Crash and Burn

Chapter 9

My mind was racing; this time a swirling mass of concerns instead of the suffocating wad of questions it had been for so long.

As I lay in my bed staring at the ceiling, my stomach was twisting. Could I maintain a realtionship with Aaron? Would Patrick try to do something to him? Would I be able to keep a relationship with them both?

I pushed the thought out of my mind. Veronica and Anthony said that I could see Aaron tomorrow morning around ten, so that meant that I had tonight to get my stuff for tomorrow ready, and all I was really going to need was my outfit.

I hauled my lazy butt off of my bed and walked over to the closet. "What to wear, what to wear?" I questioned nobody in particular. 

"You could wear that pretty white dress," a voice from my door said. I whipped around to face the person. I let out a sigh of relief; it was just my mom. She smiled at me. "You should wear the white dress," she said quietly. "I think he'd like to see it again."

"Uh, yeah. Let me find it and we can see if it still fits and everything," I said while rummaging through the hangers. I found it after a couple minutes of searching; it was a short white dress, just above the knee, that was covered in a thin layer of white lace on the bodice and two layers on the skirt. Aaron loved it when we were together. 

I went into the bathroom to put it on and when I walked back out everything was brighter. It was like the sun agreed with this outfit choice as well. Actually, my mom just opened the windows. 

I walked into the room and all eyes were on me. Anthony and Veronica had sen me in the dress only on special occasions, like when Aaron and I had started dating or when I had come home from the two-week mental health evaluations.

"You look beautiful, sweetheart," Veronica said. I smiled and looked down at my black Chuck Taylors. I was so nervous. I muttered a quiet thank-you as we got in the car. 

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I was sitting in the back seat of Veronica and Anthony's 2017 Ford Edge with my mother when we arrived at the hospital. Veronica, who was driving, put the car in park and turned around to face me. She stared hard at me for a moment. 

"Are you sure you want to do this, honey?" 

I nodded. 

"I want to let you know in advance, he's not the same Aaron as he was before. If he has a worse reaction to you than you expect, don't be put out. He's ready to give up." 

My eyes were wide. Aaron wanted to die? 

"You're catching my drift, I can see it in your eyes. I need you to be patient with him. He needs you to be patient with him."

"Okay," I said. But what if he didn't want to see me? What if I messed everything up? What if Patrick texted or called during the visit...

I couldn't think as we made our way past the reception desk and into the bland elevator. I was like a zombie, following behind the three adults who seemed to know this hospital inside and out. 

Actually, they probably did know the hospital inside and out. As far as I knew, Aaron had been here for months. He still was there. And I was there. We were there, in the same place at the same time in almost the same condition. He was hurt physically, I was hurt mentally. Thinking that someone is dead for months and then being told they're alive can really take its toll on a person.

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I stared at the door. Pieces of Veronica's speech to Aaron leaked through the door, but it was his silence that made me nervous. If I could just hear him, even just a grunt or short answer, I would've been able to walk in that room with no fears. But the boy, laid up in a hospital bed, was silent.

I took a deeep breath, willing my mind to just stop. And much to my surprise, it did. I was the Missy I was before the crash. Before Aaron was dead. Before he was alive. I was Missy again. And it felt so good. 

I took one last glance at the marbled floor and my eyes rose to meet Veronica's nervous indigo eyes. She gestured with her hand that I could go in, and, for once, my feet didn't fail me. I slowly but confidently wandered into the room, keeping tight to the door frame. 

I heard a sharp inhale, and a heart monitor started beeping slightly faster than it was before. My eyes wandered around faster than I thought they could. So many machines and tubes were connected to a shell of the well-muscled, sturdy Aaron that was ingrained in my mind. 

After what felt like an eternity, our eyes met. His once bright eyes were now dull and lifeless. 

Aaron had given up.

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HI! I'm sorry it's been so long since I've updated. I also restarted my other story, Calamity. I had a major writers block but I think I'm back now. 

--Darling