Bitter Sweet

~chapter two~

A week and a half later and I was still in the hospital. My bruises were starting to heal, and I could walk without any help now. Though, I still couldn't do anything too strenuous because of the stitches. Within that week and a half I had managed to make a few friends as well, life wasn't as lonely with them around. I looked over at the clock and slowly got out of bed. My stitches were still pretty tender so I was careful as I stretched. I walked towards the hospital's small cafe and ordered his favourite. A blueberry muffin and a black coffee. Everyone at the hospital knows my... situation, so I didn't have to pay for the food due to my lack of money. I think everyone was just sorry for me. Despite the free food, I learned pretty fast how much I hated being pitied. Everyone just looks at me the same way. I really wish they wouldn't.

I took the muffin and coffee to the third floor, and stepped off the elevator. After briefly getting lost I found the door I was looking for and slowly stepped inside.

"Hi Leonard!" I greeted him cheerfully. He was here recovering from a hip transplant. Most thought he was just a grumpy old man, but I could tell he was just lonely. I met him last week and he told me all about his wife Shireen who had died just last year. From the stories he told, you could tell he really loved her. Leonard only needed a friend, even if he won't admit it. While I was here, I wanted to bring some happiness back into his life even if I didn't have any in mine.

He only grunted in reply.

"I brought your favourite." I said in a sing-song voice. His head snapped toward my direction. Well, that got his attention.

"Really?"

"Blueberry muffin and a coffee just the way you like it." The corners of his lips twitched upwards slightly as I handed him the bag and cup. I was stunned momentarily. That was the closest I'd ever come to seeing him smile. He mumbled a quick thank you before sipping his coffee. I barely caught the thank you, and i beamed down at him. His lips twitched again as he saw my response. Wow, he was in a good mood today.The first time I said hello to him last week, he growled at me.

"I heard you were getting out tomorrow, and wanted to come surprise you to say congrats!"  I knew how much he hated it here. He stopped his sipping and looked at me.

"How did you find out about that?" His voice was deep and raspy. I suspect that he smoked at some point in his life.

"I asked your nurse." He grunted again.

"Thank you Samantha. Perhaps you should visit me sometime once you are allowed to leave, I have some old stories that you might enjoy." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Someone may as well hear them. I live in the Rosehill Retirement Home." I was shocked.

"I will try and do that Leonard." I smiled at him. His lips twitched again as the nurse came in to ask me to leave.

"Bye Leonard!" I waved and turned back towards my room.

Upon arriving to my room I noticed Cindy was changing the sheets and cleaning up the room.

"Cindy, what are you doing?" She looked over at me and smiled.

"Dr. Fischer says that you are well enough to come home with me today, as long as you are careful."

"That's great news." I smiled gently back at her. She nodded excitedly before continuing.

"I can wait for you to meet my husband and my boys, they will just love you!" I nodded at her before I froze as a thought occurred to me.

"Wait... boys?"

"Yes, my two sons! Josh is six, and Dylan is seventeen. Dylan should be around your age, so you will start attending school with him as a senior when you feel well enough. We already worked it out with the school. They were very understanding about it. I also brought you one of Dylan's t-shirts along with some sweatpants so that you wouldn't have to wear that awful thing home." She explained as she gestured towards the hospital gown that I was currently wearing. "We will also have to go shopping for you later, we don't exactly own much feminine clothing."

"School? And Cindy... you dont have to do that for me, really." I was pretty skeptical, and I did't want to take advantage of her kindness.

"Oh but I want to! I've never had a girl before, this is going to be so fun." She beamed at me. I honestly don't think I have ever seen her frown. "So you go change, I am done my shift in five minutes." She shooed me towards the bathroom.

I walked inside and closed the door before looking down at the clothes. It was a large white t-shirt with long grey sweatpants. I pulled them on and rolled up the sweatpants before slowly pulling on the t-shirt as well. I looked in the mirror and realized I was drowning in the clothes. My cheeks looked less hollow, and the bruising had faded. My hair had a little more shine, but my eyes still looked sad and dull. I sighed and walked out of the bathroom. Cindy handed me a jacket and a pair of old runners before throwing on her jacket, and picking up her purse. She looked at me and sighed.

"Sorry I dont have anything better for you to wear honey."  I smiled gently.

"It's alright." She took one last look at me before telling me to follow her. We walked out to the parking lot to her black SUV. I noticed that I could see my breath.

"What's the date today?" She and I got into her SUV and she started the engine before looking at me.

"November 23, sweetie." I nodded and faced forward in my seat. The fifteen minute drive to her house was spent in a comfortable silence, and we pulled up to a nice looking three story white house with blue shutters. Cindy looked over and smiled.

"Here we are."

We both got out of the car and headed towards the house, she looked nervous for some reason. After stepping into the house and taking off our jackets and shoes, she led me into the kitchen. There was a tall, broad shouldered man standing by the stove with black salt and pepper hair. He turned around and looked at me with warm eyes.

"Hi there, my name is Ben. We've heard a lot about you Samantha."

"Hi, and you can call me Sam." I responded quietly.

"Okay Sam." He smiled and turned around to continue to making dinner. Next I was led by Cindy to the nicely decorated living room to meet Josh. He heard us coming and excitedly jumped up from the couch to shake my hand.

"Hello. I'm Josh." I smiled at his cuteness.

"My name's Sam, it's nice to meet you Josh."

"Will you watch cartoons with me?"

"Sure." He smiled, grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the couch. Cindy smiled and yelled up the stairs for Dylan to come meet me. I heard foot steps at the doorway of the room, so I looked up and froze completely.

It was him. The boy that saved my life.

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Chapter two! :) Let me know if you like it! I'm not sure if I'm going to continue this story or not at this point, so please comment :) <3

PS- Thats Dylan on the side :) ----->

~Rachel