Present
Leni walks in circles around her hospital room debating telling her friends what happened.
Should I tell them, will they be ashamed of me for not protecting myself?
She battles with her own mind a internal turmoil between telling them and risking everything or suffer through it all on her own. After a few hours of walking around the room a nurse comes and drugs her so she'd sleep.
Tommy parks his car in his driveway after sitting for an hour or two crying in the hospital parking lot. More from anger than from sadness.
Why won't she fucking tell me? Or even see me. Any other guy would have been long gone after two weeks. No no stop.. don't. You love her more than any other guy could.
Tommy sees his mom's head poke through the curtains. She's expecting any news. She won't get any. Tommy gets out and walks slowly to the front door. Wiping his eyes knowing full well his mom would still be able to tell he was crying. He walks into the kitchen where his mom appears to be busy washing dishes.
"No change?" She asks not looking up from her chore.
"Nope." Tommy quickly answers with as little emotion as possible.
"Are you going back tomorrow after work?" His mom asks.
"Yep." He says.
His mom starts to speak "Tommy.."
He cuts her off " Don't even try mom. Don't ask me not to go."
She sighs and dries her hands. "I won't then."
She pulls him into a hug. Even though he towers two feet taller than her.
"Just don't give your life away to someone who can't fulfill it. Your dinner is in the microwave." She leaves him in the kitchen,walking upstairs to her room. Tommy doesn't even bother getting his food out he doesn't feel like eating.
Leni wakes up screaming. The nightmares are getting worse. A nurse rushes in
"Are you alright, doll?"
Her name is Melanie she'd been Leni's morning nurse for a month now she'd come in and sit with Leni and talk to her about her life and her happy marriage. She painted Leni's nails and did her hair some days it really just depended on how much work Melanie had to do.
Leni's nods.
She writes: Just another nightmare.
"I'm sorry, doll." Melanie checks Leni's monitors.
"I think you're being moved home tomorrow. Do you mind if I write my number in your notebook as your on call nurse?"
Leni shakes her head.
"Your friend Tommy is here do you want to try and see him today?" Melanie studies Leni's face.
Leni looks out the window sure enough Tommy's car is in the hospital parking lot. Leni nods. I'll see him today.
Tommy sits slumped over in a chair. A nurse comes into the waiting room he doesn't look up certain the nurse isn't here for him.
"Tommy?" She asks.
"Yes?" He looks up alert now.
"Leni will see you today." Freaking finally...
"Okay." He says. He masks the flurry of emotions flowing through him.
"Follow me." The nurse says.
The nurse's name tag says Melanie or something like that he doesn't really care. She leads him to a solitary room at the back the hospital. She opens the door and Leni is standing in front of her window her back towards him.
"Leni?" Tommy's voice shakes.
Her skin is pale, she's lost too much weight and she has purple circles under her eyes. He doesn't care. She looks at him and smiles. He walks over to her and pulls her into his arms.
After waiting two months I finally get to hold her.
