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chapter fifteen , Sunday of Summer
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Gus sits on the examination table and stares blankly at the wall, trying to process everything she has experienced this past month. The loss, the guilt, the uncovered truths, the betrayal, the drama. God, Gus was over the drama.
The doctor finished wrapping her hands. "All done."
Gus blinks and looks at the doctor. The brunette manages a small smile.
"Thank you..."
The doctor touches Gus' shoulder. "Smile, sweetie you and your friend are alive." The doctor tries to lift the brunette's spirits.
Gus plasters on a fake smile. "Yeah, I know." she nods her head. Gus hops off the examination table, as soon as she exits the room her smile falls. She was grateful Will was alive, that's all she's ever wanted. But it doesn't mean she wasn't sad about Eleven. It doesn't mean she wasn't sad about Barb. Sofía wasn't even awake yet.
She was supposed to protect and save all of them.
Gus enters the waiting room and all eyes land on her. The brunette meets Steve's eyes and she pulls her brows together. Steve tenses up as his guilt-ridden eyes look into her small shaky ones.
"Hey, kid..." Hopper walks over to her.
Gus looks at Hopper and inhales, "B-Before you get mad...I just--"
Hopper cuts Gus off by pulling her into a warm embrace. Gus exhales a sharp breath, she slowly wraps her arms around his middle and quietly cries.
"Why the hell would I be mad?" Hopper touches the back of her head.
"I-I tried to protect all of them, but I wasn't strong enough." She sobs.
"Hey, you did the best you could, all right?" Hopper says, pushing his guilt down. "None of this is on you."
He separates from the hug and cups the side of her neck. Gus looks at the ground, unconvinced. Hopper's eyes soften. "Go sit down and get some rest."
Gus exhales, "The last thing I can do right now is rest." she wipes her eyes, ignoring her bandaged hands.
"We don't know how long it'll take for Will and Sofía to wake up so at least sit down." Hopper says. "You've earned it."
Gus' eyes look around the room and her eyes land on Fallon's. The brunette raises her brows. Fallon's eyes quickly fall onto Gus' and she pulls her brows together. Both of them acknowledging that they are in this situation and know some of the truths that lay within Hawkins.
