Ditto || l.p

Ch.39- returning home

Happy was an understatement to what I felt. I was elated. More than that. I didn't know how to describe it exactly, I was just really fucking happy.

I finally felt free. I no longer had the fear of having nightmares at night, or waking up in the mornings with replaying images in my head.

My constant worry of being overweight had vanished. I knew matter-of-factly that I was healthy, and I was done letting random people's words drag me down again.

And to add onto everything else, I had my favourite human being in the world within my reach again. I didn't feel empty anymore. I finally found the missing piece to my puzzle.

"Just one more day and we get to go home," Liam wiggled his eyebrows at me before taking a bit of his pasta.

"I'm so ready," I breathed out and took a bite of my own.

"Remember those photos we took that one day? The ones with that cool camera?" Liam asked, aiming his fork at me.

"Yes, of course. They're at home hanging on my wall right now," I explained, then gulped down some water.

"We should add onto them. After you graduate we should travel the world, take photos, adventure new places."

"Haven't you already traveled the world, Mr. Pop Star?" I giggled and lightly kicked his foot with my own.

"Yeah, but I haven't actually gotten to do anything. Band stuff always interrupts," he said before shoving more pasta into his mouth.

"Speaking of that, how do you think the fans are reacting to you staying in a mental institution?" I snorted out a laugh.

"I honestly don't care what they say or think anymore. We've already learned that got us nowhere, so it's time to just say fuck it and do what we want. Not what they want."

"Wow, I think being in this place has changed you for the better too," I smirked. Pushing my plate away from me, I leaned back in the chair and finished my water.

"You're not gonna finish that?" Liam asked, pointing at my plate which still had a small bit of pasta left.

"No," I shook my head. "There was a lot on that plate."

Just then one of the cooks came out of the kitchen and headed in our direction with a smile on her face. "Are you finished, sir?" she asked, and took Liam's empty plate after he nodded.

She walked away to another table to clean up more dishes. I sighed and rested my head in my hand, then began pushing the food around with my fork.

"I hate this place," I mumbled, just loud enough for myself and maybe Liam to hear. I stuck another scoop of pasta in my mouth and chewed it slowly.

"You can do it," Liam nodded his head and motioned towards the plate.

"I'm stuffed," I groaned and played with the noodles a bit more.

"Ashley." I craned my neck to see my nurse behind me. "I don't want to keep you here any longer than you have to. You can finish it," she assured me with what was probably supposed to be a motivating smile.

I turned back to my plate and forked the last of it. After I swallowed, I leaned back in the chair again and sighed. "That was torturous."

"No, that was progressive," Julie corrected me with a smile and kneeled down next to my chair. "Here, I'll go get you more water."

I took the daily tablet from her and she walked into the kitchen. "See, I knew you could do it," Liam smiled at me.

"If you make me do this everyday I'm suing," I mumbled.