A Girl, A Tree, and a Million Hellos

"Are you kids drunk?"

     There are a lot better ways to end a first date. Being in the hospital waiting room isn't exactly number one. Before I even went to see my- sister? I made sure Adara's mom was okay. The doctor stared at me and her with a blank face. 

     "Are you kids drunk?" he asked. Adara was looking right into the eye of defeat when I grew the balls to say,

     "What the hell kind of question is that? Her mother had a stroke!" He reacted a little stunned, but nodded his head an showed us in. Her mom was awake and began to talk with Adara. This room was more like a rusty, cobwebbed, prison. Minus the soap dropping. I showed myself to the door and walked away. 

     Room 273. Her room. The nervousness was rising in my throat. Or was it vomit? I was reassured of my answer when I saw the sign. Suicidal Stabilization Division. Why am I here? Is this my fault? Why are they in California? Have they always lived this close?

     Where is my dad?

     I sprinted into the room, and I saw her. A thirteen year-old girl sitting there. Cuts were all over her wrists. She was blank. Until she saw me. She hopped out of bed and walked slowly toward me. 

     "Are you Jesus?" I was speechless. She had a really sassy voice, but I wasn't going to argue with a suicidal seventh-grader. "The ugly staff woman said I needed Jesus. Just kidding about the you being Jesus, Jesus didn't look this gay." Well she was definitely my sister.  "Are you here to load me up on pills, council me into being Mrs. perfect?" 

     "I just wanted to see my sister." I said. She was in awe. From dark to day she began to look more and more happy. Until surprisingly, she hugged me. Right when things were doing alright, I heard a raspy voice behind me.

     "Welcome home Josh."