Stand up and walk. You have two beautiful legs on your own, don't you? You don't need to rely on anyone.
â Edward Elrik, FMA
It was only around noon that everything hit meâmy wake up call, so to say. I had built up that wall of confidence and felt that everything was alright. I believe that it would help me to move on. Yet, all it did was make me feel even worse. I was still in the dress from last night, so I slowly got out of it before throwing it in the corner. It was a token of a memory that I did not need.
I have gotten the hope I wanted, but it was a stained, impure hope. Remembering the whole reason for that one-night stand, I slowly got to my phone before dialing the number of Dr. Grainger who responded after the third ring.
"Dr. Grainger, how can I help you?" Her voice was as gentle as yesterday, and I sighed.
"Hi, it's me. Kaley Evansville, Ayden's elder sister and I . . . I've gotten the money. How fast can you make that transplantation possible?" I kept my voice neutral. She didn't need to know my problems either. No one did.
"I . . . Are you sure? You do? I mean, it's not that Iâ"
"Yeah, I met with an old friend of mine and told him my story. Apparently, he was very successful in life, so he offered to pay for the transplantation. He said that I can pay back whenever I can, even if it's in twenty years." I started chattering, even faking a happy voice as she kept silent for a while. I guess it was not normal that someone with a social standing like me managed to collect that huge amount of money so fast. Not that I blamed her for her approach.
"Well, then. Since it's been three days since we found out and he's a young child and everything, I can manage something by the end of the week. We have three people who have compatibility with his marrow, so it's easy," she continued and I nodded as tears invaded my eyes. Fortunately, fortunately it all went well.
"I got it, thank you." I sobbed and heard her sigh on the other side before she spoke again.
"Look, I . . . I know it's been hard and all, but you were lucky. It takes a lot to get the necessary money and even months to find a compatible marrow. Sometimes, it isn't even enough because the aftereffects aren't quite nice, but we're sure that he'll make it. You know that, right? Be happy, your brother will live. I'm sure that the compatibility will be good enough for his body to accept the marrow without a problem."
That alone helped me to move on. She'll never know, but she helped me. I needed to hear those words, I really did. Slowly, my brain started forgetting the night I sacrificed myself in order to save my brother.
* * *
Ayden's surgery was successful and I was informed that he will live. One week later, his body got better. A month passed, and he became cheerful again. Melissa claimed to have fixed her ties with her brother a week after Ayden's surgery, so she was helping me to pay for the medicines and treatment. I couldn't say no. She was really persistent with this choice. She even tried to get me to the carnival with her and Max, and although I went, I couldn't enjoy it to my fullest, because Ayden wasn't next to me.
I wasn't worried, but I couldn't relax until I got Ayden back home. Speaking of which, I now had enough to rent a better place. Ryan also increased my salary in an attempt to help me out. Even that annoying Max brought all kinds of toys and stuff for Ayden while visiting with Melissa.
Speaking of which, I often had this illusion that the two of them are kinda wrong for each other. I learned that they might like each other, but she was treating him like a brother all the time. It was as if she was afraid. I didn't think of it that much. It wasn't my business to probe in her private life. I actually thought for a while that Max was the father of her daughter, but she proved me wrong and said that Amy's father also died in a car accident six years ago.
It was a car accident again. I was seriously thinking that I might get a serious PTSD or claustrophobia from cars. I should just keep my bike until I become a grandma.
Anyway, the doctors said that since Ade's body accepted the treatment, they would let him go in a few days. It was honestly the first time after a while that I felt relieved after all that had happened. I also haven't thought about that night even since.
I was in his hospital room at the moment, happy that I could still hug him and feel the warmth of his body. A healthy body. He was my little brother that I didn't regret having. My life.
"Please, tell me again!" Ayden pouted, looking at me with his big, blue eyes. You see, he was scared for his surgery so I made up a story with the doctors to make him think that they wouldn't do anything scary, like chopping him up. I was surprised at how kind the nurses here were, agreeing and going along with my plot.
"Well, you see, after you counted back from ten, you fell asleep and then the monster appeared. The doctors were fighting it, but it was to no avail. It was winning, until something magnificent happened. You woke up and stood up with gleaming red eyes." I went on.
"Like Scott, from X-Men?" he asked excitedly and I nodded, hoping that Marvel won't blame me.
"Yes, just like him. You said 'I won't let you destroy this planet' and two rays came from your eyes, destroying it and saving the whole world!" He watched me in awe, hanging onto every word I said.
He looked so adorable with his eyes gleaming in excitement and lips parted, probably imagining himself in that scene as I explained it to him. It really takes so little for kids to be happy. They say things they like and get angry when they dislike something. They are so simple. They don't tangle themselves in problems that have no meaning, friendship and happiness is more important to them than pride. If only we adults could also be like that. If only we could go back to those days we innocently laughed in, there'd be no conflict in this world.
Shaking my head, I focused on our current conversation. "But then you fell asleep again and, I guess, forgot all about you saving the world." I mocked with a grin. Because of him, I truly forgot that night. His smile, his living and cheerful self were all worth it.
I didn't bother contacting my aunt, and I did not even think about suing her. I wanted to take Ayden away from those disgusting people and completely forget that I once knew them. Let's not involve Ayden with those leeches ever again.
"It's not my fault, us superheroes lose a lot of energy saving the world." He shook his head while pouting, but I could see that he was really angry for not remembering any of it.
