Cold Blue Eyes

Chapter 2: Trapped

My eyes flick open. I'm surrounded by white everywhere, the bright walls, floors, the ceiling... Oh shit... I'm dead aren't I?!

"Hey buddy you doing okay?"

"Rick!!!" I shout, unable to shield my jubilance. "You're dead, too?"

Rick cracks up with laughter. He's just dying of it, which makes me feel like an idiot.

"No, we're both alive," he finally replies.

"That's nice."

"You don't seem over-joyed."

"Eh."

"Hell, you were happier when you thought you were dead."

"Nah, I was just happy to see you."

"'Cause I'm just that awesome."

"Exactly."

 Two familiar faces enter the room. "Mom? Dad?"

They run up and embrace me.

"Oh, I was so worried," Mom bawls.

"Mom, I'm okay."

"How are you doing old chap?" Dad says.

"I'm doing fine."

"That's good to hear."

"We heard what happened," Mom begins, "and when we heard that your leg, back, and ankle was broken, we had to see you as soon as possible."

This news just blows my mind. For a moment, I remain speechless. Then, I choke out the word, "WHAT??"

After several weeks of urgent care under the nurses, I'm finally home, but disabled. Rick had visited me almost every day. We always chatted and had the funniest conversations. His eyes seemed to glow every time we chatted. He made the days fly a lot faster. And now that I'm finally home, he makes me some nice hot chili. Homemade! Rick makes it best with a zesty tinge.

My parents had attempted to get me to move back in with them because in their eyes I had attempted to commit suicide. It makes me pissed just looking back at the memory of the conversation we'd had...

"Why were you laying in the street? What did you do- jump out the window!" Dad yelled.

"Yes."

He was on the verge of exploding, but Mom cut him off and tried to persuade me to move back in.

"We're just concerned that this isn't the best environment for you," she said. Her eyes glittered with tears. "Maybe you'll feel less stressed."

"Someone broke in," I explained.

"No. Rick told us he heard noise from your room and saw your window open and you were laying on the pavement." She broke down sobbing.

I tried to wrap my mind around this information, but it didn't make any sense. Had I imagined the whole thing?

"George, please. Just live with us. We can help you."

I gazed at her with pity. Make-up ran down her face with her tears, and when I looked over to Dad, I could see the pain contorted in his face. My heart tore apart 'cause I couldn't bear to hurt my parents like this. But I wasn't about to change my mind.

"Listen, I understand why you want me to move back, but Rick takes care of me. He's the closest friend I've ever had. Are you forgetting who bought me a brand new car? Who is paying for all of my food? He knows more about me than both of you combined. He's the only person who can help me."

My parents' expressions were the equivalent of those who had been punched in the gut. Their expressions still beam clearly in my mind, but I said what had to be said. It was the truth.