The Girl of The Sun

eleven

After a full week in the hospital, I was finally able to go home. My mom and dad stayed pretty much the whole time and Raf would visit as much as he could, between school and baseball practice. The doctor wanted me to stay until I felt comfortable enough to leave. It hurt to walk, especially in my right leg, that already had a scar forming from the glass from my car, but other than that I was healing quickly.

When I got home, my mom already had my favorite blanket from when I was a kid, I called it my "flower blankey" since it was pink with a floral pattern, it was soft and fuzzy just as I remembered. There's a big water bottle, fruit snacks and medicine on a folding tray too. My mom and dad helped me into the house and on the couch, making sure I had everything I needed.

I would be ready to go back to school next week which would be the first week of April, which means I almost graduate in two months. I catch up on homework on my laptop, Raf comes and visits me and brings Chai over. He tells me how his family has been at home, missing me. Although he doesn't mention school. Any time I ask, he answers quickly and changes the subject, which is a little strange but maybe it's nothing. My dad has been staying at my abuela's house and working from there, he'll visit my house from time to time to make sure I'm okay. It's nice to see my mom and him communicating again without him cutting us down like he used to.

      Finally the following Monday back at school, it had been two weeks since the accident. Although my migraines and soreness aren't as bad, I still have to take medication daily and at certain times. I check into the office first thing in the morning since were required to give them to the office. All of the secretary ladies know me pretty well since I'm always late, and since my accident they've had to prepare my make up homework. Janice is at the very front, her hair is short and blonde; she has very large hips and always struggles to get out of her seat. She always wears red lipstick that gets on her teeth sometimes. She always talks about her grand daughter too. She's the first to see me, so she comes around the large desk to hug me which catches me by surprise. Everyone in that office looks at me like they're surprised I survived. The whole school seems to look at me that way, everyone whispering around me. This one freshman girl came up to me and asked me how the near death experience was like I was some celebrity or war hero. Here I am, known as the girl who flipped over in her car.

     Alexander runs up next to me shoving the school news paper in my hand. A title that read —
Fabiana Morales, Senior, Survives Car Crash

"Seriously?! They act like this is the New York Times, this is f*cking high school. Who wrote this?" My face is red of rage and embarrassment, this is my business.

  "One of the girls on the dance team wrote it, I guess she's apart of the journalism club and writes for the school paper."

"Do you think Raf knows about this? It's fine if people know but I really don't want to be the talk of the school right now, I literally almost died."

  "I'm sorry Fabi, and I don't know if Rafael knows about it, I told Estrella but she won't get to school until 12:00 because of her orthodontist appointment." Alex crumples the paper and tosses it to the trash can across from us.

"Well, I'm gonna go look for Rafael, I haven't seen him all morning and usually he meets in the front, he's not answering his phone so I'll just search the gyms or something — Thanks Alex, for being here." I side hug him and he gives me a wink.

"Anytime."

I'm fast waking towards the athletics hallway searching each gym court briefly before school starts in 10 minutes.

I'm at the end of the hallway and practically at my point to give up looking for Raf, when I hear two people whispering behind a stairway. I check because why not, but I really wish I hadn't seen what I just saw. I just hoped it was my silly imagination, maybe my head was hit pretty hard in the accident. It's Rafael and Meadow, who seem like they're whisper arguing, her back against the wall as she chews on a red Twizzler. My heart sinks, I shut my eyes not wanting to see this image.

"Um Rafael?" his head turns and he's startled. He goes up to me, grabbing both my arms, with an apologetic look in his eyes.

"Well I was gonna ask if you knew about the school paper, but clearly you're busy so I'll just leave you two alone." I roll my eyes and walk away, Raf catching my arm again, bringing me back to him.

"Fabi, no this isn't what this looks like at all. Please trust me, we were actually just talking about what was written about you." He looks to Meadow and I grow more suspicious.

"Yes we were, actually Rafi told me about your accident and I told my friend Chloe who happens to write for the school paper about it, I thought you could use support from the school." She slightly smiles but it seems fake and awkward. The fact that she has a little nickname for him still stings my heart. I feel my face getting hot, my heart pounding. Jealousy overwhelms me and words pour out.

"So you tell her about my business? I get if you're worried and let people know, but your ex girlfriend out of all people? You can discuss the sake of my health with someone else, you could even go to the principal for that. I'm not a charity case and my accident isn't a story you can publish without my permission. So while I was at the hospital, while I almost died, you were talking to her about this?"

Raf tries to explain himself but can't come up with the words. "It's not what it seems I promise."

"Really? Cause I know exactly what I see. I'll see you later or whatever." I walk away, leaving them both speechless, trying not to cry while I go up the stairs to my class.