3 am; joji miller

1.8

     A week or so had passed, and today is the day that George is getting out of the hospital. I stayed at the hospital last night so as soon as we woke up, we could get ready to leave.

     I opened my eyes and stood up. I fell asleep in the chair next to George's bed. I stretched and sighed before pulling out my phone.

     Over the week, I hadn't really gotten any messages from Scar. The only thing he sent was a reminder. 'Get him back to Arizona.'

     Honestly, it's pissing me off more than it's making me scared. But the stress has also been eating me alive. I haven't really told any lies since the whole hospice nurse thing, but I feel like I have been.

     Out of the corner of my eye, I saw George sit up in bed. I looked up from my phone and smiled at him. "Good morning Sleeping Beauty. You excited to get out of here?"

     "Of course I am. I just want to get out of this hospital and figure out a way to get back home," he said.

     I know my task is to get him back to the U.S., but I don't know why it's so hard. I mean, he wants to get out of here and so do I.

     "I guess you and I will have to get some jobs so we can pay for tickets out of here," I said.

     "Yeah, I guess so. I'm almost out of money that we brought, as is. Plus the bill for this hospital visit. We're defiantly gonna have to get jobs," he said and sighed.

     "Good morning George. Good morning Rose. Did you sleep well last night?" Dr. S came in and smiled at the two of us. George said he slept fine, but I said I didn't. I guess that's my fault for falling asleep in the chair.

     I️ stood up from the chair and stood in front of Dr. S. "So what time does he get to leave?" I️ asked.

     "You're making this sound like it was a prison sentence. He can leave whenever he wants, now. Just whenever you're ready," he said and glanced to George.

     George sat up and swung his legs over the bed and stood up. He didn't have anything hooked up. No IV's, no nothing. I️ smiled at him as he walked to us. "Well, give me my clothes and let's get the hell out of here," he said and looked at Dr. S.

     Dr. S smiled and handed him his folded shirt and jeans. George took them gratefully and went to the bathroom and shut the door.

     I️ had never explained to Dr. S what had happened the night that I️ had left the hospital with Scar and his men. He never brought it up again, and I️ was hoping he wouldn't before he left. But of course, nothing works the way I️ want it too.

     "Rose, I️ don't mean to pry, but you still never told me what happened a couple of weeks ago. I️ know it's not really my business but..." he began.

     "Yeah, you're right. It's not your business. So you don't need to know anything," I️ snapped. I️ sighed and closed my eyes. "I'm sorry."

     "It's okay. I️ should be saying sorry to you. I️ just want to make sure that everything's all right. Those men didn't do anything to you, did they?" He asked, concern painted on his face.

     "No, not like that. If that's what you mean..." I️ said, beginning to feel uncomfortable. I️ never thought about it, but any of those men could've done so much worse to me.

     "If I️ tell you, you can't tell a soul. Not George, not your family, not the police, not anyone," I️ said. I️ didn't know what I️ was doing. I️ don't know whether or not I️ should tell him, but I️ need someone to confide in. I️ need help. And maybe Dr. S will understand. Who knows. He looked back at me, without saying a word, but gave a look that proved to me that he would keep his promise.
   
     "Those men that took me with them are after George and I️. Mainly George, but they said if I️ get him back to America, I'm free to go. But if I️ refuse, they'll kill my dad. I️...I️ just..." I️ broke down. Tears fell down my face and I️ had to wipe under my eyes.
  
     Dr. S put his arm around me and hugged me. I've barely known this man for a couple of weeks and I've already told him my biggest secret. I️ think I️ have a problem with trusting people that I️ barely know.
  
     I️ heard the bathroom door open and I️ pulled away from Dr. S. George came out, but I️ don't think he noticed. I️ quickly wiped the tears from under my eyes. Dr. S never had a chance to respond, but I️ looked at him, and he looked back at me with a sincere look. He smiled softly, as if telling me that things were going to be okay.
  
     "No offense, but it is so nice to be out of the robe," George said and walked to us. I smiled at him and chuckled a little bit.
   
     "Well, I mean you've been in it for two weeks straight. I don't blame you," I said.
   
     "Yeah. I wanna get out of here," he said and looked to Dr. S. He nodded and told us to follow him. I grabbed my phone and charger, along with George's phone and things. I had gone back to the hotel and gotten his.
  
     I followed the two of them out of the room and to the front desk. Dr. S talked to the lady sitting there, I'm assuming about our bill.
  
     George got his wallet out, which was another thing that I had grabbed from the hotel, and pulled out his card.
  
     She swiped it and handed it back to him. George took it back and thanked her. We finished up and we started walking to the front of the hospital. Dr. S followed us to the door.
  
     We turned around and faced Dr. S. George held his hand out and he shook it. "Thanks so much, for everything," George said.
  
     "Of course. I'm glad that you're better," Dr. S said back and smiled at him. George turned back to the door and opened it for me. I walked out and looked over my shoulder to Dr. S. He mouthed 'it'll be okay' to me before the door shut and George and I were walking to the hotel.
   
     "Okay, so tomorrow we're both looking for jobs. Because we need to get the hell out of here," George said, "I can't ask Ian or Max for the money. I just can't."
   
     "I understand that. I hate asking people for money. That's why I keep promising that I'm gonna pay you back," I said.
  
     He huffed a small laugh and put his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him. We made our way to the hotel and stepped inside. I internally thanked God that the same person wasn't behind the counter as before. I just didn't want to deal with the confusing looks.
  
     We decided to take the steps up to the room. We unlocked the door and stepped inside. We both collapsed onto the bed. "God, even though it's a hotel bed, it's so much nicer than that damn hospital bed," George said.
  
     "Yeah, I bet. I don't think you're gonna want to go anywhere else today. So do you wanna watch a couple more movies?" I asked and smiled up at him.
  
     "Sounds amazing," he said. We sat up and cuddled up together. He grabbed the remote and found a movie. It was a comedy, which we both needed. Definitely needed it.