METANOIA | Eddie Munson

Epilogue

3rd Person's POV

Two weeks had passed.

Hawkins had been burning for a while now. The cracks only getting wider, spreading like a disease, carrying rot wherever it went. Anything in its path would disintegrate.

Scientists, journalists and even tourists were drawn to the so called cursed town. They weren't to blame, the sight was one out of a movie. Apocalyptic.

Meanwhile, residency at Hawkins had halved. They all packed up and left. And why wouldn't they? People had died, been injured, rendered homeless.

It was weird to have it out in the open, after all these years of fighting it themselves. Having to deal with it all being sweeped under the rug, having to go on like nothing had happened.

On a bright note, the Byers were back, along with Mike, Eleven and Hopper. The first thing they did was visit Valerie in the hospital, where Eleven confessed to playing a part in bringing Valerie back.

Her mom and Dustin visited her everyday. Dustin would even fall asleep in her bed. The first couple nights, to his embarrassment, he cried himself to sleep. He'd grown quite clingy and protective of her.

Then there were Robin and Steve, keeping her company in the daytime, watching movies, drawing anything and everything on her casts. Which just happened to cover both her arms and legs. Steve insisted on drawing boobies.

Eddie had to be restrained from sneaking, or rather barging into the hospital to see her. The town still blamed him of course, he couldn't yet come out of hiding.

She had died. In front of his eyes. And then came back, in true Valerie fashion, and he couldn't even meet her. All he wanted to do was just hold her. So he counted down the seconds till she was discharged and sent home.

It just happened to be today.

Valerie stared out the window, an unknown song playing from the radio her mom had placed on the bedside table. It was frustrating, not being able to change it but she wasn't about to yell for someone every five minutes.

But it was as if the universe heard her thoughts because the door creaked open right then.

She was about to complain to whoever it was, her mom or Dustin, but their eyes met and she froze.

Eddie had poked half his head through the door, "Hi." He said, a shy smile on his face.

"Hi..." She mumbled, suddenly self concious about how horrible she looked. Her hair unruly, bags underneath her eyes, scars and bruises evident on her neck. She looked and felt like a zombie, which was fair because she sort of really was like the living dead.

But then there was that smile, nervous and adoring, grateful and longing, and somehow it made her feel pretty. He never failed to make her feel pretty.

And then he was shoved inside, stumbling onto his feet, glaring at Dustin who walked in after him.

"You were gawking at her for a full minute, okay?"

They both silenly stare at him until he sighs, "Fine, but I'll be right outside the door. So if you're thinking of doing anything, don't." And with that he walks out, quietly closing the door after him not to alert their mother.

He let out a breath, grinning sheepishly, "Hey."

"Do I make you nervous, Eddie?" Valerie felt a teasing smile tug at her lips.

"You've forever intimidated me Valerie, and I think you know that."

And by the look on his face he didn't seem to mind.