Changed For The Better

Its over

I took a deep, refreshing breath and slowly opened my eyes. My vision was blurry, and I could hear a constant beeping noise, which, as I woke up, separated into separate constant beeps, keeping a rhythm.

As my vision became clearer, I figured out that I was in a hospital bed. I don't remember much apart from running away from Luke and Gemma. They aren't here now though. Nobody is. I'm alone.

I scanned around the room and saw that my rucksack sat near my bed on the chair. And then I remembered, I need to get out of here! I attempted to sit up quickly, but there was so much pain in my body!

I also had one of those water things attached to my wrist which held me back. It was a bad idea, but I slowly pulled it out. It didn't hurt much and there was only a tiny bit of blood. There were a couple of other wires stuck to me, which I pulled off by their sticky tape stuff.

Anyway, I slowly, carefully, slid off the side of the bed. My legs felt like jelly and I clung to the side of the bed for balance and to hold myself up. But I have to leave here before someone finds out I'm awake.

I let go of the bed and tried to shift my weight into my feet, but it didn't work. My legs weren't ready for it and I simply collapsed onto my hands and knees. I felt like crying. I feel so useless and weak.

I heard the door open, and a man rushed in and pulled me to me feet, forced me back onto the bed and reattached all the wires and the water drip. He used the remote to sit me up in bed then stood with his arms folded, looking down at me.

"Now young lady, I know you might be very confused but you mustn't pull a stunt like that again, understand?"

I tried to talk and say something to him, but no words came out of my mouth. Just a dry, quiet sound.

"No, don't try to talk. Let me explain what's happened"

I shut my mouth and braced myself for the inevitable bad news that was coming.

"You're care worker explained the situation. We've assessed your condition and it seems as though you passed out from exhaustion, dehydration and malnutrition. You've been nourished and you've been here for two days"

Two days?!! How have I been here for two days?! That's like I was in another coma or something! But I wasn't! And I don't remember anything.

"Don't panic, you're going to be just fine. Now that you're awake we just need to get you up and about again and you can go home. Once you've had some water to drink properly, you're voice shouldn't take long to restore as your vocal chords just haven't had appropriate levels of lubrication. I'll get you some now and let your care worker know you're alright. And in future, make sure you eat and drink plenty, alright?"

He sounded almost angry just then. Well sorry grumpy guy but I think you'll find I'm the one suffering here. And now I'm going to have to go back home to the stupid dumping ground. And they'll ask me questions and ... I just don't want to be there.

The doctor came back in and handed me the glass of water. There was loads of ice in it. Like literally half the glass was taken up by ice. He was followed by Luke, who was followed by Gemma. This should be fun. Luke started talking as I took a sip of the water which gave my throats a feeling of relief.

"Marie..." he started. "I don't even, think, I have anything to say. I'm really disappointed in you" he sighed. "I've seen your file and I know you've run away before. But what stupid thoughts were you thinking, when you decided to do it again?"

I didn't even bother trying to speak. My throats almost feels normal again, but I don't want to talk to them. It's none of their business why I did what I did. The fact is I did it. They know I did it and I don't really regret doing it.

"Look, if you've got nothing to say for yourself then fine. But we're taking you home now. And we'll be keeping a very close eye on you for a while"

"Why is Gemma here?" I asked. My voice sounding completely normal to me.

"Marie you went missing for over 24 hours. We had to call the police and involve your social worker. It's their job to make sure we get you back safely"

"For all we know" continued Gemma "you could have been kidnapped, or even died"

"That would have been nice for you" I mumbled.

"Marie, just talk to us. We only want what's best for you" Gemma stated. I didn't reply. I'm not falling for the whole, caring routine.

"We need to understand why you did this" Luke said. "We need to know what made you act in this way so we can help you"

Help me what exactly? Learn to not run away again? Trust me I'll never learn that lesson. I just don't want to be here. Not at the dumping ground any more.

"Look Marie" started Luke. "When we get back, there's something you need to know..."

"Save it. I don't want to hear it"

"But it's important!"

"I don't care. If you're gonna take me home just get it over and done with"

That ended all conversation. I think they were both pretty lost for words and knew that I wasn't up for talking.

----------

Next thing I know, they're dragging me back into the dumping ground. Luke was carrying my stuff. He was trying to be helpful or making it look that way, but I knew that really he was just trying to stop me running off again. And sadly it was an effective technique.

Luke stopped outside the front door and dismissed Gemma. He didn't open the front door, and instead turned to talk to me, with both his hands placed on either shoulder.

"Look, some of the kids, well actually it's everyone really, have been really worried about you. You've had us all on the edge of our seats and we were up the best part of the night last night, hoping we could contact you or you would come back. Now they all want an explanation. Naturally, you don't have to tell them anything. But Mai Lee and I really do need one, otherwise the police will be forced to get involved"

With that, he handed me my rucksack back and opened the door for me. I considered making a runner, but Gemma's getting into her car and Luke is right next to me. It would never work. I need to leave it a couple of days. Lure them into a false sense of security and all that.

I didn't even look at him as I stepped into the house. I sent him a glare over my shoulder and started barging up the stairs. Suddenly, he started to follow me..

"And Marie I need to talk to you!"

"Leave me alone Luke!" I yelled back.

"But it's about your....!"

I swung open my bedroom door to find someone else's stuff in there, as well as another bed. The furniture, along with a load of my stuff, had been moved again. This isn't happening!

"Room" he finished calmly as he caught up with me.

"What have you done?!" I yelled angrily at him as I threw my bag onto the floor.

He held his arms up in defence. "Easy I did try to tell you"

"Tell me what?! That I'd be sharing with some other fleabag?! Well they can't have my room shove them in with someone else! How about Floss? She's a little worm they'll hardly notice she's there"

"I can't do that. Will you just calm down please?"

"No?! Whose stuff even is this?"

"Mine" came a voice from behind me.

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A/N

I know this is a short one, but I really wanted to leave it there...