I call over the doctors to tell them she's awake.
happy.
i get kicked out of her room for an hour so they can take off all the machines and do tests on her. that's okay though. it means she's alive.
they tell me she's somewhat healed. she still has a major concussion and pneumonia from her immune system crashing, but she can come home tomorrow. i offered to let her stay at my house since her mom was out of town for a few months, and her dad moved away.
"tyler?" jenna croaked as i quietly opened the door.
"hi jenna."
"tyler, im sorry this happened."
"its okay jenna. it isn't your fault."
"it isn't yours either."
"if it wasn't for me taking you on that drive, we wouldn't have gotten into this mess."
"no tyler. its not your fault."
hug her, straighten out her blonde hair on the pillow.
"im sorry jenna."
"i love you tyler."
"w-what?!"
shock.
"im sorry, i shouldn't have said that."
"no. jenna, i love you too."
"really?"
"really."
the wallflower's smile lights up, suddenly she regrows, no longer a dead weed but the positive daisy i know and love.
"goodnight jenna. get some rest okay? you're going home tomorrow."
"okay tyler."
hug her, take in the scent of disinfectant. it stings my nose, but i sense a slight smell of frosting and i find hope again.
don't forget.
