What Came Down the River

Chapter 11: Hokage's News

     The week passes by agonizingly slow. It almost reminds me of the days being locked away in those different cells. They haven't tortured me or anything bad. It's just the fact that even if I'm 'free' I still have no where to go. Although the company I get with my nurse is really nice. Even if it doesn't last long. Sometimes she'll stop by on her lunch break and eat lunch with me. She talks about life outside the hospital with her family. Apparently she just got married last year, so she's still settling into her role as a wife before she takes on the role of a mother. I also happened to learn her name by listening to more of her stories. She mentioned that someone called her "auntie Zosia".

Other than that I finished rewriting all the vocab Kakashi had given me. So I just go over it in my head everyday to keep it fresh.

I'm also happy to report that I've been gaining muscles back in my legs and can walk semi-normally now. The numbness I feel still hasn't gone away. Though when I mentioned it to Zosia she seemed to get a bit...what's the word... nervous? Like she didn't want to say the exact reason why, but she knew. It bothered me at first because I was scared too. I've never had a part of my body go completely numb. But she said the hokage will explain everything when I go visit.

Over the passing week, I was also able to get rid of most of the pain in my throat. The doctor said it would take another couple weeks to fully heal, but the major damage seems to have subsided. Even if it's okay to talk right now, he still suggested I keep it to a minimum.

I didn't make any friends like Kakashi suggested though. I did try...but the people here can be crazier than me. Mr.Smith definitely being high on that list. And I had some trouble keeping my mind 'here'. The patients reminded me a lot of myself after getting out of surgery's or beaten...

So I just stayed in my room most of the time. Although, I did sneak out almost every night to sit by the fountain and look at the stars. It was peaceful, but didn't have the same environment as when Kakashi was watching with me. I worried randomly about him and Naruto at times. But, he promised me he'd be okay and that he'd come back. I have the easy part after all. I just have to sit here and wait. Who knows what he has to deal with?

Today's day nine I sigh thinking to myself as I stare out my window. I want to show him how much I've progressed...I want to have conversations with him too...Thoughts of our conversations flash through my head. "Aw don't look at me like that. I promised I'll be back right?... Try to get better so next time we hang out you can talk again. I'd like to have more conversations with you..." As I remember his voice I can't help but smile a little. Placing my hand on my head as if it were his. Please come back. I can't stand being lonely anymore. I've had enough of it for the past 19 ish years. The last thing I want is to add anymore days to that.

I stare at a passing bird as I clear my head and bring my hand back to my chin, resting tiredly against it. It's the same one I've seen since I've been here now. Carrying branches to and fro makes me think that it's a daddy carrying sticks to build a nest for his mate. After all, I have seen a fatter looking bird just resting in the trees lately. Must be nice to live the life of a bird. You do everything on instinct without stopping to think why. Humans have the burden of being able to think in depth...most of the time it leads nowhere useful though. At least for me anyways. Maybe because I see most of humanity as evil...the things I've witnessed and endured are probably too much to overpower another way of thinking.

Here I go again...thinking too much. I stretch out against the window sill and hop down, heading towards the fountain outside. Most of the patients tend to avoid the area now that they know I frequent it. They probably heard the gossiping from the nurses by now. About how pathetic and pitiful I am. Being trapped all my life, tortured, scared of almost everything. I get it. I wouldn't want to befriend someone that weak either. Especially if I had to look out for them all the time.