Surviving 93

Chapter 5: The Stay

One morning before Verity and Virgil arrived, Ruth came in to check on Riven. He noticed she was crying but couldn't tell if they were happy or sad tears.

"Well, Mr. Lee, you are in the clear," Ruth said, holding his most recent charts.

"I'm well enough to leave?" Riven asked, almost shocked.

"Yes, sir," Ruth said. "Your burns are cleared as healthy skin. Your deep wounds have healed almost completely with no infections, and your right leg has no more fractures."

"What about my left leg?" Riven asked her.

Ruth looked through his chart once again.

"Well, the boot is needed still for your left," she admitted. "You had a fracture that was nearly a complete break, so that will take a bit longer to heal."

"Would I be able to walk on it since it'll be in the boot?"

"Technically, yes. However, I recommend starting small and stopping if it hurts," Ruth warned.

"We can take off the right boot, though, right?" Riven asked, trying not to be too hopeful.

"Yes, we can- just give the word."

Riven nodded.

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Ruth helped gather the little belongings Riven had, and everything was packed within half an hour. Virgil and Lucia, in the meantime, were in the hallway with Verity. She was using a hospital phone to call her grandparents and let them know of the good news.

The paperwork took longer than expected, so Riven couldn't be released until the evening. By then, Asa had come, and he was surprised to see Riven in street clothes. He was ecstatic to learn Riven was released, though. Riven promised to visit and put Asa's number into his phone.

Walking out of that hospital, boot and all, was a feeling Riven could barely find the words to explain. It was happy and hopeful, yet terrifying- the majority of what he could remember was in this hospital.

There would be many things he would have to experience for the first time all over again. He knew that. He did know it was going to come anyway, even though he wasn't sure how he felt about it.

Virgil said Riven was welcome to stay at the Sampson family house in Hershey; Na'im was still there, so Virgil had him prepare the guest room. When they did arrive at the house, Riven felt an odd sense of loneliness. He suddenly felt so far away despite Verity's room being next door. Maybe it was the change of scenery, which was a change of everything he's known.

But as grateful as he was for the family, he still felt a tremendous guilt. He took over their lives in one day, they had been at his side for nearly three months, and now they were offering their home. He appreciated them staying but struggled to understand why.

Then, something clicked.

Sometimes, things just happen and people care enough to help- and there's nothing you can do to stop it.

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