My Pace

Chapter 24

                                  Holt's POV
After a bit, I was brought to an operating room. I woke up in a room. I opened my eyes and saw someone was laying with me. I looked down. I saw Anabelle's head. I looked and saw she was sleeping. I kissed the top of her head. I looked and saw my mom and sister outside talking.

"I still don't like this. She's a kid still."

"Holy stop. You only talked to her for a minute the other day. She was trying to get to know you. You don't know their history. You don't even know her."

"I don't want to know her!"

"Holy Akers be nice to her! They can probably hear you! You said, you were ready to come back and...and this is the first thing you do?!

Anabelle started crying. She curled up into a ball.

"Ani? Ani wake up."

"Holt?"

She sat up.

"Hey. Are you okay?"

"I'm supposed to ask you that."

"Okay but, my sister is not even 20 feet away and, she's bashing you."

"SHE'S 16!"

I sat up and regretted it.

"I-I should go."

She went to get up I grabbed her shoulder.

"Don't. Stay. Please. She doesn't know what she's talking about. She doesn't know you. You don't have to go. If anyone should go, it's her."

She sat back down.

"But she's your sister. You haven't seen her in years."

"So?"

"D-don't you want to see her?"

I moved hair out of her face. I tucked it behind her ear.

"She's bashing the girl I love. Why would I want to see her?"

"Y-you'd pick me ov-over her?"

"Yes. Of course I would."

"Wh-why? I-I don't deserve that."

"Yes you do. I love you. My sister...is...not herself."

"Your brother almost died and you're stuck on the age gap!"

Anabelle looked down. I used my index finger to lift it up.

"Baby it's okay. I love you more than I love her. And that's a lot."

She smiled a bit. She wrapped her arms around my neck. I laid back down. I put my good arm around her.

How can I make her feel better?

"Hey remember the food debate we had?"

"About hospital food being worse than school food?"

"Yeah. Looks like, I'll be having hospital food for a bit."

"Oooo! I can bring you food this time!"

"How was school today?"

"You mean yesterday?"

"Damn. It's Saturday? That explains why, you're not in school."

"My mom picked me up after your mom called. I tried talking to Holy. I guess...I can't please everyone."

"How was choir?"

"Okay. Nobody gave me problems. They say, they're my friends. We're having choir bonding tonight."

"What're you guys doing?"

"They're going out to eat lunch. I'm not going though."

"Why? You should."

"I wanna stay here with you. You always spent time with me in the hospital."

I started playing with her hair.

"That doesn't mean, you should not go to choir bonding. That seems fun."