After what seems like forever I let go and wipe my cheeks off slowly it's time to be strong, as strong as I can be. "Okay what do you have in mind?"
"I'm not really sure yet I figure maybe if I can't get you out by sneaking you we can always ask for you to go outside. We could tell them you miss the fresh air, the sound of the birds, just nature plain and simple it's always been your get away,your escape. Quite literally what it'd be."
I ponder over what she's said and I don't know where she gets her smarts from I bet it's Dad there's no way that's from mom-I stop in my tracks. Fuck mom I taste bile "Athena where's....mom? My tongue trips on the question and I wonder if I should have said anything at all because the little vain in her neck gets huge and I know she's upset. "What's wrong? What did she do now? Di- "
"I'm going to kill her I swear I'm going to-"
"Athena what happened?!?"
"She's saying you forced yourself on him and you killed him! You were the one who started it all. He was a good man. He'd never do anything to you. Her exact words Fern."
"Youve gotta be kidding. I can't believe it...well I can but never to this extent. Pure denial. You know it doesn't even matter anymore I'm done hoping she'll change I'm done expecting her to care." My eyes start to blur and I hold it back. "I can't believe she'd say that what about you, your bruises she has to be smart enough to realize I would have never done that to you."
"Nope. She didn't even ask me what happened she thinks I'll lie for her. She's saying you just lost it and took it out on us."
"Are you fucking kidding me!?!" I can feel the heat in my face and the blur in my eyes is stronger, my cheeks are wet and puffy from crying earlier.
"Let's ask to go outside." her voice is comforting and she grabs my arm gently. We walk towards the door and it opens with a beep we only get about half way out and a women in scrubs with the name tag "Stacy" meets us "Is everything okay, does she need anything?"
"We were just wondering if it'd be alright if she was able to go outside for a bit, get some fresh air enjoy the sun, and see some birds. Stacy hesitates and by the look on her face I won't be seeing the birds anytime soon. "Please I think it'd help to be outside it's her comfort place. Just for a little while I'll be with her."
"Alright but only for a half hour and try to stay close please I'll come get you when your times up and please be safe."
"Thank you so much." I have so many thoughts going through my mind but one sticks out above all others and that's of freedom, freedom from here.
We take the elevator on the right and go down two floors at that point we walk across a tunnel to the next elevator that we take instead this time it's the left one.
My heart beats and I want to jump for joy as I grab Athena's arm and smile. She holds my hand and smiles back but I see tension in it. "Hey, maybe they won't think anything of it I'm not in a gown I don't look like a patient anymore."
"That's not what I'm worried about Fern."
"Well guess what it's not your turn to worry, it's mine. So relax it's going to be fine okay no more worrying."
She smiles as the elevator dings and opens. Freedom. We walk out and see chaos everywhere, people running about, people yelling, commotion everywhere.
"Maybe this will be easier then we thought." Athena whispers and we walk out the last set of doors.
I can smell the outdoors, the rain from the following day, the mud still there from the rain and it's all so beautiful.
