Love and Violence

Chapter 4

Date Written: Thursday, October 7th, 2021

I wake up feeling fuzzy and heavy and I can't open my eyes or move. I try to make a sound but nothing happens. I listen to what's around me. I can hear beeping and it's getting annoying. I also hear people talking, but I can't understand what's being said. I feel like I know the voices but I'm too tired to think. I fall back to sleep.

Some time later I wake up again. This time I am able to open my eyes, but I still feel fuzzy and heavy. I open my eyes and am blind by a bright white light. I quickly shut my eyes and slowly open them again, allowing my eyes to get used to the light. When I can finally open them comfortably I look around. I see Tim sleeping on a chair with Curly next to him asleep as well. I turn my head and see Sodapop asleep on my left side. I realize then I'm in a hospital, but I can't remember why.

"Tim! Tim!" I whisper trying not to wake everyone else up. He moves and slowly opens his eyes.

It was then I saw how much he looked like shit. He had bags under his eyes, his clothes looked like they've been slept in for days, and his hair is a complete mess. He finally focuses his eyes on me and jumps up and comes over to me.

"(Y/N)! How do you feel?" He asks gently sitting on the bed facing me.

"Fuzzy. Heavy. Weird feeling. What happened? Why am I here?" I ask noticing all the wires I'm hooked up to.

"You don't remember?" Tim asked not sounding happy.

"No." I say.

"I was yelling at you and Curly for not listenin' to me and suddenly the window breaks and you got shot. Twice, in the side." Tim says.

Shot??

"How? Why? Who shot me?" I ask him a bunch of questions. I start to get upset, I can hear the heart monitor beep more. Tim leans over and puts a hand on my head and pets my hair, trying to calm me. He used to do this when I was younger and he wanted me to calm down. He hasn't done it in years though.

"I don't know who shot you, but I am gonna find out." Tim assures me. I know he's telling the truth.

"Okay. How long have I been out?" I ask.

"Two days." What?

"Two days? Have the three of you been here all this time?" I ask looking at his clothes. I notice they are the same ones he was wearing while Curly and I were getting yelled at. I also notice there is blood on his shirt.

"Yeah we have been." Tim answers.

"Explains why you look like complete and utter shit." I say.

"Says you." Tim says, I laugh a little but stop when it hurts.

"Is that my blood?" I ask looking at the spot on his shirt.

"Yeah, yeah, it is kid." He sighs. "Thanks to your blood I've gotta throw it out now." He teases me. I smile.

"You should go home and shower. You need one." I say scrunching my nose a little. He smirks and flicks my forehead.

"Alright I'll go, but I'm leaving Soda here." Tim says getting up. He puts his hand over Curlys' mouth and shakes him. Curly shoots up and notices I'm awake. He goes to stand but is stopped by Tim, who still has his hand over Curlys' mouth.

"Don't be rough." Tim says. Curly nods his head.

Tim lets go and Curly launches himself at me. Surprisingly he lands in a way that doesn't hurt. He shoves his head in between my shoulder and neck. I hug him back and we stay like that for a few minutes, before Tim pulls him of.