Skinny Hips // Ashton Irwin

five // joking

//Annie//

Ashton stayed for the majority of the day, through the awkward silences too. It was almost six when a doctor finally walked in and interrupted us.

"Mr. Irwin," he said, nodding at Ashton, "I'm afraid visiting hours are over. You'll have to say goodbye, I need to change Annie's feeding bag now."

I was disgusted at the thought, but knowing there was nothing I could do, I obliged. 

Ashton stood to leave, giving me one last hug before doing so. "I hope to see you back at group soon, Annie," he said quietly in to my ear. The thought of that horrified me nearly as much as being given more food, but I smiled at him anyway to ease his nerves.

After he left, I sat quietly while my doctor worked away, paying no attention to what he was doing and instead focusing on my chipped nails. After a while a thought came to mind.

"Is my mum still waiting outside?" I asked, looking up at my doctor. He stopped what he was doing and froze momentarily before biting his lip and looking down at me. I could tell he was trying to be hopeful for me. He could tell I was hopeful.

"No," he said quietly, shaking his head, "she left after Ashton came in to see you."

I could feel my heart sink in my chest, but I smiled and nodded anyway, allowing the doctor to finish up his work before telling me to get some rest.

I couldn't rest in the state I was in. I couldn't lie there knowing so much food was being pumped in to me and let it happen. I felt uncomfortable, like I was sick. I had to move.

It took me a few short minutes but I built up the energy to push myself up and climb out of the hospital bed, my gown falling around my frail knees. I slipped my shaky feet into my slippers and held onto the cold metal bar connected to my feeding bag, knowing if I disconnected my feeding tube I'd be stuck in this hospital for longer than needed.

Slowly and quietly, I opened the door, peeking my head out to see if anyone was around; there wasn't. I opened the door fully and began to make my way down the hall slowly, dragging my feeding tube and bag along with me.

The hospital was eerie and creepy at night, and the halls were almost completely empty except for a single doctor or patient every few minutes. I continued to make my way down the long hallways until some voices around a corner began to get louder as I got nearer.

I finally turned the corner, but froze at the amount of people stood at the front desk. 

It was my brother who was arguing with Ashton and one of his friends from his house who's name I couldn't remember, with tan skin and a child-like face. The lady behind the desk was shouting at all of them too, clearly trying to speak over them but clearly failing, while my doctor stood, trying to hold Ashton's friend back from my brother. I was shocked to say the least.

"Kieran!"

My brother's name was the first to come to mind when I saw the state happening in front of me, but he didn't hear me. I hadn't realized he was here with my mother until now.

"Kieran!" I called again, louder this time, but nobody acknowledged me. Sighing, I grabbed my feeding tube and bag and began to make my way over to the front desk, knowing I was going to get in trouble if I did but continuing to walk forward anyway.

Once I was close enough for them to hear me, I called my brother's name again, and this time everyone turned to look at me. I felt small under everyone's glare, but safer once Kieran made his way over to me and bent down to my height, wrapping his arms around my entire body and squeezing me close to his chest.