Saving the Heart

♥ Chapter Twenty-Four ♥

♥ Chapter Twenty-Four ♥

    “I thought you would need a few things.” Tricia started as I sat on her bedroom floor.  “Consider it a late Christmas gift,” She leaned down from her bed and handed me the silver paper wrapped box, a nice gold bow adorned the top of it.  

    I sighed.  I needed time away and my dad insisted that I go and see my friends to help burn off some of the stress.  Mike and Piper sat beside me, being all cuddly and cute.  I swallowed past the lump in my throat.

    “Thanks Tricia,” I started to unwrap the gift, being tedious and slow, careful not to tear the paper.  That was, until it was fully unwrapped.  “You really didn’t have to.” I told her as I pulled the small envelope out of the box, revealing that it was a restaurant gift card for an amount that had even me feeling uncomfortable accepting it.

    “We all pitched in,” Piper added.

    “Think of it as a late wedding gift,” Tricia continued.  I scowled at her as I pulled out my wallet to put the gift card away.  “You know, so you can actually take that hubby out on a date.”

    “You don’t even like Sam.” I told her with a playful smile.

    “Yeah, well you do...so I have to support your unwise decisions.” I huffed.  “We miss you at school by the way.” She added to the end, giving me an innocent smile.

    “Can’t say I miss everyone else, besides you guys of course.” Mike rolled his eyes.  School had started two days ago.  My father had agreed to keep me home until Sam was out of the hospital, I was the only person who could really be there for him and there was no way that he was going to spend the next week in the ICU completely alone.  He’d go crazy.  Of course, I was often led away to allow him to sleep, as I was doing right now.  All he did was sleep.

    “Well, it’s safe to come back.” He told me, suggesting that everything had finally blown over.  “Besides, scars are hot.  It’s all over school that your car got busted up, and well, you did as well.” I blushed even fiercer.  

    The pain was fading, but with it my skin was starting to bubble in raised pink scars.  I had a nice gash going across my stomach, just above my belly button, as well as large yellow bruises.  I had to wear a foam brace around my ribs for the next few weeks, and a terrible headache wracked me hourly.  Overall, it could be worse.  I could be recovering from having my chest opened up and muscle sliced off of my heart.

    “Thanks guys,” I continued as I set the box aside, “for everything.”

    Tricia smiled down at me, chewing her lip.  Piper’s cheeks tinted pink.  Mike rolled his eyes at our sentimental antics.  Sometimes I wondered why he agreed to hang out with us.

    “Just worry about getting better,” Tricia told me, “but don’t worry too much because I need you in anatomy to help us dissect fetal pigs.” Tricia shuddered and I laughed.  It hurt to laugh, but yet it was something that I needed.  A distraction from the real world.

    “Tricia!” Tricia’s mother called as she pounded up the stairs and opened Tricia’s door, leaning in.  “Sorry if I’m interrupting anything, hi Kennedy.”  I smiled and gave her a small wave before she continued.  “Reagan’s here to pick you up,” she told me.  

    After New Year’s the rest of my brothers had returned home, well, to their respective homes and colleges.  All except Reagan.  He wanted to hang around and baby me for just a little longer since I wasn’t allowed to drive until I was off of my narcotics.

    “Thank you,” I told her.  She gave me a small curtsey before chewing out Tricia for the mess and eventually leaving.  

    I rose slowly to my feet.  I had learned the hard way that fast movements led to dizzy spells.  That’s probably how Sam used to feel.  And that’s exactly where I was going to.  Sam.