The Scientist

Homemade Soup (5)

"Hey, Ryan?" Kenny says softly. I look over the counter and look at Kenny.

"Yeah?" I say, looking back at the pot of homemade soup. I hear him sigh and mutter something.

"I don't want to ignore you, even when you were nice enough to let me stay here. And I know I may be a pain in the ass sometimes, but I'm being sincere right now. I'm sorry about hurting you before. And you don't have to forgive me, but I promise you that I am changing. I'm getting anger-management help twice a week, I am on medications for my social anxiety, and I have been sober for a year and a half." He says, sounding happier as he goes on. I chuckle and shake my head. 

"Kenny, it's okay. I've been through worse pains." I say softly. It's true. The crash, that feeling, not knowing how to do something when it's RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE. 

I grab two bowls and set them on the counter. I take a ladle and put soup in both of the bowls. I take two spoons and set them in the soups. I grab the bowls, feeling the sharp pain in one hand not so much in the other. Metal groans and I cringe slightly. So does Kenny.

I walk around the counter and set the bowls on the table. Kenny sits in front of one of the bowls and I sit in front of the other, across from him. I smirk and start eating the soup. 

"What was that metal sound?" Kenny asks after a minute. I blink, comprehending what he just said. I feel myself start to panic and take a deep breath.

"I'll tell you later," I say softly. He nods and we keep eating. 

"This is a really good soup," Kenny says softly. I look up at smile at Kenny. I thank him and he smiles back at me, a very rare sight as I said before. My pain in my chest returns and I look at my soup. 

We finish the soup and, surprisingly, Kenny ate most of it. I grab the dishes and walk to the sink. I turn on the water and start washing the dishes. I hear Kenny start walking up the stairs.

"Oh, and Kenny?" I ask, turning my head slightly. The footsteps stop and I smirk.

"All is forgiven," I say simply. I hear him scoff and I chuckle.

{~~~~~~} 

I finish the cleaning and drying the dishes. I walk up the stairs and stop at Kenny's door. I rub my right arm and shoulder and take a deep breath. I knock on his door and I hear a few footsteps. His door opens and I smirk a little. 

"Hey, I uh wanted to talk to you," I say softly. He tilts his head and nods. I walk down the stairs and sit on the couch. He sits in the recliner and I take another deep breath. 

"You wanted to know about the metal sound," I say softly. He nods and relaxes into the chair. I turn to him and rub my neck. "And I don't want to lie to you while you're here," I add, shifting on the couch. 

"But you have to promise not to tell anyone," I say, getting serious. He chuckles and nods again.

"Promise." He says simply. I take a deep breath and take off my hoodie. I mentally hype myself up for this. I take off my grey Alterra shirt and look at my left arm. I put my right hand on my shoulder and I find the button. 

It unlatches with a kursh sound and I hold the prosthetic in my hand. It's not like the normal prosthetics. It looks and feels like a real arm. It can also feel. But, not as well as a real arm of course. I made it myself. Which, I found, was very difficult with only one arm. 

"Woah," Kenny says softly. I turn to show him the inside of my shoulder. He slides out of the chair and he sits in front of me on his knees. I smirk and he reaches up to touch it. Before he does, he hesitates and looks up at me. The light blue connecting and power source shining on his face looks so cool. 

"It's okay," I say simply. He touches the metal and I chuckle slightly. He pulls back his hand and looks back up at me. 

"You made this?" He asks softly. I smile and nod. He scoffs and stands up. 

"How did you lose your arm?" He asks softly. I feel the heat and the pain from the crash. I can hear the sirens and the fire around me. My mother screaming. The policemen prying me out of the car. My mother crying. The heart monitor beeping...

Flatline.