The Boy Next Door

twenty seven

<TRIGGER WARNING>
AMELIAS POV
Doctor Webber brought me something to eat since he noticed all I ate was pudding today. I wasn't even hungry, I don't see what the big deal was. I kinda just moved everything around and pushed the table away. The door opened and it was Doctor Webber.
"Amelia," he said.
"Doctor Webber," I said.
"We need to talk again," he said.
"Oh I can go," Owen said.
"If you could just step out for a few minutes that would be great," he said.
"Okay," Owen nodded. Owen left and Doctor Webber looked at me.
"Do you know what a feeding tube looks like?" He said.
"Yes I'm not stupid," I said.
"Okay well if you keep trying your little trick with moving your food around you're going to need one," he said.
"I'm not hungry!" I said.
"Amelia, you are 15 years old, and you don't look like you weigh over 95 pounds," he said, "from you last physical last year you weighed 118 pounds." I froze, I didn't realize it was that bad.
"You're lying," I said.
"There's a scale right over there," he said.
"Can I get up?" I said.
"Sure," he said. I got up and walked over to the scale.
"When can I take the bandages off?" I asked as I stepped on the scale.
"Soon," he said. The scale flashed and my heart stopped. 92.3 pounds.
"Eat at least half of that okay?" He said.
"Just half?" I asked as my voice was shaking.
"Just half," he said.
"Fine," I mumbled and picked at the piece of chicken. I ate a few pieces and I felt sick.
"You know why you feel sick?" He said.
"Why Mr. I know everything about you?" I said.
"Because that's probably the first substantial piece of food you've eaten in a while," he said.
"I ate some of it does that count?" I asked.
"Yes," he said.
"Great," I said and threw the rest of it out.
"Amelia you need to take this seriously," he said.
"I am! For someone who doesn't want to be living right now I think I'm doing okay!" I said.
"You know, part of this is meeting with a therapist," he said, "she'll see you tomorrow."
"Fun," I said.
"Who's the boy out there?" He asked.
"None of your business," I said.
"Well he's been here all night," he said.
"Yeah," I said.
"He cares," Webber said, "I'm going to go talk to your mom."
"Okay," I said and Owen came back in.
OWENS POV
Amelia was asleep right now and her mom and I were sitting in her room. It broke my heart to see her like this, she was struggling so much. I hated seeing her in this much pain.
"Did she eat anything while you were in here?" Carolyn asked.
"She ate a little pudding, I think the Doctor made her eat some dinner," I said.
"The doctor told me if she doesn't start eating she'll need a feeding tube," Carolyn cried.
"I miss her," I said.
"She misses you too," Carolyn said, "She has never loved anyone the way she loves you, and I mean it, give it time, and she'll come back."
"I hope," I said.
"Thank you, for being here for her," She said.
"Of course," I said.
"She really needs it," she said crying. I got up and hugged her and started crying too.
"I hate that she feels this hurt," Carolyn said.
"Me too," I said.
-
I opened my eyes and I fell asleep in a hospital chair. Carolyn was in the chair next to me and Amelia was up looking out the window. She turned around and saw me awake.
"Good morning," she said.
"Good morning," I said.
"This hospital bed is so fucking uncomfortable," she said.
"I'm sorry," I said.
"The bars on the window only make it more tempting to open them," she said, "stupid doctors."
"Yeah I guess so," I said.
"Did my mom cry the whole night?" She asked.
"Yeah," I said. Amelia looked hurt and she looked away.
"Okay," she said. She walked over to the other side of the room and opened a drawer.
"There's nothing in this stupid room," she said.
"What's are you looking for?" I asked.
"Anything," she said.
"Oh," I said.
AMELIAS POV
The door opened and a woman slowly walked in.
"Can we talk in the hall?" She whispered.
"Yeah," I said, not wanting to wake my mom up.
"We'll be back in a little bit," she told Owen. We walked down the hallway and into an office.
"I'm Doctor Violet Turner," she said.
"Are you my therapist or something?" I said.
"Correct," she said.
"Great," I said and sat down. I was still in this stupid hospital gown.
"Amelia right?" She said and sat across from me.
"What do you have to write that down on your notes of me to judge?" I said.
"Yes," she said.
"Fine let's start then," I said.
"How are you today?" She asked.
"Tired, hospital beds are uncomfortable," I said.
"I see you had some visitors," she said.
"Yeah," I said.
"Who were they?" She asked.
"Don't you have my hospital records who visits me," I asked.
"Please just answer," she said.
"My mom and, friend, I guess, ex boyfriend, I don't know," I said, "my brother and sister were here and they left when it got late."
"So your ex boyfriend visited you," she asked.
"I did say that didn't I," I said.
"How did that make you feel?" She asked.
"Don't you already know the answers to these questions?" I said.
"Amelia this only works if you are willing to participate," she sighed.
"Fine," I said, "It surprised me that he was here."
"But were you glad he was here? Mad? Angry?" She asked.
"I was glad," I said.
"Okay," she said, "And your brother and sister, they came too right?"
"Yes," I said.
"Do you want to talk about what happened?" She asked.
"Not really," I said, "I was kinda hoping I wouldn't wake up."
"Do you know why you did it?" She asked.
"Yes," I said.
"Do you want to talk about that?" She asked.
"Nope," I said.
"Do you want to talk about anything?" She asked.
"The food here tastes like shit," I said, "And my stupid doctor is going to give me a feeding tube through my nose if I don't eat anything, but everything here tastes disgusting, how is that fair?"
"You're allowed to order food," she chuckled.
"Whatever," I said.
"He's right you do need to eat," she said.
"Of course he's right," I mumbled.
"You know, you're the first patient I've had in a long time who didn't ask for their phone when they woke up," she said, "you still haven't."
"Where is it?" I asked.
"It's in a bag with your clothes," she said, "in the closet of your room."
"Oh," I said, "I don't have anyone to text anyway."
"Don't you have friends?" She asked.
"I mean yeah, but what am I gonna do? Text them that I'm in the hospital because I failed to kill myself?" I said.
"You have a point," she said, "so who called your friend?"
"He lives next door, probably saw the ambulance," I said.
"So you were conscious when the ambulance came?" She questioned.
"No, but how else would I have gotten here," I said.
"Good point," she said.
"I think I gave you a lot of good information today, am I done?" I asked.
"You can be done for today," she said.
"Great, thank you," I said.
OWENS POV
I had school today but my mom said she would bring me back to the hospital tonight to see Amelia. Amelia was still talking with her therapist, so I left her a note. I was going to be late for school but my mom said it was fine as long as I go in by 9. I grabbed a piece of paper and pen and wrote a note.
Amelia -
Hey, I had to go to school but you were still taking to the doctor, I'll see you tonight okay? I care about you so much and I'll be back.
     Owen.