"That's right, but too bad Amy wasn't here to see you in action. She would think so highly of you." I smugly added, knowing that it would only annoy him even more.
"Oh, no . . ." He gasped, terrified. I just had to chuckle when I saw his face, looking like it was the end of the world.
"It's all right, you can always tell her about it the next time you see her." I hugged him. I'm so glad he's feeling better and acting more like his usual self.
"So how is our hero doing today?" Dr. Grainger asked from the doorframe. I hadn't noticed when she came in. Both me and Ayden owed her a lot. I doubted that it could take just one week to arrange everything, but she made it. She saved Ayden.
"Better than ever, Doc!" Excitement laced his chirping voice.
"I am glad to hear that, because soon you'll be leaving us and going out into the world to tell everybody about your adventures," she announced and I smiled. It was about time.
"Really?" he asked excitedly, and she nodded.
"Don't worry, we will always remember your act of bravery, sweetheart."
"You hear that Ade? You're famous." I hugged him as he giggled.
"You must be proud to be the sister of a superhero." The little brat taunted me back. Where did he learn all of these terms? He's a pretty smart kid. But then again, I'm biased to think so.
"Yeah, right buddy. A superhero who can't even remember saving the world and Amy." I mocked and he started protesting all over again.
I spent the whole day with him. Well, at least until afternoon visiting hours were over. After leaving the hospital, I went to work.
Ryan understood my situation, so he allowed me to come in whenever I could. I didn't have a full-time job; I mostly just worked per-diem since the day I found out about Ayden, but he still paid me the same amount as before. He said that I needed it, and I couldn't say no because he'd complain and complain and use Ayden against me so I'd have to give in anyway. He was a sly fox.
To be fair, I now kind of missed Betty and her many dates. On the other hand, there was still some money from Blake I left in the bank, but I couldn't make use of it yet. Melissa was still paying the rest, so I had nothing to spend it on anyway.
"Hey boss, I'm here," I announced from the entrance of the kitchen. I immediately went to change my clothes after Ryan acknowledged my presence with his usual speech. It was something like, "Did the aliens drop you when the anti-gravitational field broke down?" and we'd usually start arguing to see who would win again. It was nothing new among the two of us. He was really like a father I've been missing, but I haven't told him the truth behind that money, neither have I told anyone else. I said the same thing I told Dr. Grainger that night; a friend helped me.
"So, how is Ayden doing? I miss that kid a lot," Stacy, one of my co-workers, asked after getting back from the table she was working on.
"His doctor said that he'll be discharged in the next few days. It seems that the surgery went better than expected," I responded, feeling really happy that I'll have my brother back with me in no time. Although Stacy and I didn't see each other or hang out outside of work much, we bonded really well. We were both really cheerful and had silly ideas. Moreover, she was just a year older than me.
I was happy to have people that were genuinely concerned for Ayden's well-being like me. He was now in good health, about to come out of the hospital, and our lives could go back to normal.
"Well, tell him to hurry up. All these pastries and cakes won't wait forever."
I laughed. We were getting a little louder, talking about random things; hoping that no one would overhear our conversation. I didn't want that happening again. Not like with Blake. I haven't come to work the first week after that night. My eyes were still trying to forget, and I didn't want them to notice. And they'd notice, but I didn't want them to notice.
It wasn't that I was traumatized from that night, it was just my silly unwillingness and ego protesting for going down the path I did not want. I got a sense that I matured a lot from that night, but it also made me realize that I really was childish. Honestly, I really wanted to be more open minded about this like Betty. I have to sit down with her at some time and ask her how to deal with the aftereffects of relationships. Maybe treating that night as a short date was a mistake? Why were first relationships so complicated?
As we were finally leaving the back room, I told Stacy that it would be alright if she wanted to leave and go home; seeing as it was late in the afternoon and we were not expecting many customers for the rest of the night. Monday.
What can I say? No one comes out that much on Mondays.
After Stacy left, I heard the door chime, signifying that someone walked into the cafe. Ryan put that annoying thing with a few bells on the entrance warning us about new arrivals, and I seriously loathed that thing from the depths of my soul. I walked towards where the new customer decided to sit to take their order, but as I approached the table, I started to get a massive headache that made me take a deep breath.
I waited a bit to see if that would help until I got to get something to take for the headache. It didn't. Is this because I was so excited by Ayden's return that I cleaned the entire house for the whole night? Damn consequences. I no longer wanted to be an adult! Closing my eyes, I hoped to get better. However, my mouth started salivating and a nauseous feeling creeped up in my stomach. That was not a good sign! I felt like spilling my guts, so without looking back at my customer, I went to the closest sink to throw up. Great! The last thing I needed was to get sick!
"Are you okay?" A familiar voice behind me asked. I lifted my head to see who it was, but became extremely dizzy. The room around me started spinning. Before I could say or do anything, darkness began to consume me. I could predict what was going to happen next. That was most, absolutely not okay.
Seeing as I was already kneeling, my body gave up and I started falling on the ground. What happened after that, I had no idea. I just remember falling and someone reaching out to catch me before hitting the floor. It was so, so not okay. I'll never clean that blasted house ever again!
One must not run away, especially from things they want to forget the most. Facing those things, overcoming them, it's all necessary to grow stronger and better. Only by facing these things could we truly go forward and back then, I truly hoped that I could come to understand that in time. Before I lost everything in my present while searching for the ideal, faint future.
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Who do you think caught her? And what could be wrong with her? Vote and comment, it would be ma pleasure to hear you out