The Switch (GirlxGirl)

Chapter 24: I Can't Lose You

Song: As U Wave - Halfnoise

"I just don't understand why you wouldn't tell us." My mum says, pacing around my hospital bed. My head is pounding but I'm being released today now that my stitches have healed.

"I didn't tell you because I knew you would react like this. Dad won't even look at me!" I say, gesturing to my dad who is staring soulfully outside the window of my room. He turns around and looks at my mum, frowning.

This is the first day I've seen my dad. Only my mum has visited me this past week. I haven't seen Kali or Avalon either, Elizabeth has been busy with work. I feel so alone.

"He just doesn't understand. Why would you do this to us?" My mum asks, sitting at the edge of my bed and reaching for my cold hand.

"This wasn't a choice I made to spite you, mother." I say simply, pulling my hand away from hers.

"How does Ethan know?" My father says, looking down at me in the bed. I look at him, confused as to why he's asking.

"He doesn't. He assumed based on what little he saw." I say solidly, grimacing whilst remembering that fateful night that feels so distant yet so close. I still can't believe that happened. Why would he ruin my life like that? It wasn't enough that he put me in this hospital bed? He had to go and destroy my family, my friends and worst of all, my relationship.

"What did he see, Xena?" My mother asks, looking at me quizzically.

Thankfully, my nurse enters the room and ignores the tension as she has my mother sign the discharge form. My father still refuses to acknowledge my presence as we walk out of the hospital and to our car. I sit quietly in the backseat, not speaking unless I'm spoken to.

"You never answered your mother's question." My father says simply, flicking on the turn signal as we take the lengthy drive back home from the hospital.

"He saw me kissing someone. He just so happens to be correct but it's not like I wanted him to know. I didn't mean for us to be cau-"

"Stop talking, Xena." My father cuts me off, refusing to listen. He sighs, looking back at me for a moment in the rear-view mirror. It's the first time I've seen his eyes since graduation. "Are they your- uhm-"

"Girlfriend? Yes." I say for him, crossing my arms. "And before you say anything, I love her, I am in love with her and I would take a thousand more beatings if it meant we could stay together."

"When we get home you are packing your things and leaving. I don't want to see you near our house ever again, Xena. you've ruined this for us." My father says simply, staring at the road with cold eyes.

"Isn't that a little harsh, love?" My mum tries to be the voice of reason for my father. Usually it's the other way around with my mother being strict and my father getting her to ease up. Where is that father? I want him back.

"She brought this upon herself. She can take the truck so she can get around." They begin a conversation about my fate as if I'm not still here in the backseat. What he says sparks a question in me, though.

Did I do this to myself?

I mean, I had a million chances to end things before we got carried away, even down to that final kiss. Elizabeth was just so kind to me, so thoughtful. I got caught up in her eyes without even thinking about the consequences for her. She could lose her ability to teach! She wouldn't be able to do something that brings her joy, I almost did that to her.

***

With my bags in the back of the truck and tear stains on my face, I look out at Kali's house and sigh. I asked the girls to meet me here to talk about what happened and they both said they'd be here.