found

hospital

slight trigger warning in this one. it's hinted at strongly.

there was a steady beeping heard before dan cracks his eyes open to a bright light.

did he die?

no. because he turns his head slightly to see an iv stuck in his wrist. how did he end up in the hospital? how long has he been here? a door cracks open and he turns his head again to see a nurse who's hair you could smell from across the room. she looks up and smiles, pink lipstick stained on her teeth.

"oh you're awake good."

"how long have i been asleep?" dan croaks and his throat feels dry, "can i have some water please?"

she brings over a glass and grabs the remote to raise the bed. "for about 2 days, some people came to visit, they were really worried about you."

"alex call phil!"

dan blinks. "it was just a punch to the nose how was i out for 2 days?"

she bites her lip and then looks around. "you broke your nose in 3 places, but i'm so glad that you remember the events that happened that night, you were so delirious i thought something else had happened."

dan looks at her confused. "delirious? what was i saying?"

the door opens them to a woman with a bright yellow  shirt on that contrasted well with her dark chocolate skin. she eyes the nurse evilly.

"sarah get out this room botherin that po' child. he just woke up!"

dan looks at her. "who are you?"

the lady moves sarah out the way as she grabs the nearby chair and sits beside him. "my name is miss mary. i'm from the therapeutic office, i'm here to ask you some questions."

his eyebrows scrunch in confusion and that's when he can feel the plaster on his nose. "therapeutic office? i need therapy?"

she shakes her head and rubs her shaved head. "po' baby. imma get you the help you need ya' hear? now, let's just dive into this right now. what's the earliest memory you've had of your father?"

...

it was dan's last day of therapy for two whole months at the hospital. turns out he was put in a hospital for mental health.

"i brought your clothes for you honey bunches." mary smiles as she lays them out for him. "your momma picked them out for you."

dan stops picking at the salmon colored shirt. "my mom? she's here?"

"well yea. that guy you told me about, phil? he had called her three days after you were admitted."

she had came all this way. "is she...is she okay?"

she smiles, knowing what he's trying to ask. "i've already talked to her about everything. when she comes to talk to you she'll have her say."

dan nods biting his lip. " what about...phil?"

"he's here for you too baby. all the people who care about you are here for you. you're not alone."

dan's lip quivers and he suddenly throws his arms around the sweet woman's neck. she laughs and cradles his head. "you'll do fine dan. he's been worried ever since he heard about you. he needs just as much comfort as you do."

dan sniffs and nods wanting to be held just a little longer. she smelled like honey and homemade cookies.

his mom came in first. she runs over to him and engulfs him in a hug. they sit there, just hugging. his mother silently crying. dan rubs her back trying to be strong for her.

"i'm so sorry... i didn't know dan i'm so sorry."

"it's not your fault."

when dan had figured out what his dad had done to him when he was little. all the clues fit together. how much he hated being touched and grabbed by people he didn't know. he didn't understand how he could forget about that. mary said things like this happen when a kid tries to push certain events out of their mind. eventually it works but something simple as a touch on the arm, could trigger repressed feelings. they estimated that dan spent time alone with his father every tuesday when dan got home early from school for three years when his mother was was still at work.

"something was telling me to divorce that man. we we're drifting apart. o my gosh how could i not have known?"

dan turns stern. "don't you dare blame yourself. you had nothing to do with this."

"but if i was around more-"

"you were around! you came home every night, made breakfast for me every morning, was there for all my graduations so don't you dare say that. please, it will make me feel better."

she gives a small smile and wipes her tears. "i love you."

the door opens next to him. his black hair was flat against his forehead and his blue eyes seemed to pop more with the dark circles underneath them. they stare at each other for what felt like forever. phil didn't try to make any movements towards him like he was afraid it would startle dan.

dan waited comfortably though. he knew that phil was still feeling guilty about everything that had happened but he knew deep inside that the fear of dan being in serious trouble alone; scared him half to death and he never wanted to go through that again.

"dan i just want to start out by saying-"

"shut up."

his eyes were huge. "so-sorry?"

"just get over here. i just want you to hold me."

he hurries over instantly and sits on the bed, cradling dan against his chest.

forgiveness.

sometimes showing it is better than words.

the end

PS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK TO SOMEONE YOU KNOW BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE NO ONE WILL BELIEVE YOU THESE PEOPLE WILL

1-800-656-4673

^^^^ this number is a sexual assault hotline. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.