Save each other // Joel Miller

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The next 3 weeks went by faster than Sophie had expected. Good meals, books, and plenty of physical therapy to keep her busy. She has healed up quite nicely, and not just by her own conclusion, but the nurse she worked with as well. She learned her name, Barb, and would chat with her little by little as they worked together. It was harmless chatter, mostly about her work and her knowledge in the medical field, and keeping company kept Sophie sane.

Although Sophie was able to lose the sling pretty early on, she mostly stayed in the bedroom upstairs during the day. But most nights she would walk around town. A lot of the towns people, she had observed, would go to bed early to get ahead of the early morning chores or go out to the local pub for music, drinks, and socializing. She liked going out when the sky was dark. The streets illuminated yellow glow from the tall lamps. She still marvel at them like it's the first time seeing electricity. This place was amazing. So tantalizingly easy to get drawn in to. And she wavered on her determination to leave. Tonight, she had decided, was the last night she'd be here and she continued to convince herself as she packed her bag.

It would be hard to say goodbye to Tommy and Maria. Sophie tried her hardest not to get attached or let them in, but living in the same house made it almost impossible. Like clockwork Tommy would knock, ask her to come down for supper, and if she hesitated he would guilt her into doing dishes. "We don't give things away for free here, darlin'. Pay your dues with dinner or dishes duty, your choice." He'd tease with a wink. Funny thing is, sometimes she would just choose the dishes. The nights when she just wanted to feel warm running water over her hands. She knew if... when she left, it would be a miracle to feel it again. Plus, it helped with PT.

When Sophie chose dinner, the nights were usually filled with laughter. That is a very contagious decease. It started with small smiles she couldn't hide. Then, by the 2nd week she was gut laughing at Maria making fun of Tommy, or the crazy things they would say happened in the pub the night before. It felt good, really good, to forget that she didn't deserve all of this. But ultimately she'd go to bed, head filled with regret and guilt. It was eating her up inside and she could do nothing about it.

Except leave.

Sophie focused on the freshly washed clothes Maria had given to her and rolled them to fit in her bag. She was lost in counting her belongings and didn't notice Tommy, right on time, leaning into her doorframe.

"You left your door open today, huh?" Tommy says with a sad smile. He watched her sadly as she continued to pack her things and respond.

"Just figured we could skip the knocking tonight. I'll be right down for dinner duty." She give him a quick joking salute, and turned back to her hands.

"We have other guests tonight." He pushes himself to stand straight up and shoved his hands in his pockets. She stiffen at his comment. She spoke without turning to look at him.

"Oh?" It's her small voice but it's all she can muster.

"Relax, it's just Joel and Ellie." She was surprised by this. Sophie had gone over for dinner and/or a movie a handful of times with Tommy and Maria, but Joel had yet to come over. He had a hard time navigating the wheelchair and he was too stubborn to let Ellie help him. Ellie wasn't much for coming over on her own so she would sometimes join Sophie on her walks in the night. There wasn't much conversation that went on but a connection was definitely made, whether she wanted it to or not.

"I see. Joel is finally letting Ellie help him with the chair, huh?" Sophie respond with a relived sigh and a slight chuckle.

"Never. Mans too bullheaded for that. But he's walkin' with a cane now." Tommy chuckles with her and moves over to sit on her bed, next to her things.