roommates; solangelo

034

It had been a few days, and I was worried sick. I was sitting down next to Naomi's bed. She had only woken up once, and she fell asleep almost immediately after, and I didn't have the heart to tell her about everything. I was going to do it when she was more stable, it was her son, she deserved to know, but I didn't want to hurt her when she was barely recovered from her surgery.

Time hadn't come back since he was kicked out of the hospital, he didn't come back from the twins or anything, which I was glad for, because I wasn't going to let them have them. On closer inspection, I noticed small bruises on there backs and sides. It sent a jolt of anger to course through my body. I found myself getting extremely protective over these girls, and if anyone tried to take them from me, I would cry, honestly, I would. Will was unconscious and recovering, Naomi was unconscious and recovering, everyone else was busy, the girls were there for me, even if they didn't grasp everything that happened, when I was about to burst into tears at the situation, they would always try to cheer me up, and of course, I was doing the same.

A nurse had actually tried to take them from me, to give me a break. She had been observing how I had been going from Naomi's room to Will's and back, all while taking care of the twins, meaning feeding, bathing, and all the other requirements to care for toddlers, and she wanted to help, but I insisted on keeping them close.

"Nio," Artemis began, playing with a doll from the daycare center they had here in the hospital. A weak smile played on my lips at the mispronunciation of my name.

"Mhm?" I asked, turning to the toddler, her sister lightly sleeping in my lap.

"Why aren't mommy and Will waking up yet? I fweel like it's been forever," She said, looking down at the doll that now rested in her lap, I reached my hand out to lift up her chin. Her eyes were red and puffy like she was about to cry.

"They got hurt, they'll wake up," I said, trying to comfort her. I put on a fake smile to cover my worry and booped her nose. She smiled weakly and looked back down.

There was a silence, it was an uncommon thing to happen lately, there wasn't much to talk about. Artemis spoke up again, in the same solemn tone. "Why did daddy do this to mommy?"

This broke my heart. I can't say I knew the feeling to be her age and have an abusive father, but I knew what it was like to have one, I knew what it was like to not have a mother in a confusing time, while hers was just sick, and needed rest, I could understand the confusion in hurt, and I wouldn't wish it on my worse enemy.

"Sometimes," I began, trying to think of something to say, something honest, but not upsetting. "Sometimes," I repeated. "People do bad things to the people that they shouldn't, I mean, you shouldn't do bad things to anyone, but there are just some people you really shouldn't, and, there is no reason for it, some people," I was having a problem wording it. "I don't know," I finally said.

"Is daddy gone?" She asked, still focusing on her doll. 

I sighed. "He might come back, I don't know, I'm sorry,"

Artemis had tears in her eyes. I pulled her up, making sure to not disturb her sister who was still asleep. "I hope he don't come back," She sobbed. 

I wrapped my arms around her as she cried in my shoulder. No one should hope their father doesn't come back, especially this young. I rubbed her back soothingly as she cried.

When she seemed to have run out of tears, she passed out on top of me. I sighed and kissed her forehead. I hadn't really slept for more than two hours every night. I was either too worried, to sad, or taking care of the girls, and now seemed like a really good time to sleep, but I found myself wide awake.