His Bunny

Chapter 10

NOELLE

When I was ten, I got a bad case of pneumonia and nearly died. I couldn't breathe on my own and the few times I woke up, I was terrified, knowing my life could end at any moment.

Weeks went by, but I didn't get better, it only seemed to get worse. The day after one particularly rough night, I was laying in my room all alone. My family had gone to refresh themselves and get breakfast, I was stable and asleep, so they took the opportunity.

When I woke up, I was alone. Glumly, I laid there pitying myself, not wanting to die. I was too young to die, wasn't I? I had potential, I could do great things, I knew I could.

In the midst of my scared thoughts, I heard a knock on my door. A girl entered; she looked about my age, though thinner. Her short brown hair was messy and even though my room was dark, I could see the shadows beneath her eyes. She tugged a bag on wheels behind her, it was connected to her by tubes.

Silently, I watched her enter. She seemed confident walking into a stranger's room, it was peculiar.

She left the door open behind her, allowing more light to enter the room. Moving closer to where I lay, she smiled, "Hi, I'm Evie."

Weak and not trusting my voice, I gave her a little wave.

She sat down on the chair beside me and continued, "Your name is Noelle, I've heard about you from the nurses. They said you might could use a friend. I have pneumonia too, but I'm getting better now. You're at the worst point, it only gets better from here. You see, I've had it once before. I felt like I was dying, I couldn't breathe, much like how I'm sure you feel. If you'd like, I can sit and talk to you for a while?"

I nodded and from that day on, we were best friends. Even after she was allowed to leave the hospital, she came back and visited me until I was better. Coincidentally, we lived in the same area, though she did school at home. Her immune system was bad, she said, it always had been. But as we got older, it got stronger, until her parents eventually agreed to let her join me as a high school freshman.

She still struggles, but she loves it. We're juniors and she already knows what prestigious college she wants and what she will be. She's incredibly driven and I aspire to be like her.

I don't know how she takes getting sick so well. Right now, I feel like my body is just ready to keel over. Honestly, I wouldn't be against it at the moment.

Groaning in pain, I shift, trying to get more comfortable. My mattress feels like a dead body.

"Dude, why do you keep creeping on my sister. I said you could come over, but you're in her bed!"

The dead body beneath me sighs, "You really think I could do anything with her right now?"

"Well no, but you could do something to her."

"Hard pass."

"Whatever, but I'm in the next room, I'll be in to check on you, asshole."

"Okay, I'll be waiting." My dead mattress may be more alive then I  initially suspected, but if he doesn't stop talking soon and vibrating my head, I will bite his esophagus and kill him. It will be very poetic.

Instead of telling him so, I pinch him as hard as I can to warn him.

He jumps, shaking my whole body. "What the hell," he hisses, grabbing my now limp hand. "Why'd you pinch me, Bunny?!"

Close to committing murder, I crack open my eyes and peer up at him. My neck aches as I move it, "You, sir, are very loud."

In an effort to look down at my face on his chest, he develops a double chin. His eyes are warm, his chocolate curls are wild, and he has a scruffy beard beginning to grow on his jaw. Never in my life have I seen a more adorable human. I might have to keep him.