Gavin and I didn't go to work today. We took a day off. Gavin had a slightly aggravated mood to him all morning which put me off. I felt like it was my fault, due to this stupid useless leg I had. I was supposed to get the cast removed today. Geoff was going to come pick us up when it was time to go. I was sitting on the couch while Gavin was cleaning the house. I'm so fucking useless. I can't even get off the couch anymore. "I'm going to go clean up outside, pick up leaves, and what-not," Gavin called from the back door. "Okay," I called back and watched as he shut the door behind him. Go cut yourself you useless fag. I shudder at the thought. I haven't done something like that in a while. I pulled up my sleeves and looked at my arms. The scars were almost comforting. A milestone. I heard Gavin grunting and I knew one wouldn't hurt. I pushed myself off the couch and grabbed my crutches. I managed to get into the bathroom and locked the door behind me. I turned for that old contact box that I never really threw away. I opened it up and breathed in. I placed the blade on my skin and dug into it, pulling it across. Twice, I did it twice.
The old feeling was nice. I could feel my thoughts leak out with the blood into the sink. I watched the red liquid drip down. I turned on the water and placed my arm under it. The water stung and I clenched my fist. I heard the backdoor open and I shut off the water. I pulled my sleeve down and went back out into the living room after making sure there was no evidence. Gavin was answering the front door and greeting Geoff. "Hey, are you ready?" Gavin asked me. I nodded and made my way to the door. I slid into the backseat of Geoff's car. Gavin got into the front seat. Geoff started to head off, "You excited to get that thing off?" I nodded, "Yeah. Can't wait." My voice came out dull. I could hear Gavin sigh. The air in the car got stiff. I looked out the window and tried to shut down my brain. The ride was shorter than I expected. Geoff was helping me out of the car. The three of us walked into the building and were met by a doctor. "Ah, Mr. Jones, follow me," Doctor Roberts said. Geoff and Gavin stayed behind as I went in. Roberts took me into a room and sat me down on the bed, "I'm just going to use this portable x-ray on your leg before we remove the cast." I nodded and watched him x-ray my leg.
"Everything looks good! Let me just grab my saw and we'll tear that thing off," Roberts said, going into the cabinets next to us and searching for the saw. He stuck a small wooden stick into the bottom of my cast and started to use the electric saw on the plaster. The saw was loud. I watched as the doctor took the saw all the way up to the top of my cast before pulling my leg out of it. It was awfully bruised around the wounded area. "The bruising is perfectly normal. I'll just apply some medicine to it and wrap it up." After wrapping up my leg, Roberts prescribed me some pain medication and sent me on my way. He told me to stay on the crutches for the rest of the week to get my leg used to not having the cast anymore. I kept the crutches under my arms and made my way out into the waiting room. Gavin and Geoff stood up and we all walked to Geoff's car. "The doctor said I had to keep up with the crutches until the end of the week. He gave me pain meds too," I explained in the car. Gavin was now sitting in the back with me. Geoff stopped by the pharmacy to fill out the prescription before taking us home.
I stayed on the couch again, staring at the black screen of our TV. Gavin was ordering pizza in the kitchen. I sighed and rested my arm on the back of the couch. The fabric of my jacket stung my cuts. I retracted my arm with a loud 'ouch.' I could feel Gavin's eyes on me from the kitchen so I sunk down into the couch. I heard him hang up the phone and start walking over here. He sat down next to me and slouched. Gavin never slouched at home. "Is it me?" I blurted. "What?" He questioned, giving me a funny look. "Are you stressed because of me?" I asked. He sighed, "I'm not stressed." "You're slouching, Gavin." "So?" He eyed me. "What's wrong?" Gavin sighed and shut his eyes for a second, "It's just- I can't do this. It's all too much. I know what you did earlier, Michael. You've been so bloody sad since we got home from the crash. I want to help you, but I can't." I took a deep breath, "I'm sorry." "No. Don't- Don't apologize. You do that all the time like I'm just supposed to sit here and watch you bully yourself." Gavin's voice was slowly raising. I just sat back and let him get it out. "I want to help you, Michael. I do. Your my husband and I hate seeing you like this. I just don't think I can. You're useless nowadays!" Gavin froze and so did I. His hands clapped over his mouth.
YOU ARE READING
A Finished Puzzle (Sequel to 'My Missing Piece')
Fanfiction[COMPLETED] After Michael wakes up from a coma and a long hospital stay, he has trouble picking up what's real and what he dreamed about. He's helped in his struggle by his wonderful significant other, Gavin Free.
