Sometimes Things Fall Apart

Chapter Eighteen

       As soon as we had freed Rick from the cuffs the woman put on him, we left for home. Nobody said a word. I was so lost.

       When we arrived in the garage, I went to say something to Rick, but he just looked at me, his eyes full of hurt and distrust. "Go home, (F/N)."

        I looked over to Morty. He looked away after a moment. Both he and Rick just stood there. I turned around and ran to my house, locking the door behind me before I fell to the floor and put my head in my hands. "I don't even know what's happening anymore. What happened to me? Why did I change?"

       For the rest of the day I sat there, trying to figure out what to do. Eventually I fell asleep against the door.

-x-

         For a week, I didn't leave my house. I hadn't gone shopping in a while, but that was fine. I had enough food for now. I sat on the couch, staring at the blank tv screen, looking at my reflection. My hair was an absolute mess. My clothes weren't much better. I'd been wearing the same two sets of pajamas back and forth. I refused to leave the living room unless it was to grab a snack or to use the bathroom. I hadn't even gone to my garage in so long. I just stared into the tv.

       After a while, I got up and walked into the kitchen, grabbing an orange before I sat at the table, peeling it slowly. I watched the orange peels fall to the table, each piece making a small plop. When I'd finished peeling it, I just set it down, bored.

        I was making my way to the couch when I heard a knock on the door. I looked through the peep hole. "Go away Rick. I'm just gonna make your life miserable again." I went and sat on the couch.

       "Come on, (F/N). You haven't even left your house all week." His voice was muffled and sounded exhausted. "Please let me in."
       "Go home, Rick." I felt like I was about to cry. "Just go home." I felt my voice crack, cringing at the sound. "I'll sleep on the porch. I don't care. I'm not leaving."

       I remembered the night he refused to leave. We had wound up sharing a bed. My bed. I started to cry, "G-Go away, please."

       "Come on, (F/N). I'm sorry, alright? Just open the door." I stayed on the couch, silent tears rolling down my cheeks. I didn't hear anything else after that.

-x-

        I woke up a few hours later, dazed. I rubbed my eyes and sat up on the couch. It was dark outside. Walking to the kitchen, nearly tripping in the process, I stretched my arms before I grabbed a glass of water and switched the light on. I looked at my reflection in a nearby metal ladle. "I think it's time we took care of our-self." I ran upstairs and took a quick shower before brushing my hair, taming it finally. I didn't look much better, but it wasn't as bad as before. I missed that bubble bath. I missed Rick.

       Rick!

       I ran downstairs and opened the front door. Sure enough, he was passed out on the front steps. "Come on, you dumbass." I tried to wake him up, but he wouldn't budge. He was out cold, snoring on my porch. I placed both hands under his arms and dragged him inside, shutting the front door. I ran and got a pillow and a blanket, placing the pillow beneath his head and laying the blanket over top of him before I sat on the floor next to him, watching his chest rise and fall with each breath he took. "I'm sorry I fucked everything up. I didn't know. I don't know what the Galactic Federation even is."
       I laid down a few feet away from him and fell asleep, wondering if this would ever be fixed.