The Dandelion In The Hospital Gown

Chapter 24

Enjoy Chapter 24, people~

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Dandelion-

"Do you want to talk?" Nate asked from beside me. I had allowed him to sit next to me, as long as he didn't crush any dandelion flowers.

I sat there, not answering for a minute or two. He sounded sincere. He looked sincere.

And there was something about him which drew me to him, as crazy as that sounds.

But I've only known him for about less than an hour.

I shook my head.

"I should get going." I said softly before standing up.

The whole world went unsteady on me as another dizzy spell kicked in.

Shit.

"Hey, you okay?" Nate asked, concerned, as he stood up as well and held on to my shoulders to keep me from falling.

After it got better, I nodded and shrugged his hands off my shoulders. There was no denying that I felt tingles where his hands were. Most probably the effects of the dizzy spell.

I started to walk away slowly, when Nate called out to me.

"Hey! I never got to know your name!"

I stopped in my tracks.

Should I tell him my name? No harm doing so, right?

"Dandelion. Dandelion Johnson."

I turned around after I got no reply.

He was frowning, as if trying to recall something.

I shrugged to myself before turning back around again.

"Dandelion! Wait!" he called out again.

I couldn't help the shivers that ran down my spine in the pleasant way when he said my name.

Probably the wind.

"Did you... did you drop a dandelion bookmark somewhere in a school library before?"

I frowned. I only got a fuzzy impression of it.

"I don't remember...why?"

He shook his head.

"Just thought your name sounded familiar" he said.

I looked at him weird.

"Anything else?" I asked.

He looked down before speaking out.

"If you don't mind me asking... What are you here in the hospital for?" he asked softly, voice carried along with the wind.

I sighed shakily.

"Let me do a full introduction then" I said.

"My name is Dandelion, and I'm 16. I have cancer."

I didn't wait for his reaction before continuing.

"It's been a couple months now, and my mogher left me when I needed her most. The only 2 ways out are chemotherapy, and surgery. I've recently started chemo, and I hate it. I hate the pain I have to.. go through each... time..." my voice became too shaky for me to continue as tears rolled freely down my face.

I didn't notice it, but Nate came closer with each word I said, and he wrapped his arms around me.

"It's okay... You're a strong, brave girl. You can make it through, I promise.", He murmured into my ear as I sobbed into his chest.

"That's the thing! Everyone tells me that it's 'going to be okay', or 'you can make it through', or 'you're strong enough'. The thing is, I'm not as strong as people think! I'm already torn and broken inside..." I sobbed out.

"I'm tired of empty promises. Of even trying at all. Even my own mother left me in the midst of all this shit." I said shakily.

"Dandy..?" A very familiar voice called out.

Nate loosened his hold on me and stepped away slightly.

I kept my eyes on the stairwell, waiting to see who it was.

As she finally appeared, I was dumbfounded. Speak of the devil.

"M-Mom...?" I whispered.

She smiled at me apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Dandy. I shouldn't have left you. I know I did something stupid and wrong, but please... let me be here for you this time." mom said as she attempted to pull me into a hug.

I shoved her off, disgusted.

"You left dad, River, and I when we needed you most, mother. Did you know how hard it was for River to live without his mom? For dad to worry about you constantly? For me to make it through myself? Just how selfish can you be?!

"You can't be expecting me to jump right into your arms after you left us. You can't expect me to trust you again like I had." I ranted.

Mom's face displayed her hurt and regret, and Nate was standing next to me awkwardly.

"I'm sorry..." mom said quietly after awhile.

"Sorry doesn't do anything, mother. The damage had already been done." I said with finality in my tone.

I shoved Nate's arm off me as I stormed away.

I felt my own heart break with each agonizing step I took away from the balcony.

I had needed my mother for so long, and she was finally back. But... I just could not find it in me to forgive her.

After all, she was the one who showered me with love, and broke it all in one day.

Nate-

I stood there awkwardly with Dandelion's mother, the tension still lingered in the air.

"So..." I said to fill in the awkward silence.

"I'm sorry, but I have to get going." Mrs. Johnson said, voice shaking.

She turned and started walking away. Should I tell her...?

"Mrs. Johnson!" I called out.

She turned around, and as I suspected, she was crying.

"Dandelion missed you. She feels hurt that you had left her, of course, but... I can tell that she had needed you. Needs you. Don't give up just like that, fight for her." I said softly.

I didn't know what compelled my hard-as-rock heart to do something so smoochy and kind, but whatever it was... it made me feel like a good person for once.

Mrs. Johnson teared up even more, and threw her arms around me, sobbing loudly.

Awkward.

I hesitantly put my arms around the sobbing woman's petite frame, and tried to soothe her as she expressed her regret through tears.

"Hey... it'll be alright, Mrs. Johnson. Stay strong and fight for her, okay?" I said reassuringly.

She sobbed and nodded shakily.