One Stupid Thing

Go Big or Go Home

We sit there staring out at the rising sun uninterrupted for a long time, simply enjoying each other's company. We haven't had much time for just the two of us since I came back, and I have a feeling that there won't be many opportunities in the near future either.

The hospital behind us remains in the back of my mind, and while I don't remember anything about the accident yet, another thought pops up into my brain.

"Hey, Sarah?"

"Yeah?"

"How did we pay for my medical bills?"

She tenses and slowly retreats her arm from around me, forcing me to lift my head up off her shoulder. "We didn't."

I look at her in confusion. "What do you mean we—" I pause. "Ryan."

Sarah looks back at me, not confirming nor denying the statement. "When I asked the hospital about costs, they told me they had all been covered already." Neither of us know for sure that it was Ryan who paid for them, but I know in my gut that it was. "He wouldn't leave your room for a while," Sarah tells me. "Every time I came back to see you, he was always there. Well, except for when JJ was."

My gaze snaps up to hers. "JJ never told me he visited me in the hospital."

"Oh, he didn't just visit, he practically set up camp in your room. I could hardly get him to leave."

My eyes drop to the ground and I feel extremely conflicted. "So, when Ryan left it wasn't because he had to get back to Boston?"

Sarah shook her head. "I'm sorry, Stella."

"It's okay." I sigh deeply. "All he's ever wanted is for me to be happy. I just wish that he didn't feel like he had to leave in order to do that. We could've worked something out." Lost in my thoughts, I stare out at the sky that has continued to lighten to a pale peach color. Suddenly, a monarch butterfly flits into my field of vision. Its delicate orange wings flap to keep it in the air, despite a strong morning breeze drifting in off the coast. It makes me think of Margaret and I smile at thought that she could be with me right now, even if it's only just in spirit.

"Hey." Sarah and I turn slightly and see John B standing a few feet away, looking wary to interrupt. We both scramble to our feet and look at him expectantly.

"Are they okay?" I ask him, feeling my heart start to pound again in anticipation.

Slowly, his head begins to nod. "Yeah. They're gonna be okay. The nurse said they need to decompress in the chamber for at least 12 hours. Make sure that all of the nitrogen makes its way out of their systems."

"Oh, thank God." I place a hand on my chest, feeling like I can finally, truly breathe. John B widens his arms and I step into them, wrapping my arms around him in return. Removing one arm from around me, he holds it out and Sarah joins in.

"I'm just glad they're okay." She lets out a deep breath and he kisses her on the forehead. I step away from the two of them, letting John B comfort my sister.

"Hey, so, while we wait," he begins, keeping an arm around Sarah. "The others were thinking we should go back to Genrette's. After everything we went through tonight, we deserve a lot more than 50K."

"Good idea," Sarah replies.

"That was Pope's actually."

"Huh. Where did that come from?"

John B just shrugs.

"Stella, I think we should drop you off back at home," Sarah says out of the blue.

"What? No. No, I'm seeing this through with the rest of you," I refuse. "I've missed out on so much already, I'm not going to miss out on this too. Plus, if I go home now, all I'm going to do is spiral and I really can't afford to do that twice in 2 hours."