"Austin did you give her medicine like that?"
"No i didnt."
If she didn't have any meds, the pain. All day. This girl!
"Zoe please eat."
"I dont have the appetite."
Kai banged the table with her fist. She startled everyone. Zoe winced as the sound assaulted her ears and raging headache.
"Its not about your appetite. Its about your body having enough energy and strength to heal itself. Peg your nose, you wont smell or taste the food when you eat it."
"No."
"Zolana you either eat or I'll choose between force feeding you and taking you to the hospital for tubes."
Zoe picked up the fork and started eating. Slowly but eating.
Everyone at the table visibly relaxed and some life permeated the room.
Austin mouthed a thank you to Kai.

Dinner went by. She was last to finish but her plate was empty.
Turns out she was hungry but her mind was just so focused on shutting down.

Zoe went back to her usual room in the Williams house.
She sat on the bed and sighed heavily as her body complained at each movement.
Somebody knocked on her door.
"Come in."
And it was Kai. Who still wore her slacks which looked mighty good on her.
"I need to change the dressing on your wounds."
"You dont need to. I'm fine."
"Not everything has to be difficult Zolana."
"Stop calling me that and i said I'm fine."
"You can barely keep yourself or move without wincing. I'd hate to see your version of not okay."
"You dont have to do any of this. I ddnt ask you to take me from my home."
Kai's face went through a rapid of emotions.
"Your home? I still have the image of you bloody and lying on that damn floor. I remember it so vividly like I'm seeing it for the first time!!"
"You should just left me there to die!"
"What!"
"Why didn't you just leave me there to die Kai?? It would have been better!"
Kai replied her with her voice so low and shaky that if they werent close to each. She could have missed it.
"Cause i would have died with you. And i doubt you are ready to die either."
Kai set the bandages and antibiotics on the table and left.
Zoe replayed that sentence in her mind over and over again till it sounded so loud.
I would have died with you and i doubt you are ready to die either.