Everything We Always Were

Fifteen: Morph

The headache is overwhelming, hitting me as soon as I begin to gain consciousness. I don't open my eyes, but I know where I am, and I hold back a groan. The last thing I remember is leaving the house.

I know Delia is coming, if she isn't already here. I don't know how long I lay there until I hear her voice from down the hall. It's clear, compared to the muffled beeping and chatter through the walls around me. My eyes are still closed, and I keep it that way, feigning sleep.

They enter, and I listen to them quietly speak about food before a set of feet disappear from the room. I feel her sit in the chair next to my bed, and I can smell her shampoo. I want to reach out for her, but I don't, the pounding in my head pushes me to exhaustion, and I fall asleep.

Everything is foggy and slow when I wake up like I'm swimming through sticky tree sap. My headache is not nearly as bad, and I open my eyes. It stings against the harsh hospital florescents and I close them again.

"Good morning," Delia's voice is distant, and I look around the room through squinted eyes until I spot her in the chair by the door, a book in hand. She looks tired. "Do you feel okay?"

I nod, clearing my throat, but not responding.

"They said they will bring your discharge papers soon, so we can take you home. No lasting injuries, not even a concussion." Maria appears in the doorway, her small stature almost invisible in the shadow of the light in the hallway. "You got very lucky."

After changing into the clothes Maria brought me from home and signing the papers, we are in Maria's small car on our way back to the house.

I feel like an idiot.

Such an idiot.

But I put on a brave face for her because she already worried way too much about me in the past 24 hours.

"You can go home," The words are jagged coming out of my throat, making me realize how much I needed a drink. "I'm sorry for keeping you up all night."

"You have nothing to apologize for," Her tone is snippy almost, and it stuns me a bit. "If you want me to go home, I can. But I don't have to go to school today,"

I don't want to waste her time, "I'll probably just be sleeping all day,"

"It's fine, you can have your bed." She gestures to the hallway. "I'll take a nap on the couch," She gestures to the living room and then looks back up at me with wide eyes.

I don't have the energy to fight her and I find comfort that she is still here.

Once my bedroom door closes behind me, I look around. She had cleaned up, even though it was already clean. I sit down first, trying to gather my thoughts. With a sigh, I lay down, my head pounding and exhaustion hitting me.

Waking up, my head still hurts, and confusion follows the initial pain since there is no light coming through the curtains. I let my mind settle back down and roll out of bed. My stomach growls loudly as I relieve myself and quickly make my clothes and hair look presentable.

"Morning," My voice comes out gruff and scratchy, and before I can try to clear my throat, a yawn forces its way through. "Did you guys get any sleep?"

"Your bandages need to be changed. Are you hungry?" Maria gestures to the table where Delia is sitting, "Sit, I'll change the gauze. Anything you want to eat?"

I sit, and my stomach growls again. "Pizza," My mouth waters at the thought. "Pepperoni and bacon."

"I'll order," Delia pipes in next to me, her voice cheery and bright, making me feel warm.