Unthinkable

Unthinkable ~ Chapter 7

That night I was finally going home. After what seemed like ages, I was finally getting to go home. To see what my life before the accident was like, to see life beyond that little hospital room.

To be honest, I wasn't so sure if I was ready.

"You done yet, Manny?" Damien called from behind the door of my hospital room as I changed out of the pale blue hospital gown into something from my closet.

"Pretty much. Come in!"

Damien strolled in with a stupid grin on his face. I eyed him with suspicion as he leaned against the wall and examined me.

"What?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest. A chuckle left his lips.

"Nothing. I'm just not used to seeing you outside of your hospital gown, that's all." He walked towards me and slung his arm over my shoulder. "You're a good kid, Manny. And you're growing up. I'm proud of you."

Honestly, that comment made my face grow warm. It really touched me to hear those words out of Damien's mouth. I feel like it was moments like these that made me want to stay at the hospital. I wanted to have heartfelt moments with Damien; to talk endlessly. I didn't know what to say back to his comment. A genuine "thank you" would have sufficed, but because he's my annoying brother (and no matter what, he always will be), I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Have you been drinking?"

He laughed and playfully nudged my head with his arm before heading towards the door.

"Let's go, pipsqueak." I smiled and followed him out.

Destination: Damien's car. It was a beat up old Volvo; not those flashy new ones, but the kind that look like boxes on wheels. I felt like I hadn't been outside in forever. The fresh air nearly knocked me off my feet as I tried to drink in my surroundings, a grin making way onto my features.

He kicked the passenger door a couple of times before it popped open, allowing me to slide into it. The torn leather seats were actually pretty comfortable, and the dusty scent mixed in with a lemon aroma from his supply of cough drops flooding the floor reminded me of home. Funny to feel that, seeing as to I don't even remember what home was like.

Damien shot me a half smile before starting the car. Just yesterday, he had seemed a bit weird when he talked about home. I don't remember what it was like, but I had waited too long for this moment to have it crushed by some apprehension. I rolled down the windows and stared outside, watching the scenery flash by as the car started to move.

I couldn't explain it, but something opened up inside of me as we drove by. The scent of a familiar place flooded my inside and melted my intestines. All I could do was just stare at the golden sky and watch the cars fly behind as we zoomed past buildings and houses. Damien started to turn up the radio, and my whole world was clouded by the music that boomed from the speakers and the scenery that flooded my eyes.

By the time we had made it to the house, I was already grinning like an idiot. I don't remember seeing my parents for a while, so it was a pleasant surprise to see a woman gleefully reaching her arms out to me. She seemed familiar, and I tried to wrack my brain as to where I saw her before.

I could make out the figure of a woman standing before me, along with a shrill voice exclaiming as soon as my eyelids parted. "She's awake! Manny's awake!"

"Manny?" Her voice was barely above a whisper as her lips curled into a smile. I blinked a few times. I didn't know what to say. Do I just run into this stranger's arms, pretending as though everything is normal? Or do I explain that I had no clue who she was, risking a surplus of tears and worried looks? Her smile was starting to falter, so I had to decide quick.