Let me live | Hardzello♡

Chapter 37

Three weeks later

Once a small ray of sunlight has managed to annoy Joe enough by shining in his face, the boy opens his eyes. He looks around the hospital room in confusion.
He sees on the clock on the wall that it's pretty late in the morning already.
11:15 Am.
That's weird. Ben said he'd be at the hospital around nine.
Suddenly wide awake and overflowing with anxiety, Joe blindly reaches for his phone on the nightstand. What if Ben got in an accident on his way to the hospital?
Joe's eyes widen when he notices something as his eyes glide over the nightstand. All his stuff is gone. His laptop, his books, even the teddy bear Ben got him is gone.
He's glad Lucy enters the room, so he can ask what this is about. "Uhm Lucy? Do you know where all my stuff went? Or did we get robbed?"
Lucy laughs at that and shakes her head. "No, we didn't get robbed sweetie. Ben came here this morning and took your stuff home. You better get dressed, he'll be right here to take you home as well." She says with a smirk.
Joe's eyes widen when he hears that. "Does that mean that I-... that I can go home?" He asks, not sure if he understood well what she just said.
Lucy giggles and nods. "Yes. You're free to go." She shoots him a wink. "I'll detach you from all the wires first, so you can get dressed. All the paperwork is done, so you are free to leave whenever you're ready. Don't forget to pick up your medication at the desk."
Joe looks at the IV in his hand, brought under his skin with a needle. "Will the wire thing hurt?" He frowns a little.
Lucy gives him a reassuring smile. "No it won't, don't worry. You won't feel more than a minor pinch." She says before taking his hand. She waits for a nod from the boy before she starts taking out the IV and other wires.
A small drop of blood seeps out of the tiny wound the IV left behind the moment Lucy takes it out. After wiping away the blood, she starts taking off the stickers that are on Joe's chest. "Okay, all done!" She smiles.

Joe swings his feet off the bed, now sitting on the edge of it. He takes a deep breath. "So, I guess I won't see anymore huh?" He says to Lucy, feeling a pang of regret shoot through his body at that thought.
The girl shrugs with a shy smile. "Well, I wouldn't say that."
Joe gives her a questioning look.
"Tonight Rami and I have our third date. And, well... I like him a lot. So...-" Lucy stops talking, but Joe can already see where this is going.
The ginger smirks. "So next time I'm hanging out with my friends, there's a good chance you will be there too as Rami's girlfriend." He says, finishing her sentence.
Lucy looks away with red cheeks. "Well there's nothing wrong with hoping, is there?" She mumbles with a modest smile.
Joe shakes his head. 
"Anyways, I think I'll see you soon. After all, it's my job to look after you. Enjoy your freedom sweetie. Say hi to Ben from me." Lucy gives the boy a wink, and she is about to leave the room.
Joe nods. "I will." He says. "Thanks for looking after us. You made all this a lot easier." He says before she can leave.
"Of course." She smiles.

Joe immediately grabs his phone so he can text Ben.

(11:24 Am) Joe: Omg Omg Omg! I can go home! I can't believe I can finally go home. How long have you known this already?

(11:25 Am) Ben: Lucy told me yesterday:) You better get your cute arse out of bed, because I'm waiting for you at the exit of the hospital. Time to get you home♡

Still a bit overwhelmed by this sudden good news, Joe gets out of bed. His legs briefly wobble, but he expected nothing less after months of being in bed. He takes a deep breath, and slowly starts changing his clothes.
Once he has put on something else than the hospital outfit he was wearing, he leaves the room. But just before he closes the door behind him, he looks into the room for the last time. Although the journey was tough, his heart problems have brought him something good.
He met Ben. It brought him love.
The ginger takes another deep breath before closing the door. After he picked up his medicines, he slowly walks towards the exit, step by step.
Once he has exited the hospital, Joe stops walking as he closes his eyes. He just inhales the fresh air, and enjoys the sun rays hitting his skin. Even though the brisk, february wind erupts his skin in goosebumps, the sun is still warming enough for it to be a nice first time outside after all these months.
The boy opens his eyes again when he hears a familiar voice calling his name. He can't help but stare a little the moment he sees Ben. Up until now, Joe has only seen his boyfriend in either a hospital outfit or an oversized hoodie.
Now, however, Ben is wearing a rather tight shirt. He has his jacket slung over his shoulder, and a pair of sunglasses on his nose.