Everyday Life

Recovery

Malissa finally opened her eyes to see Johnny beside her. He was asleep in his chair. "Johnny," She said. Her voice rough and raspy. "Johnnycake," She tried again. He still didn't hear her. She noticed that her hand was in his. She squeezes his hand and shook his arm. He say up and noticed her staring at him. "Hey," She greeted.

He smiled seeing that she was awake. He rubbed the sleepiness from his eyes. "Hey," He said back. "How long have you been awake?"

"Just woke up." She looked around the room seeing that is was empty. "Where's everyone else?"

"They all went back home. Said they'd visit tomorrow. I figured I had no point in leaving. The guys tried to get me to go home but I wouldn't go. I didn't want to leave you...not when I just got you back." Johnny's tone changed at the last sentence.

"I should have never left," She pushed the hair out of her face and sighed. Her brothers words stung. It hurt her. But not as bad as she hurt him. She knew she had hurt him. She could see it in his eyes. Hear it in his voice. She had broke him. The guilt hit her all at once.

"I'm sorry," She finally broke. "I know I put you through a lot while I was gone. I should have never even left. Not after what happened before...with our parents." She paused a moment. She looked at Johnny's eyes. They were full of worry and concern. He wasn't angry at her. Not at all. "I just had to get out I guess. When you were talking about staying it Tulsa forever...I don't know, I just wanted to get out for a bit. To get out of this town. I realize now that was a mistake."

"Why didn't you tell me? We could have went together. Worked something out. You didn't have to just up and leave." Guilt was rising in Malissa's chest. She had broke her family from what she done. She knew it. And she had almost killed herself in the process as well.

"I know. I know. I just didn't think. All I was thinking of was myself." A memory flashed through her head. When she was leaving she started crying when she told Johnny bye. She did think of Johnny, even after she left she was thinking of what he would be thinking at the news, but she must not have thought enough. She only left when she was helpless. "I feel so stupid. So guilty."

She rested her head in her hand. She wanted to burry her head in her pillow but she couldn't with all the cords stuck to her. "No, you're not stupid," Johnny told her. "Don't say that. You are just human. We all make mistakes. But it's important that we learn from them. I'm not mad at you Malissa. I was worried and still am."

"Yeah I figured. I was worried about you, too."

"Me? Why on earth were you worried about me?"

"Because you're my brother. I'm always worried about you. And I knew when I left that you would be devastated."

Johnny huffed. "Well, I was. I'm just glad you're back." He looked out the door at a pair of doctors talking. "The doctor said you could come home tomorrow."

Malissa smiled. "Really? That's great!"

...

The next day the gang came to visit her. Two-Bit came bright and early before school. It surprised Malissa. She didn't even want to be awake at that point, but Two-Bit was as lively as ever. He was telling her a bunch of jokes until her finally said, "Sure is good to have you back, Mal. Johnny sure did miss ya. I've never seen the kid so...depressed like."

"Yeah. I missed you all too," Was all she said. The thought of Johnny acting so sad killed her, and the fact that it was her that caused him pain made it worse.

Finally Two-Bit left. Malissa told him he better leave sooner or he will be late but he just shrugged it off and stayed another 15 minutes.

The reason Johnny wasn't there was because the gang finally convinced him to go home. To take a shower. To sleep on something besides a hard chair. He declined, but when Malissa told him to a few times he finally went. Malissa was surprised when he didn't show up with Two-Bit, but he said that he was still asleep and didn't want to wake him.

Later in the day the gang came by to visit, and finally, by four o'clock, she was released from the hospital. She was thankful to be out of that dreaded hospital and be home. Home to stay. 

A/N So the next chapter will be the last! Hope you enjoyed this one. I feel, in a way, like this was a bit rushed. But oh well, I guess. I still feel happy with it though.