The Dandelion In The Hospital Gown

Chapter 19

Dandelion-

I woke up in a hospital.

Again.

Well that sucks. I pretty much proved to the doctor that I couldn't be trusted to stay at home.

I groaned.

Then I heard the door click open.

Crystal's head popped in. "Hey..." she said softly.

I was about to smile at her when I remembered Apple. I ignored her instead. Crystal sighed.

"Look, I'm sorry alright? But I totally forgot! It's just..." she trailed off. I rolled my eyes.

"Nevermind. If you forgive me... call me." She mumbled out before stepping back towards the door.

"W-Wait!" I blurted out without thinking. Damn.

Crystal turned back, raising her brow questioningly.

"I... I uh..." I stuttered. Crystal prodded me on.

"I forgive you. After all, what are best friends for right? We forgive each other's sorry asses." I teased.

Crystal scowled at me jokingly.

Then she went to the chair next to me and sat down. From there, we acted as if nothing ever happened between us. It was good to have the old Crystal back.

"Welcome back, best friend." I said, smiling. Crystal hugged me tightly, nodding along.

Then the door opened again.

"Hey, Dandy! How are you feeling?" Apple chirped, as if she had known me forever. I glanced at her, suspicious. I scrutinized her head to toe, not bothering to hide the fact that I was doing so.

Crystal gave me the be-nice look, and I gave her the why-in-the-holy-goodness-should-I-do-that look in return.

Apple seemed oblivious to the tension thick in the air, and continued blabbering.

"So what happened? Do you need anything? Want me to call the doctor? Do you need some fresh air? Are you hungry? Do you need some water? You know, fainting might be due to dehydration. Or maybe-" I had enough.

"Apple," I said calmly.

She glanced in my direction. "You look pale! Maybe you do need some fresh air. How abou-"

"Shut. The hell. UP!" My volume rose with each word that came out. Crystal looked shocked.

Apple flinched.

"You're giving me a freaking headache with all that... that talking! And questions! Damn it! Just shut up for a second will ya?" I ranted heatedly. Crystal was about to tell me off by the look on her face, but I wasn't done just yet.

"First you steal my best friend away from me, and next you're acting all nice and chummy? Who the hell does that! You... you scheming, manipulative... bitch!" I screamed. Crystal gasped. My eyes widened at what I had said. I didn't know what came over me. I wasn't usually like this! What was wrong with me?

Unshed tears filled Apple's eyes, hurt written all over her face.

"Apple, I'm sor-" before I got to finish, Apple ran out of the room. Crystal glared at me.

"Look what you've done! Damn it, Dandelion. She was just being nice! What is wrong with you? Has that stupid tumor of yours fried your brain?!" Crystal yelled. Ouch. Well that stings.

I felt tears fill my eyes too. "I know that I was in the wrong, Crystal. But to dig at my condition like that? That's real low. Even for you, Crystal." I whispered. No sign of regret was found in her eyes. She meant it.

I looked into her eyes, hoping that she hadn't meant it. That she understands like she usually does.

She just stared back coldly at me. I even saw disappointment, and a tiny bit of disgust flicker in her eyes. Right then and there, my heart broke into tiny shards, cutting up the rest of my battered emotions. It hurt so bad.

It was ironic. Just a few minutes ago, Crystal was pleading for my forgiveness. And now, it was her turn to give me the evil eye.

I refused to let tears fall in front of this girl I used to call my best friend. The girl who hurt me.

I got up and ran out of the room, not giving Crystal a second glance to the garden on the top floor of the hospital. My sanctuary of peace.

Nobody ever went there. Not even the hospital staff. Nobody even took care of it anymore, and the gaps between the iron bars were just wide enough for me to squeeze through. Crystal never went after me. I just barely heard her call for Apple, though. That's right, Crystal. Go to your new best friend.

There was this patch of grass filled with the flowers I was named after. I always sat there. I had discovered this spot a few weeks ago when I was venturing the hospital, and now, I had dibs on it. Not even Crystal knew about it.

Now at peace, I began to think.

What was wrong with me? Why had my personality changed? Where was mom? How could Crystal do this to me? I felt so alone...

And all I wanted at the moment, was something that I had been fighting against for the past few weeks.

I never thought that I would accept the fact that I was dying... glad, even.

My soul was ripped into shreds, emotions bleeding and bruised, heart smashed into a thousand pieces. Confusion, anger, betrayal and despair were the few emotions I could identify swimming through my whirlpool of emotions right now.

Bitter tears clawed their way out of my cold, dead amber eyes. Eyes which were so filled of life about a month back. Eyes which were so much like my mother's...

Mom... I need you...