Things I Can't

Chapter 16

Harry

I hurried out of the bathroom, forcing myself not to look back at Louis, who was undoubtedly crying. I didn't want to break up with him, but it was hard not to after his actions this past week. He showed me that he wasn't loyal, nor was he responsible and I couldn't deal with that right now.

I wandered down the hall, finding my mother in the waiting room. She was reading a magazine, but I could tell she had recently been crying.

"Mummy." I called. She glanced up and sighed, seeing it was me. She set her magazine down and beckoned me over, holding her arms out for a hug, which I gratefully accepted. "Is Gemma..?"

"She's okay." Anne nodded, giving me a watery smile. "But there were some side effects." The smile dropped off my face at her tone.

"What kind of side effects?" I whispered in horror. Anne glanced at me softly and placed a hand on my tensed shoulder.

"Why don't you go see for yourself?"

"She's awake?!" I gasped, breathing a sigh of relief. I hadn't expected Gemma to be awake until late late tonight, or maybe even tomorrow. I couldn't stop myself from heading to her room. "I'm going to go visit her."

"Okay Harry." Anne agreed. "But..just don't be too obnoxious or shocked alright?"

I agreed carefully, her words made me nervous. I then waved goodbye to my mother and found my way to the last room on the end of the hallway. The door was metal, shielding the sight that lied behind it. I wondered suddenly if this is what new father's felt like. All that stood between them and their child was this metal barrier. Unfortunately, that wasn't my case, but the same uncertainty applied. I didn't know what to expect. Would my sister even remember me? With one final breath of courage, I nudged the door open and hesitantly crept inside.

The first thing I noticed when I walked inside the room was how bland it was. The walls were an ugly mint green, and the only pop of color came from the two cheaply painted artworks hanging behind the bed. I could faintly hear the noise of a heart moniter beeping evenly, signaling that my sister was indeed, still breathing.

"Gemma?" I said, gulping as I stepped towards her. "Are you awake?"

She had her back turned towards the wall, making it hard to see her face. Ever so slightly, she sat up, grunting as she did so. I stuck my hands out to help, but she pushed them away. "Harry?" She wheezed heavily. "Is that you?"

I hid my shock at the sight of her face, not wanting to offend her in anyway, but the damage was quite gruesome. She had burn marks running down her two cheeks, as well as her arms and a bit on her shoulders. The wounds were fleshy, bright red and scarring. I squeezed my eyes shut and turned away, I didn't want to cry in front of my sister.

She didn't respond the way i'd expected her too. In fact, she didn't respond at all. I looked at her curiously as she stared Into space, completely lost in her own world.

"Gemma?" I questioned, swiping my hand in front of her face. "Are you okay?" She finally turned to face me and placed a wobbly hand on my shoulder.

"Harry?" She whispered, this time more desperately. I narrowed my eyes at her behavior.

"Gemma? What's wrong?" I panicked, grasping her shoulders more tightly. She began hyperventilating and touching my face in random places.

"I though it would return!" She cried in agony. "I thought.."

"What would return?" I asked desperately. She began rubbing at her eyes in fear.

"I can't see!" She finally choked out. "When I woak up everything was white and I thought it'd return and it hasn't and, and now I can't see anything! Help me please!"