Anxiety Alley

Aaaaaaand Back To The Hospital [Chapter 12]

I come back to the hospital early the next morning. It's a Saturday, so I don't have school. 

"Excuse me," I say to the same nurse as yesterday, "I'm here to see Willow again."

"Willow Graceson?" she asks smugly. I nod, hoping that's her last name.

"Sorry sweetie," she fixes me with an overly sugary smile, "You can't just yet." I sigh and sit down in the waiting room on one of those annoyingly familiar navy blue chairs.  My phone screen lights up; I look down to find I have three missed calls and a couple of frantic messages from Sicily. 

Sicily's probably the only real friend I have left, other than Willow. She lives close, although I guess it was far from where we lived with Lyle. Swiping my thumb over the screen, I type a hasty reply. My phone died last night and I couldn't be bothered to care. She responds, demanding the whole story. 

I call her and explain. Slowly, then all at once, the words come pouring out. She makes the right sympathetic noises and doesn't interrupt. Occasionally I hear her siblings running around in the background, but that's unavoidable. There are nine kids in her family. 

"I feel so bad for your friend Willow. That must be terrible. How are you doing?" She asks. 

"I have no idea. I'm too worried about Willow to feel anything," I say, shaking my head even though I know she can't see me. 

"Okay, just take care, alright?" She pauses for a moment, "Actually, I'm bringing you lunch. Don't even try to argue."  

I smile as she hangs up. Sicily is one person I can always count on, especially since she took the role of the "Mom" friend.  Her being in a stereotypical Italian family has its perks; namely the food and her siblings. They have a joke that they could be a mafia, all on their own.  

"Excuse me, kid?" the nurse snaps her gum at me.  

"Y-yes?" I stutter, turning red as I trip over my words. 

"A Willow Graceson is cleared to have visitors," she deadpans.   

"Thanks," I nod to her and walk to the door she pointed at. Willow is awake when I come in. She looks the same as yesterday, slightly better. The small bruises have faded from angry purple to a tired yellow, peeking out from the fresh bandage. 

"Hey," I smile, reaching out for a hug, "Do you want a h-h-high five?" I ask, chickening out. 

"Sure," she huffs unhappily, smacking my palm. 

"You hate it here too?" I ask.

"Yeah, we should get out of here," she mutters.

"I wouldn't mind planning an escape," I smirk. 

"Really?" her eyes light up mischievously. 

"No," I shake my head, "I want you to get better, obviously." She says something else, under her breath, but I don't catch it. I'm pretty sure I get what she means. I'm about to respond when a nurse opens the door. 

"Sorry sweetie," she sing-songs in a deep southern accent, "There are a couple of tests we forgot. Could you step out?" 

I nod, closing the door behind me. Sicily's name flashes across my screen again, and I respond.

I high-fived her 

Maybe next time you could try *gasp* hand-holding?? 

Shut up 

Just then, a boy walks out of the elevator, looking up. 

"Can I go in, or do you know?" He questions. Is he talking about Willow? Is her her boyfriend??

"I don't know. The nurses kicked me out. Said that they needed to check some... thing..." I shrug, trying to act cool.

I checked my phone again, blushing, "Sicily. Why?" I murmur.

"Who?" he asked. 

"My friend. She's super sarcastic. I told her something, and she just... Just a ridiculous friend." I stumble over the explanation.

"Oh. Sorry. I'm not really trying to be nosy. Just curious." He glances at her door again, and this time it's open. 

"Mathis?" she beams. She knows him, obviously. I want to ask, but I can't. I slip away, quickly, and hope she doesn't notice. She doesn't.