Are You Afraid of Musicals?

Chapter 7.5: Revelations

2...

Gina's pov:

The doctor said that Dani wasn't in a coma, that she would wake up at any given moment, but it's been days and Dani... she's not waking up.

But the world kept spinning, high school started, the routine dragged us forward whether we liked it or not and not only that because with school, the extracurriculars started too, which for Gabby meant soccer.

The doctor told her that he recommended no physical activity, that she have to wait at least a couple more weeks, but none of us had the heart to stop her from going, because as much as I don't like it, it's doing her some good.

Because the soccer practice is the only time she's not either locked inside the high school walls or trapped inside the hospital.

Since Dani's dad gave us full access to her room, we've been going there every single day without exception. So it's literal when I say that the only hours Gabby spends outside those walls are on the soccer field.

And maybe her head... who am I even trying to fool, her head's most definitely still with Dani even when she's running and sweating and passing the ball, but at least then she's breathing, moving, talking... living. At least there she's with people instead of sitting silently beside Dani's bed, just staring and hoping for the best.

She's worried, we all are, but she hides it so well it's almost scary. It's like she's living in some kind of denial, a quiet and very stubborn one, because she sees Dani alive right there in front of her, hooked up to machines but stable, and in her head that's all she needs.

As long as her vitals are fine, Dani's fine. As if no other option existed, as if nothing could go wrong as long as she's by her side at all times.

Because I don't even know if Gabby still has her job. Her only priority since the shooting has been the hospital, and now that classes started, her schedule is basically school, soccer, hospital, home. And that's it.

No hang outs, no shifts at work... no time for literally anything else.

And now that Alex gave us full access to Dani's room... I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing.

I mean it's obviously a good thing, Gabby's visibly less anxious and she's doing so much better now that she's being able to see for herself that Dani's ok, but like I said, it also means she's always at that damn hospital.

Visiting hours don't matter in the private floor, so we spend all afternoon there, every afternoon. And when night comes, dragging Gabby out of there is the hardest task in the world, not because she fights against it or because she doesn't want to leave... but for the absolute sadness that I can see into her eyes.

She doesn't want to leave, she needs to be with Dani, make sure that she's ok or she'll overthink all day until she's able to see her again, and having to take her home with those glassy eyes and defeated expression it's truly heartbreaking.

So she almost lives at the hospital now, and again... no one has the heart to tell her anything.

Our friends can't go into Dani's room, so the only time Gabby sees them is mostly at school. Every hang-out plan, every time someone suggest to go to the library or to do something, gets turned down for the hospital.

And Gabby doesn't just turn down hangouts, she's struggling at class too.

Everyone can see it, her head's never really in the classroom, it's always drifting to Dani, or to the shooting, or to the storm in her mind that she tries not to let anyone see. But teachers are starting to call her out, she's fallen behind a little and we all trying to help, but it's really difficult.