Just Your Average Girl

Chapter 2: Release

I was unhooked from the IV and the doctor let me walk around for a bit.

"Miss Madison, it seems that you've made a quick recovery, so you should be released by this afternoon. I will call your parents and have them pick you up."

"Thank you Dr. Reynolds. How is he?"

"Mr. Taylor has been unconscious for a while but he does wake up often. The bullet was removed safely and he has been healing up very well. When he heals enough, the police will have him identify the men that shot him and it will be in the law's hand from there."

"Doctor, I'll never understand how people could just get up and shoot a kid. Maybe it's just like in 'To Kill a Mockingbird.' Maybe those men were on some stuff and that just made them brave enough to nearly kill a kid, just like Mr. Ewell."

I knew I was lying through my teeth. Those men only had the smell of cigarettes and they wanted information from Damien. I didn't know what information it was but it must be important. They shot him in the stomach at point blank range. Maybe it had something to do with gangs or drugs.

The doctor led me to the botanical gardens for cancer patients. Two bald little girls sat in the geraniums, playing with dolls. It seemed like despite their illness, they still found joy in life. Their smiles made me feel like I was too lucky.

"Doc," I asked,"Who are those two girls?"

"That's Mary," he pointed to a girl with blue eyes,"And Louise," he pointed to a girl with a golden chain. "They've been friends since birth and got Leukemia at about the same time."

"Are they doing better? I mean- is there any way to save them?"

"Well, thanks to stem cell research, they've both been recovering and will be able to live normal lives."

"Thank God. So- you want me to play around in here so you can see if I'm fully functioning?"

"Yes. Do cartwheels and run around and things like that. If anything feels wrong, like your heart beat or breathing, then come back and I'll have you evaluated."

I was gone before he finished. I did cartwheels until I reached a large oak tree in the center of the garden. I turned around with my face towards the oak and began climbing. At about 10 feet up, my breathing got heavy and my heart was beating fast. Stupid! I was just getting over fatigue and here I was using up the little energy I had. I pulled myself over to a wide limb and sat down, resting my head on the side of the tree. I hugged the oak and began to doze off when a woman's voice yelled for me to come down. I looked down and saw a nurse, the little girls, an old man in a wheelchair, and a doctor staring up at me. I slid off the limb and gave the tree a full body hug. I brought myself down and the nurse grabbed my wrist, forcing me inside the hospital. She sat me in a wheelchair and brought me to my room.

"What are you doing? Let me go! I didn't do anything wrong so why'd you do that?"

She angrily turned to me. "What am I doing?- What were you doin, attempting suicide in front of those children?"

"What?- No, it's a misunderstanding. Dr. Reynolds told me to run and stuff to see if I was functioning. I enjoy climbing trees so I did. Why would I commit suicide? I like living and I've been too near death to want it to happen to myself."

She looked down ashamedly. "I'm sorry. You looked as if you would jump."

"From 10 feet off the ground?"

"It's unusual for someone to climb that tree. I'll just leave now. You can return to the garden if you wish."

She headed out the door when I asked, "Do you know which room Damian Taylor is in?"

"Room 207, just down the hall."

She left and I waited a while before I headed out myself. I knocked on 207's door and waited for a reply. A faint yes came from the door and I entered.

"Hey. How are you feeling?"

He turned towards me and squinted with a confused face. "Who are you? I mean, I've seen you before, I think, but what's your name?"

"I'm Le-," I thought twice about it. I remembered that I never told him my name, " My name doesn't matter. What matters is what happened to you. Do you remember?"

"Yeah. I met some girl on my way home from school and we were talking about the MMA championship. Some thugs kidnapped us and tried to get some info-"

"What kind of information?"

He glanced at me and thought his answer over.

"Probably mistaken identity."

"Okay go on."

"They asked for info I didn't have, they grabbed the girl and put a gun to her head. I told him I didn't know anything and he pointed the gun and shot me point blank," he rubbed the bandaging over his stomach, "All I heard was screaming then everything went silent. There was a loud banging sound then she picked up my head like a mother then put it down. A man was yelling and cussing then there was a struggle. I was out for the count. The next thing I know, she's gone and I'm in the hospital getting interviewed by the news, and students, and even the superintendent and principal!"

"Do you know what happened to the girl?"

"No, but I hope she's not dead."

"Do you remember what she looked like or her name?"

"I- I can't! No matter how hard I try, all I remember is a silver dog tag with some Japanese writing on it. She said it was from her pen pal in Japan. That, and red hair."

I brushed my hand through my hair. "I guess that's all Goodbye."

I turned to leave and he called out, "Miss, wait! I want to find her. To thank her. If you do find out anything, please."

"Okay."

I walked back to my room, half giddy, half sorrowful. I was glad he wanted to find me so badly, but the conditions were morbid. I sat in a chair in my room and thought about the kidnapping. A nurse came in with my parents.

I was released from Crenshaw Valley Hospital on May 5th at 3:20 PM.