Gracie Rose | tracy beaker returns {on hiatus}

34

THE NEXT DAY

Home time!!

Mike had come to collect me quite early in the morning. He'd texted me to say he'd arrived, but he had to wait a while before he could actually see me due to visiting hours. When he finally got to come in, the nurse was getting my wheelchair and crutches ready.

"Morning, Mr Milligan." The nurse smiled.

"Good morning!" Mike replied. "Gracie, it's home time!!"

I squealed a little when he said that. He began clearing up all my stuff and all the gifts that I got yesterday. The nurse helped me walk up and down the corridor on my crutches, just to make sure I was stable enough, before letting me sit in the wheelchair. Mike took a photo of me in my wheelchair and sent it to Gina and Tracy before we were ready to leave. The room was clear, and everything was packed up. The nurse let mike wheel me to the desk, to sign us out, before following us to the car.

"So your next appointment is in two weeks. We will probably do them every two weeks to see how you're getting on, before seeing if you're fit and healthy again." The nurse explained. Mike took the paperwork from her and thanked her, before getting me into the front seat of the car. He folded up the wheelchair and put it in the boot before driving away.

"I can't believe I'm finally getting to go home!" I said excitedly.

"It's been a long week, but things can finally get sorted out. We can finally work on your strength, health and wellbeing." Mike said.

"Wellbeing? What's that?" I asked.

"Basically it's your mental health. We're not taking you to a counsellor, but we just need to talk about other ways to deal with your pain, instead of self harm." Mike explained.

"I'm sorry." I said sadly.

"Hey, it's fine. You don't have to think about it anymore. We're just going to help you." Mike said.

It meant so much that they did care. When I did it, I felt as if it was the only way out of the pain that was in my head, and nobody would understand. I felt like everyone would hate me, or tell me I was being ridiculous, but now that the care workers are aware, I'm getting the support I needed all along.

"Thank you for supporting me, Mike." I said quietly.

"My pleasure, Gracieboo. Now, do you fancy a McDonald's breakfast?" Mike asked.

"Yeah! I'm sick of hospital food, even though I had a Burger King yesterday!" I laughed.

"You've lost weight since you arrived, there's the proof that you hardly ate the hospital food." Mike continued. "What do you fancy?"

"I didn't even realise!" I replied. "I'll have the bacon baguette and hash brown please."

"Of course. I'll get you a Tropicana orange juice with that." Mike said as we pulled up to the drive thru. He got the same as me, and he pulled up into one of the parking spaces so we could eat it before we got home.

"How am I supposed to do the essential things now that I can't walk?" I questioned.

"Easy. Just like Lily did." Mike said.

"But she spent most of her time at Cam's?" I muttered.

"Trust me, it's simple. I'll carry you up and down the stairs, Gina will help you with getting clothes on over your casts, as well as assistance when you need to use the bathroom, and Tracy will..." Mike trailed off. When Lily was in her wheelchair, Tracy was rude to her at first.

"Be mean to me?" I asked sadly.

"Of course not. She'll help you with anything you need her to. This isn't like Lily's situation. The accidents were completely different. Similar injuries, yes, but don't worry. This is a completely different situation, I promise." Mike whispered.

"Good." I replied with a smile.

When we got home, the kids were all staring out the windows. They were obviously very excited to see me. Gina kept them back while Tracy ran over to the car to help us out.

"Well hello there stranger! Long time no see!" Tracy giggled.

"Ha ha, very funny." I joked. "I've missed you, and this place. Is everything still normal?"

"Of course." Tracy replied. Mike brought the wheelchair round to my side of the car, before lifting me into it. Tracy grabbed the crutches and started trying them out herself, as we were beginning to be of similar heights. I wasn't that tall, but I was getting there.

"Hey, those aren't yours!" Mike laughed.

"Oh I'm very sorry! Take them, I wanna push Gracie inside." Tracy replied. They swapped jobs, and Tracy pushed me over the pebbles on the driveway and into the house.

"Guess who's home?!" Tracy shouted. Everyone came to say hello, crowding around me. Tee took me into the living room, where they'd set up big banners and paper chains welcoming me home. It was amazing.

"Welcome home, sweet!" Sapphire smiled, pulling a party popper.

"So we're having a party now?" I laughed. Everyone nodded and started dancing.

"I wish I could dance," I sighed.

"You can! Give me your hands," Johnny said. I put my arms out and let him pull each arm at a time, moving the wheelchair slightly.

"I hate this thing already, honestly." I moaned.

"You'll be out of it before you know it." Lily smiled. "It goes by so quickly."

"I hope so." I replied.

Tracy and Gina began bringing food into the living room on paper plates, ready for a buffet.

"Thank goodness for no more hospital food!" I smiled, seeing all the food being brought out. Johnny wheeled me over to the food and I got myself half a plate full of food. However when I tried to reach over, my body was touching the table and I felt my rib being crushed.

"Owww!!" I yelped.

"What's wrong?" Tee asked.

"Just my rib. Can you pull me back just a tiny bit please?" I explained. Tee pulled me back so I wasn't against the table, and I grabbed my food and started eating.

*****

Sorry this chapter is pretty short, I'm trying to move the story on as quickly as possible as it's getting really long now, and I still have a LOT of things planned. I might skip to a little later on than just a few days like I normally do, but I'll try and update as quickly as I can and try and get to the end a bit faster as well. Please stay tuned and don't give up just because it's long, I've put so much time into this and there's a few people who seem to be loving it, and it would be a shame to lose them because of the length.

Also, this chapter has been ready to post for months, but I haven't finished the next chapter so I should really be posting this one. However, I'll have it done soon, and I am getting back into writing again so I'm back! Sorry I've been so inactive, I'm trying to get to another big storyline in this story, but losing interest in thinking of ideas! But I'm beginning to get more ideas now.

Thanks for the ongoing support.

J xx