From Weakness to Strength

The Hospital

Once Darla gained consciousness, she saw a bright light shining in her eyes. Her head was still pounding. She couldn't speak because there was a tube down her throat! Her limbs were buckled down. She then had a sick feeling in her stomach. She tried to move, but she couldn't. She then saw a figure above her. His voice echoed, but she couldn't interpret what she was saying. Her eyes crossed and she blacked out again, but she felt as if she was shaken awake not long after. 
Once she gained consciousness enough to hear her surroundings, she heard a voice. 
"Ms. Jackson. Nod your head if you can hear me."
Darla tried to nod, but it hurt her head, so instead, she groaned in response. 
"Ms. Jackson your calcium count is extremely low. If you continue to starve and dehydrate yourself, your in danger of having osteoporosis.
Darla didn't do anything. 
"Ms. Jackson, We are going to remove the tube from your throat so you can get something in your stomach," 
Darla panicked. She didn't want to feel the feeling of something being removed from her throat. The doctor then pulled out a needle and pocked Darla's arm. Darla became sleepy once more and she blacked out once again... 

Once Darla woke up again, she was in a different room. She no longer had the tube down her throat, but she saw the doctor, nurses, and Darry. 
"She's awake," said Darry. 
"Hello, Ms. Jackson. You're awake right on time. We have a sandwich and some milk for you to eat."
Darla sighed. 
"How long has it been?" 
"Two days," the doctor replied. 
Then Darla realized it. Her three days were pretty much up. Darla's face fell. She also noticed she was no longer buckled to the bed. Her arms and legs were regaining feeling, so she felt like pins and needles. 
"Now, can you eat this for us, please?" the doctor said, placing the sandwich and the milk on a tray in front of Darla. Darla looked at the food and felt like puking. 
"I'm feeling nauseous right now, so no," Darla replied. 
"Okay, okay. No rush. Just make sure you eat sometime soon, okay?" the doctor asked. 
"Now, you're going to be restricted in a wheel chair for a couple of weeks until your calcium count comes back up. Now you have a special visitor that wants to speak with you, is that okay?" the doctor asked. Darla nodded. The doctor looked behind him and nodded. The judge from the hearing was there. She wasn't in her robe and she looked extremely calm. 
"Hello, Ms. Jackson. I heard you've had some trouble the last couple of days." 
"Understatement," Darla said. 
"But, I was able to find a perfect date for your trial, Ms. Jackson," 
"How soon?" Darla asked.
"Two weeks," the judge replied. 
"Two weeks! That's too long!" Darla exclaimed. 
"I know. I wish it was a sooner date, but it was the only date I had open this month."
"Well, then make room! Push the other trials you have! I can't go to a girl's home! I just can't!" Darla exclaimed. She was starting to cry. 
"Hopefully, it won't be permanent and you can go back with living with Darrel. But, for now I think it would be healthy for you to spend time with other girls," the judge said.
"Ugh," Darla groaned. 
A nurse came through the doorway. 
"Ms. Pan from the girl's home is on her way now," the nurse said. Darla started to panic. She started to call Darry's name. 
"Darry! Darry!" she exclaimed. Darry rushed to her side. 
"It's okay. Don't worry. Everything will be fine," 
"Where are they?" Darla asked. 
"They're outside," Darry replied. 
"I need them, please," Darla sobbed. Darry nodded and without hesitation, he left the room and soon came back with the other boys. Ponyboy, Two-Bit, Soda, and Steve followed Darry back inside the room. They all greeted her. 
"She's gonna take me away. I don't wanna go," Darla cried. 
"Don't worry, lil Minnie Mouse. You'll be back soon," said Two-Bit.
"Yeah, we'll all be here when you get back," Sodapop reassured. 
"I don't like staying in strange places," Darla panicked. 
"We know. But it will only be for a little while. We promise you, you'll come back to us," Darry said. Darla nodded. 
Two nurses came in and said they were ready to place Darla in the wheelchair. Once they did, they rolled her out into the hallway, into the elevator, into the  lobby, into the waiting area. Darla's throat started to feel dry. As if a desert started to grow inside of her mouth. The boys then came into the lobby through a different elevator. Right as they approached Darla's side, a nurse came into the waiting area with the doctor. 
"Miss Pan is here from the girl's home," the nurse said.