fem.

Aspen

There's a kid, unconscious in my lap.

I was never taught how to deal with this kind of situation. What have I gotten myself into?

I put a hand under their head to hold them up. They're breathing, but there's a huge gash in the side of their head. Blood drips onto my fingers and I don't like it, but what am I going to do, leave them here to bleed out? I brush some hair away from their face, and I'm struck with deja vu. I've seen this kid before, in the coffee shop, with my friend Avery. It hurts my heart to see the same person I've witnessed laughing and hugging and smiling in this state of mind.

Cars honk at me as I hold them on the side of the bridge, alerting me that I must move before I get hit.

Why do these people have no sympathy?

I lift the kid up, they're small and light, thank God. I begin carrying them back to my car, sobbing. I place them in the passenger seat and I hop in. I put my hands on the wheel and stare out at the bridge once more before backing out and driving back to my house.

"What the fuck?" A small voice mumbles to the right of me. "Who are you?"

"Aspen," I reach a hand out and he shakes it, while I keep my eyes on the road. "And you?"

"Andie."

Wait, this is Andie? The "Andie" that Avery is always saying amazing things about? This hopeless, angry little kid? They don't seem like Andie.

"Am I dead?" They say after a few seconds.

"No, of course not. You should go to sleep, you're going to stay at my house for the night."

"My head is bleeding."

"I know."

"You made me hit my head."

"I know."

"Aren't you going to apologize?"

"No. If I wouldn't have pulled you, you would've done worse things than hit your head."

"Fair point."

"So, you're welcome."

"I didn't say thank you."

I pull into the parking lot of my complex and stop the car.

"I know you didn't, but we'll talk more in the morning, okay? You need to get some sleep now."

I led them up the stairs to my apartment, gripping onto their hand harder than I've held onto anyone. The moment we walk into the room Andie spots the nearest couch and collapses on it. I wet a towel and wipe the dried blood off their head and hands, then I grab a blanket from my room and lay it on them.

"Sleep well, dreamer."