Symbiotic Relationship

Chapter Twelve

Jesse woke slowly. It had been a good sleep, the kind you really didn't want to wake up from. But she squinted against the sharp beam of the sun and opened her eyes, only to see Toby's sleeping face next to her in bed.

Jesse's first thought was it was still late into the night and Jesse had woken from sleep. She was going to go back to sleep but realized the sun was shining down on her face from the window. She sat bolt upright, shocked at seeing Toby still here. It was morning! Toby never stayed all night, it was dangerous!

Jesse looked down. Toby had for the most part been shielded by Jesse and the hospital bed sheets so the sun hadn't hurt him. Jesse sighed and pulled the blanket completely over his body. She swung her legs off the bed and hurried over the window as best she could. Her legs wobbled and shook. She leaned on the walls until she finally made it. She yanked the string, pulling down the heavily blinders until the room seemed dark enough.

She sighed in relief and struggled back over to the bed. "Toby? Toby," Jesse called, shaking the sleeping boy's arm. He remained asleep under the sheets. She didn't notice his chest moving up and down like a normal sleeping boy. He was silent and still as a corpse. It shook Jesse, chilled her but she shook her head, remembering that Toby wasn't a normal boy. "Toby?" She urged on, shaking his shoulders a little harder. He did not move.

Jesse blinked rapidly, her heart buzzing and her mind whirling. Was he a nocturnal creature and wouldn't wake until night fell? Was this normal? But why had he stayed here all night? Jesse didn't know the answers but knew she had no choice but to wait for him to wake on his own.

Jesse pressed the button on the side of her bed for the nurse to come in. Within a few long moments, the elder nurse came into the room, slightly surprised to see a sleeping boy in bed next to Jesse.

"Please carry him to the longue," Jesse said, pointing to the long seats by the window. "He fell asleep while visiting. He's had a rough day and I don't want to wake him," Jesse said, forcing a polite smile to her lips.

"Of course, dearie," the nurse said with a warm smile. "Poor boy, looks exhausted."

Jesse nodded and waited as the nurse went to get someone younger and stronger to move Toby. A large, burly male nurse came in and easily lifted Toby like a young child. "Please cover him with the blanket," Jesse asked and the male nurse nodded slightly, pulling a thin sheet over Toby's thin frame.

Once the two nurses left, Jesse watched Toby silently. Was he in need of blood? Was that it? Maybe he was too weak to make the trip back home…wherever home for him was?

Jesse looked over to her nightstand, at the faded picture she had found last night in Toby's jean pocket. She picked it up and gazed at it, once again finding herself wondering about the part of Toby's life that he didn't share with her.

For so long, Toby was Jesse's whole world. Jesse's mother was gone, abandoned her, no calls or visits. The nurses were kind but distant, and Jesse was in a hospital far from her home town, so the few friends from school never came around. Not that she'd had that many. So when Toby became a part of her life, Jesse was happy. He was kind and gentle. He was silent, yes, but his expressions told more about him than words would have. Toby was there when she was sad or lonely. Without fail, he visited her every night. She had feared for so long that she would be stuck in this hospital forever, never to walk again, never to be well again.  But once Toby arrived in Jesse's life, Jesse began to feel better, to have hope and love life again. She was always so much happier now, so full of life. Jesse needed Toby. She couldn’t go back to the loneliness and the fear and the emptiness.

But glancing down at the photo in her hand and glancing at the sleeping Toby in the room, Jesse wondered if Toby needed her.

…

"Jesse, sweetie. How are you?"

"Good," Jesse said, her voice hollowly sweet to her own ears. Hearing her mother's voice after nearly a week of no contact made it seem as if nothing had happened. Jesse felt that old sadness and distance from her mother again that she had thought was over. Her mother had suddenly been changing, caring for her again. But now…

"I just got myself the cutest little hat down by the old shop in the middle of town," continued Ms. Scarson jovially. "I can't wait to show it to you."

"And I can't wait to see it," Jesse said, though she didn't smile. She imagined her mother all dolled up, high heels, a short dress and her new hat, lounging at some expensive café somewhere as she bothered to call her hospital ridden daughter for a few minutes. Jesse clenched at the white bed sheets and shut her eyes, not wanting to cry now. "Uh, mom, the doctor just arrived to talk with me. I have to go."

"Ok darling, I'll call again! Bye!" and she was gone within a moment.

Jesse sighed and put the phone in its home and looked back to Toby. He hadn't moved all day. He was perfectly still, not even a rhythmic rise and fall of his chest disturbed the stillness. With a shiver Jesse realized he resembled a corpse lying in a coffin.

She leaned back in bed and closed her eyes for a moment but there was a tickle in her throat. She coughed briefly to relieve the tickle but the single cough erupted into a fit of heavy choking. Her body racked and heaved as she doubled over. Never in my life had she felt as miserable as that moment. The nurses must not have heard because no one came to check. When Jesse was on the phone she liked the door to be closed. Her mother wasn't here and Toby was still not wake. She wanted to be better, she wanted to not be alone. She couldn't coughing and choking and the day moved on.

…

The sun finally set and Toby finally opened his eyes.

Jesse was sitting in a chair by the counter, working on the puzzle alone. She didn't hear Toby get up, nor heard him cross the room. She jumped when she saw a pale hand cross into her line of vision and pick up a piece.

"Toby!" she cried and pushed out of her chair and into his arms. He didn't move at first, shocked still but then his thin arms encircled her small frame. "You scared me! I thought…I mean…I didn't even…" Jesse moved away but stumbled slightly on her own feet. Toby held her arm to steady her. "You didn't leave in the night. It was strange and then when you didn't wake all day…" Jesse laughed lightly. "I guess I should have assumed you're more of a daytime sleeper."

Toby smiled and helped Jesse back into her seat. Toby leaned over the counter and helped her with the puzzle.

"Christmas Eve is tomorrow," Jesse said, her voice calm and conversational. It felt natural again. She smiled up at the boy. "Would you like to accompany me till midnight tomorrow. We could spend Christmas together."

Toby smiled like a child at Christmas and nodded. Jesse laughed and worked with him some more. She put her hand out to his casually and held it. "I missed you Toby," she whispered and she got her reply of apology when Toby squeezed her fingers gently.

------------------------------

Wow its been a while since I published on here, sorry about that :/ I've been in such a writing funk lately and unfortunately I get bored of my story ideas quickly which is why this story is going so slow..but i will definately be finishing it which a chapter or two!! yay! thanks for sticking with me if you have, reviews are weclomed. have a nice day ;)