Come Away.

Smells Just Like Him

Placing the Blanket over Marlowe, her temperature hasn't gone down since she's been there. Her body aches, shaking as it was below zero in the hospital.

Granny sighed as she sat down. "Billy was here just a moment ago."

The smell of cigarettes comes from the blanket. Why didn't she wash it? Marlowe meant to. But life got in the way. Maybe it wasn't a bad thing. Something that smells like a friend, well maybe a friend. Was nice. To her, messed up really.

Her voice sounded like she smoked 15 packs before she went to the hospital. "How nice." Clearing her throat, it hurt so bad as she spoke.

Granny sighed. "You poor thing. Get some sleep and don't worry about it."

Sleep in the hospital? How? Beeping machines, people with their squeaky shoes walking up and down. Nurses doing their jobs by checking on you, so they sometimes have to wake you up. Marlowe agreed with her granny. Closing her eyes, thinking about her mom, wishing that it was her being her than granny. As much as she loves her, Granny, there is nothing worn with wanting your mother. Falling to sleep as much as she could. Her brain went to Billy, and the power of his smell worked its way into her dream.

The way he looks at her, the way she wishes she could change him to be a good person and take him and Max away from his father. His muscles, his hair. It's mostly a girl's dream to have a strong man next to her. This wasn't fair to her. She kept telling herself as she was dreaming. Billy was always right beside her, claming her down, and other times, she would be calming him down from something or someone.

Marlowe felt a nudge. It was a nurse. Her nurse named Maddie. "Sorry, sweetheart, I have to take you another around for testing." Marlowe began to get up. Granny must have left for the night.

Sitting in the wheel chair being pushed around into a room, they had to do another test. Rubbing her left eye. Marlowe softly spoke. "When will they know what I have?"

"Soon darling. We just want to rerun this one because someone messed up on their end, and we want to make it right."

Marlowe wasn't sure if it was a lie or not. At this point, she didn't care. "Alright."

X-rays had to be redone, and another blood test had to be taken. Marlowe felt exhausted, like she could roll over and not care if she woke up until next week.

It was three am. By the time they had gotten done. Marlowe rolled over and didn't wake up until nine. Steve stayed with Marlowe while Granny was taking care of Granddad. Steve and Matlowe spoke about school and her surgery.

"Do you think they'll still let you have after being sick?" Steve was sitting on the chair while drinking coke.

"Granny said that if I'm not better by next week, it's a no. But if I am, it's still a go." Marlowe sounded a bit better.

"I hope so. I want this for you.. well, as long as if you still want it."

"I do still want it. I'm just worried about what my dad will think."

"Why are you worried about what that butthole would think?" Steve didn't care anymore what that man thinks. He left his only child, to be riased by others when she needed him the most.

"He asked me to come stay with him for most of the summer."

"And do you want to?" Hopping that she would say no.

"I want to.... but I don't want to deal with his crap or an excuse about work."

Steve couldn't control Marlowe or force her to do anything. "Well, sister,I leave that all up to you."

"Do you think I should? I mean, my mother had died, and he's all that I have left for so-called parent."

'"If I was your parent, I would tell you hell no. But I'm not. I don't think you should go cause he'll hurt you in the end. "  not wanting to be always negative. "But maybe he's changed. I'm not for sure. I haven't heard him call his family in ages."

"True. But what does he know about family Steve?" Marlowe sighed. Snuggling up to her blanket. Billy, what would he do? Oh, he would leave in two seconds if he had the chance. Wait, why..... right, the blanket still smelled like him. Well, she guessed that she would rather have it smell like him, more than the hospital.

"He knows nothing." Steves watch went off. "Alright, sis, I'll be back tomorrow after school. We can work on your homework." Standing up from the chair.

"Got a hot date?" Marlowe teasted him.

Mocking her with a 'ha-ha' "Actually I do little sis. So I'll see you tomorrow." Tapping her nose like he didn't when they were little. Only Steve could it away with it.

"Oh, I see. Well, when you get stuck in a hospital, I hope I'll do the same to you." Joking with him as he shook his head.

"No, you wouldn't cause you are ten times better than I am." Leaving the room.

Steve was right. She is better than he is. Looking at the tv that was playing reruns, she got bored. Homework looked too stressful, pushing the table away that was in front of her. Looking up at the ceiling, she counted all the cracks on the ceiling. It's wasn't fun, it was something to do. When that didn't help pulling the blanket over her head as she turned to her side. She went right back to sleep. Feeling warm that she was excited to feel again. Being home well wanting to be home and safe, hearing her grandparents yelling cause Granddad cant hear very well. Well when he wants too.

Listening to the neighbors kids running around outside have fun until their dad gets home. That made her feel safe as she falls back to sleep.