Bumbleby

Chapter Fourteen

YANG'S POV

Home. It's good to be home after being stuck in the hospital for two weeks, one of which I was basically in a coma. Blake came everyday to hang out with me, she would even bring her favourite books and read to me, despite how much she hates reading out loud. I've sort of gotten used to only having one arm, but I still get a lot of phantom pain which the doctors say can be hard to fix without more therapy. So, I've gone from one therapy session a week to three at a minimum for two months. I didn't really like the idea, but understand that I need to do it because I want to live. I want to be with Blake.

I encouraged Blake to also give therapy a try, but expressed that it is her decision, and hers alone on whether she chooses to go. With everything that's happened, talking to someone who isn't a friend or family about things she isn't ready to tell us, is a good thing. She said she'd think about it.

On my bed, I find a stack of envelopes, so I sit down and start opening them, granted, it's a struggle with one arm but I make it work. They are cards and letters from my friends and teachers, telling me I can talk to them when I'm ready. It warms my heart to read all their kind messages.

A part of me hoped that there'd be something from my mum because I know that both my dad and Qrow tried contacting her about the incident, but nothing. That hurts. I know she never wanted me, but does she really not care?

I shake my head. I can't think about that, about her right now. I place all the cards around my desk and shelf, smiling because these people care about me. I have so many people who have my back.

"Hey kiddo, want some lunch that's not hospital food?" Dad knocks on the door and pops his head around.

"Please," I smile at him.

I had gotten into a small amount of trouble for eating the pancakes and fruit that Blake and her parents snuck in for me, but what are they really going to do to an amputee about it? Not much, as it turned out, but they did insist on checking whenever someone came to visit me to make sure they didn't sneak any in which sucked.

"What would you like?" he asks.

"Burgers? From the place in the village nearby?" I ask. I love their buttermilk chicken burgers.

"Sure, I can order for delivery or we can go pick them up," he suggests.

"Ah, I don't think I'm up for another drive," I say, and he nods with a smile. I look down at my lap where my hand is resting and sigh before looking back up at him. "Have you heard anything from mum?"

His smile disappears and he shakes his head.

"Okay," I mumble, "I'll come down soon, I want a shower."

He leaves me to it after telling me he'll order my burger for me. I wrap my stub up in some plastic that the nurse gave me on discharge and strip down. The hot water runs over my body, and I can feel myself relaxing as I lean against the wall. Washing my hair takes forever with one arm, but I manage after some tears and a lot of effort. Drying it after my shower is much harder, to the point I give up and get dressed in some sweat pants and a hoodie.

"Yang?" I hear Ruby call out, I open my door and see her standing there. "Do you need help with anything?"

My wet, heavy hair pulls against my scalp. I nod, letting her into my room. "I can't dry my hair properly."

"Where's your hairdryer?" She asks and I point her to my bathroom.

She comes out with it in hand, plugs it in and gets me to sit at my desk. It whirs loudly, and she starts gently moving my hair around, trying to get into the thick of it. It takes some time, but soon enough, it's not so heavy and wet anymore, and she turns it off.

"There," she says proudly, rubbing my shoulder.

"Thanks sis," I smile up at her, grabbing a hair tie and she helps me tie it up.

"The food should be here, let's go down and eat," she says.

We head downstairs and find dad and Qrow sitting at the couch watching TV. Like usual, Qrow is drinking, but at least there's a takeaway box in his lap with food, and more on the table.

"Hey girls, I was about to come get you," dad says, pushing Qrow to make room on the couch.

Turns out, it's actually quite hard to eat a burger with one hand, but I manage. Granted, I make a bit of a mess while eating. It's something I'll have to get used to, I guess. Dad hands me my medication mix of antidepressants and painkillers along with a milkshake from the burger place. I take them without a fuss because there's a dull, throbbing pain in my stump.

"Do you want to invite Blake over tonight?" Dad asks me as he cleans up the takeaway rubbish.

"We're going to videocall soon, but she might come over tomorrow for a bit," I tell him and he nods, walking to the kitchen.

"Cookie?" Ruby asks, whipping a cookie out of nowhere.

Qrow and I both laugh, and I take the cookie while thanking her. This kid still finds ways to amaze me with her magical cookie finding skills. She's never without a secret stash, I swear. I devour the cookie and ruffle her hair, then head back up to my room, laying down on my bed. I do wish Blake was here, I think to myself as I pull out my scroll.

I hit the videocall button. It rings a couple times, then Blake's adorable face pops up on the screen and I smile immediately. We talk for hours about anything that comes to mind; school, friends, silly little jokes. It's nice, and I love watching her ears move as she talks, they're so expressive. I love them. I love her.

"I love you, Blake."