Letters to the Star Whisperer

-83-

She woke up early that morning, and she didn't know why. She could have slept in, but she was up and her mind was going by six. She went to the dining room, and looked for Holly. She wondered if she was sleeping in.

              She asked one of the nurses about Holly, but they told her that she was moved to another hospital. Aspen tried not to sulk, and thought about her as she poked at her food. She wondered if people like her every got to be free from hospitals, free from drugs, free from the voices in her head.

              In the end, she sat near Basketball Jesus. He was the leader it looked like. She didn't add another to the conversion and instead acted like a fly on the wall. He was going on about something in the Bibles and was talking about world peace and how we need to be kind to each other.

              It was amazing, she thought, that someone like him with a kind heart and kind thoughts were locked up in the loony bin and it's always the most evil good-for-nothing selfish people that ran for government.

               After breakfast, she packed her things, which took all of two seconds, and waited around. She didn't want to talk to anyone, didn't want to make friends on her last day. But it always seems that's when people make friends.

              The nurses had made her fill out some paper work before she could go. She saw Sherry before she left, and was asked when a good time to do therapy was. They decided on Tuesday at four. Tuesday was always a good day for that type of stuff.

              Ethan had showed up around 10:15, and Aspen told him, "You're late." She smiled, letting him know that she was joking. The nurses told her that she was finally good to go, and cut off her hospital bracelets.

              "Can I keep those?" Aspen asked.

              The nurse gave them back to her, "No problem. Have a good day honey."

              "You too. I would say hope to see you know, but no offense; I don't want to see any of you guys."

              The nurse laughed. "I understand."

              Ethan carried Aspen's bag, like the gentleman his father had taught him to be. When Aspen got to the truck in the parking lot, she hugged it. "Oh I missed you!"

              "Did you miss me?"

              "Oh, hush, you were allowed to visit me. My truck wasn't."

              "Fair enough."

              "Will you drive?" Aspen asked.

              He nodded and hopped in on the drivers side. Aspen had felt weird on the other said. She had wished her dogs were in the back waiting for her, but was happy because they didn't have to wait in the heat.

              Ethan and Aspen sat there for a moment. They looked at each other like shy high school kids. He leaned over and gave her a hug. She let herself hug him back. He said in her ear, "I'm really happy you're okay."

              Aspen nodded. "Me too, Ethan, me too."

              They let go. "Can I take you somewhere first, before we go home?" Ethan asked.

              Aspen nodded. "Yeah, that's fine with me. Where are we going?"

              He smiled. "It's a surprise."