I met my mom in the hospital parking lot and got in her car.
"Is she okay?" My mom asked.
"Yeah, I guess so," I said.
"I'm so sorry," my mom said and hugged me, "it must be so hard seeing her so hurt."
"I hate it," I said as I started crying, "why would she do this?"
"I don't know Owen, you probably won't ever know, but she's okay," My mom said, "that's what matters."
"Thank god she's okay," I cried.
"I know," my mom nodded, "she's okay, and you can come visit her tonight, and tomorrow, and the next day."
"I don't even know if she wants me to keep coming back," I sighed.
"Well she wanted you to stay yesterday," my mom said, "that's a good sign."
AMELIAS POV
I walked back into my room and Owen wasn't here. My mom was awake and she looked up from her phone.
"Hi," I said.
"Hi," she said, "Owen had to go to school, he left you a note."
"Okay," I said and looked at the note. I put it in the drawer next to my bed and walked over to the closet. I opened the closet and there was a box of my stuff. I opened it and my phone was on top of my pair of jeans and T-shirt. I turned it on and I had a million texts from everyone.
"How was the therapist?" My mom asked.
"Dumb," I said as I looked at all my messages. Owen called me 25 times and texted me 10. Jackson, April, and Callie looked like they all took turns texting and calling because they were all one after another. I didn't want to respond, I was glad they cared but, I didn't want to admit my weakness to them.
"You okay?" My mom asked.
"Yeah," I said and put my phone on the nightstand.
"Are you hungry?" She asked.
"Everything tastes like shit here," I said.
"What about a bagel, you like bagels," she said.
"Fine," I said.
"Okay," she said, "do you want to come with me to the cafeteria?"
"No," I said.
"Okay," she said, "I'm be back." Doctor Webber came in with an IV bag. He took mine off last night since I drank half a bottle of water.
"I'll drink water," I said.
"I don't trust you," he said, "give me your arm."
"Fine," I said and held my arm out.
"It's just going to pinch a little bit," he said.
"Yeah whatever," I said as he hung the IV bag.
"Okay were done," he said.
"Great," I said.
"How was Doctor Turner this morning?" He said.
"Stupid," I said.
"She's very nice," he said.
"I'm sure she is," I said.
"Listen to me, you are a young teenager. You have so much to live for. So much Amelia. You cannot throw your life away. You have people who care about here. You do. But you have to want it and want to work with us," he said, "do you want it?"
"Yes," I said quietly.