It's Billy's Favorite

Chapter XXIX

   It had been two years since the day Julia moved in with me. But she didn't stay the two years. My junior year she was in and out of rehab facilities and I went to pick her up drunk or high from parties at least one a week. I would run from the cops with her because she was stealing money from connivence stores. But I couldn't get myself to let her go. Jane became more hostile towards her and even towards me. Our mother did come back but nothing changed about her. She was still a slobbering depressing drunk who always disappeared. Except on the anniversary of Billy's death, she would always come home to bake an apple pie. Jane moved in with our grandmother, and I barely spoke to her. I tried to reach out to her but she would ignore my calls. My senior year hit like bricks. Julia dropped out of high school and ran off once I heard the news. I tried contacting her but it was no use, she was a troubled girl. I missed her and I still loved her. Once she left, Jane came back home. She was different. She was filled with rage and sometimes would explode towards me. Even though she came back she spent most of her time with her friends. Driving around, and smoking at the skate park.

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My graduation party seemed like a drag. I was just waiting for my name to be called so I could get out of there as soon as possible. I felt anger for this place. I knew my mother wouldn't show up, and I didn't know if Jane would show up either. Surprisingly she did, and so did Enzo. He ended up dropping out and getting a job once he dropped out but he always made time for me. When I grabbed my diploma I gave a small smile and headed off the stage. The relief of being free, but now I didn't know what to do. What is left? I wasn't ready for college even though I really wanted to go. I began saving money so I could get myself the dream I wanted. Jane and I slowly became closer but she always seemed distant when we spent time together. I stopped telling her to not smoke. I know what it's like to struggle at her age. It's not easy. Besides she's 12 now. What could happen?

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( Four months later)

     I was on the phone with my grandfather, when something happened. I saw Jane's friend's parents pull up in a cop car.
  "Hey, I have to call you back alright?" "Yeah sure no problem." I hung up the phone and ran to the door. There were the parents looking scared.
  "Is everything alright?" I asked. "Yes, I suppose so." "What's happening?" "Jane was with Bobby and his older brother and they got in a car accident. Everyone is going to be alright, but Jane is hurt badly." "Holy Christ." "We can give you a ride to the hospital." "Yes please."
  I had never been so scared in my entire life. My heart raced as I walked down the hospital hallways with the doctor. He kept mouthing about something but I couldn't focus. My heartbeat and breathing was too loud to understand what he was telling me. We finally got into the hospital room, and there she was. She had a towel over her head, her face was cut and bruised, and her arm had a cast.
  "She has broken her ribs, and has a small fracture in one of her back bones. We're getting it fixed and she will be alright. But she must be bed rest for a few months. We've already started an oxytocin drip for her so she is not in any pain right now." "How long in the hospital?" "About a week. Do you guys have any insurance?" "Uh no we don't." "Well, son we will figure it out later. She's asleep so don't wake her, but in a few hours she will be alright." "Thank you." "Of course."
  I sat down in the chair next to her and placed my hand over hers. She was warm and she looked so peaceful. I stayed in that hospital for two days, she insisted I would go home and that she didn't need me. It took a week until she came home in a wheelchair. I had to help bathe her, clothe her, and feed her until her back got better. After three months she was back to normal, but she still seemed stiff from the cast.
"How are you doing?" I asked her. "I'm fine. I'm just not used to not having the cast off. It's still a little tender." "Well, did you take your meds?" "Yeah. I'm still in pain." "Alright want me to get an x ray for you just to make sure you're alright?" "Sure. Can we do it this afternoon?" "Yeah of course. I'll call them today."

The X-ray came back, she had no more broken bones but she still complained about being sore. The doctor gave her some oxytocin for the pain and she was fine. Everything seemed alright, I guess. Jane for the next month was strange. She always complained about being in pain. Eventually we had to get her off the pain medication because it was becoming a bit obsessive with her.
  "The doctor is taking me off it?" "He's trying to make sure you don't get addicted." "But I'm in pain!" "I understand. We can give you regular pain medication but no more oxy. Understand?" "This is fucking ridiculous. I was in a car accident, I broke my back it still hurts." "Alright. Enough take some Motrin and go back to bed. I'm sick of this shit with you." "Get me my fucking pills back."
  This kept going on and on and on, for months. She stopped asking me and screaming at me about it. Although she was barely home again, she always ran off to be with her friends. I've just accepted at this point she was wanting to be on her own.