When the day met the night

Chapter 5

Ashton

       When I am finally done answering questions for everyone (yes, I feel okay. No, I don't remember much. Yes, I am hungry. No, my arms don't hurt. No, I didn't hear everything while I was out), I finally get a moment alone. I'm already very tired.

       My phone starts ringing as my mom's face lights up my screen. I groan, in more pain now than ever. I could just ignore it and then tell her later that I wasn't feeling well, or that my phone was dead. But, that means that I would have to talk to her later. I feel even worse about having to go through all of this again tomorrow, so I hesitantly pick up my phone and answer the call, putting it on speaker so I don't have to hold it up to my face.

       "Hey Ash. How are you feeling, Baby?" She asks me. I can hear how worried she is in her voice.

       "I'm fine. Just a little tired. Sorry for worrying you."

       "Oh, Honey, don't even think about apologizing. It made me so sad to realize that I was the last person to talk to you and I didn't even tell you I loved you. I love you so much, Ashton. Please know that. I never want you to question that." I hear her voice start to quiver at the end and jump to comfort her. Even though my parents don't support what I want to do, I know they love me. You don't have to support someone's decisions to love them.

       "It's okay, Mom. Really. I know you love me. I love you too. Don't cry, please." I've never been good at comforting people. That was my best friend. She was great at it, and because we came as a package deal, it always felt like that wasn't something I had to deal with. Now, having no one else to help me, I understand just how bad I am at it. 'Don't cry'- wow, Ash. Good job.

       "Well, I'm so glad to hear that you are doing alright. Do you know when you're going to be released?" I hear some sniffling and ruffling of tissues on her end.

       "They said that they want to do some tests and check on some things today, but that I should be fine to leave by tomorrow. No permanent damage done except for some scars." And the huge phobia of cars I'm afraid that I'm about to develop. I'm already terrified of planes and boats, I really can't afford to avoid cars too.

       "Good. You're coming home. I don't want to hear any push back." I start to protest with a large breath of air, but she continues. "I know that you probably need some time to get back on the road, but I expect you back within the month. I know it's a long drive, but you can stay at places on the way. I'll add some money to your bank account."

       I almost can't believe her. "Mom, I'm going to go to school here. I have a job here. It doesn't make sense for me to go home and then drive back out in a month."

       "I'm not talking about you driving back for a month. I'm talking about you moving back home. A month away and you are already almost dying. I can make sure you are okay from here."

       I take a second to collect my thoughts. I count seven tiles on the ceiling, take seven deep breaths, and scratch my arm seven times. "Mom, I can't move back. I'll go home for a while if you are willing to pay the gas and room rental fees, but I can't stay."

       "Ashton, this is not an option. I'm not offering, I'm telling. You're coming home for at least a year, and then you can try again next year. Your job will understand and your college rejected you, so you don't have a school waiting there, but you do here. Honey, I think this is just a better decision for you."

       Deciding that I am done with this conversation, I hang up my phone. I can't even drive home. She doesn't know that, but it doesn't change the fact. I needed some extra money, we lived in the city where everything was close enough to walk anyways, and Emily's boyfriend didn't care if I needed the car. Now that it's totaled, I have no transportation at all. None of my co-workers like me, and my mom and dad haven't driven in years, so they're not about to drive to me.