Bittersweet | Ticci Toby

2 || ❝𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬❞

Knock, knock, knock!

Everything was quiet and still. The hospital room looked blue in the morning's light and disturbingly empty. The walls had some big, 3D-looking stickers of butterflies, and the floor had colourful green tiles. Cute.

You opened your eyes, panting and scanning your surroundings. It was an understatement to say that you felt like absolute garbage. You tried to sit up, but the sudden, sharp pain in your abdomen didn't let you do so. Your vision was blurry, and your heartbeat was pounding in your head.

"Fuuuuh," you hiss in pain as someone enters the room. It was a nurse.

She sat down on the opposite hospital bed, offering you a warm, crooked smile that reminded you of a certain someone. Then it finally settled in.

"Shit, shit, shit-" you chant, barely above a whisper.

Thousands of questions flooded your mind, and you sat up, groaning loudly in pain. 'I need to see my friends' you thought. Panicking even more, you grabbed onto the sheets as last night's events flashed through your mind. Your movements were stopped by the nurse as she made you lay back down again, giving you a stern look. You felt like you had just been scolded by your mom.

"You were reported with a broken rib, a twisted ankle, and fractures of the elbow joint. You had a life-threatening stab wound and multiple injuries all over your body. Don't. move." She demanded and you gulped.

So many questions flooded your mind, but you stood silent, looking at her as she was talking about something. You had spaced out and had no intention of paying attention to her. She sighed once again, clicking her pen to write something down and cracking her finger.

You gagged. Your hand was plastered against your mouth, and your whole body cringed and recoiled at that sound. Maybe throwing up is a bit exaggerated; you debated whether to keep it on or just let it all go. If only you could control that.

"Bleeuuughh-"  the amount that came out was kinda impressive. You shyly look at your nurse and give her an awkward laugh. She gave you a disapproving look.

———————————————————————

Looking out the window and into the forest has become a daily routine now. You honestly felt defeated—more than you do while explaining internet jokes to nurses.

The rest of your friends still haven't contacted you, and it's been well over a month. You were scared of also losing them, but who knows if something also happened to them? The thought sends shivers down your spine, and your ears start ringing again.

It's been like that ever since the incident. Your ears would ring randomly, and in worse cases, static would fill your head. It never bothered you so you never mentioned it to the nurses. Maybe it was a sign of PTSD or something.

Only a few more hours, though. A few more hours, and you're finally free from this sickly, sterile place. The thought made you smile a bit. You missed your home. You wonder, for a second, what will happen to Christine's house.

You go to change into a hoodie and jeans, looking at your reflection after.

'Wow, grey suits me. I wonder what I would've been like if I had walked home that night'.

You chase the thought out of your mind and start looking for things you can bring home. Taking the "Get well soon!" card you received from your mom a few days ago out of the drawer, you sigh. Right, that's all you have.