axel

::twenty three::

Point of View: noah 

[His voice is almost too low

As he says, I love you forever, forever and always

Please just remember even if I'm not there

I'll always love you, forever and always.] {Forever and Always; Parachute} 

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Dear Hospitals,

I hate you.

I seriously don't like you. Loathe you. You reek of sterilized tools and death and sorrow. The stench is locked into the walls. Even if you had someone come in and clean the entire thing top to bottom and pressure washed everything, you would still be able to smell the awfulness. 

This is a place where people come to die. 

This is a place filled with death and suffering, and this is a place where people bring the people they love to try to get them fixed.

But you don't like that. You take people, rip them from their loved ones.

Every once in a while you let someone walk out, but for the most part, this is a death trap.

Ever since my mother spent months in hospitals, I don't trust you. I know the smell of the hospital better than the smell of flowers or sunshine. I know all the nurses in the hospital where my mother was. I know all the back entrances and ways to smuggle desserts out of the cafeteria. I know that when a victim is picked, you don't let go of them easily.

It's horrible, awful, completely terrible.

Why do you like my family so much?

What have we ever done to you to make you want to do these awful things to us?

Just leave us alone. Please.

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I'm running up the stairs, totally disregarding the elevator two feet away. It'll take too long and I can't stand still for any longer than I have to.

I can hear North calling my name, and I know I've dropped my coffee on the floor. I saw the top pop off and coffee go up and out, but I don't even care. 

He's awake.

I'm running, and my lungs are burning, searing, and I realize that I'm a skater, not a runner, and this was incredibly stupid.

But then somehow, I make it to the fourth floor, and I'm tearing down the  halls until I get to his room.

I swing inside, and I'm panting, and wheezing, but then I see him and none of that matters anymore.

The doctor is standing near the door and I turn to him first. He's older, and white haired, and he kind of looks like what I've envisioned my grandfather to look like. He's holding a clipboard, and he says,, "He's woken up, which is a hugely great thing. We're still going to keep an eye on him for today, but then we're going to release him."

He hugs the clipboard to his chest, and turns so he's not facing Josiah, "I'm going to give you some information on rehabilitation centers as well."

My heart and stomach and internal organs all clench at once and it's all I can do to nod blindly.

He walks out the door after glancing back at my brother one more time.