The Boy Next Door

ｔｈｉｒｔｙ ｏｎｅ

~Rachel~

My mom pushed the wheelchair out of the hospital. I breathed in the fresh air. Being in a hospital room with no fresh air was tiring. It was nice to finally get out and go home.

Colton didn't come back the day after the accident, or at all while I was still in the hospital. I wasn't completely sure why he hadn't come back at least once because he said that he would come back. It made me a little upset.

When I arrived home, Colton was sitting on the front step with a bouquet of flowers sitting next to him. When he saw the car pull up, he stood up. He smiled as I got out of the car.

"Would you like to come inside?" My mom asked.

"Of course." He said. He followed us inside. Because of my broken arm, crutches were not an option, so I have to use a wheelchair instead. My mom helped me out of the wheelchair. I slowly sat down on the recliner next to the couch. "These are for you." He said, setting the flowers on the table next to me.

"Thank you." I whispered. "Mom, can you please put these in a vase for me." She nodded and took the flowers from me and went to the kitchen.

"I missed you." He said.

"I missed you too." I said in a whisper. It hurt my ribs too much to talk any louder than a whisper. Drawing in air to breathe hurt so much.

"I am really sorry that I never came to visit you." He said, pulling up a chair. I just listened to what he was saying. I didn't say anything back. "Are you mad at me?" He asked.

I wanted to tell him that I was mad, but at the same time it sounded like a bad idea. But I also wanted to be honest with him. "I guess I am a little mad." I said. "Why?"

"Why what?" He asked.

"Why didn't you come back at least once?"

He shook his head a little. "I'm sorry. I was going to come back the next day like I had promised, but that was the day that Nikki had passed away. I just couldn't handle going to the hospital that day. I thought about going the next day and every day after that, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Each day that you were there, I was thinking about you. I know that that is a shitty excuse. I wish I would have come, but I just- I just..." He trailed off.

"It's okay." I said.

"Are you sure that you aren't still mad at me? Do you even want to see me right now? I can leave." He asked.

"I'm sure." I confirmed. "I understand. That's not something to be upset about."

"When did you get your stitches out?" He asked.

"Before I left today." I said. He took one of my hands in his.

"You know what is kind of strange to me?" He asked.

"What?"

"You have two of the exact same injuries that I did when I was in that car crash." He said. He broke his arm and broke three ribs. Even though his crash was more severe because he was hit head on, somehow I ended up with more problems. "I know it's hard for you to talk. I'll let you get some rest. I love you babe." He said.

I nodded. He gave me a light kiss goodbye. I sat in the silence. Not even five minutes later, Katie walked in the front door. She was a ball of energy.

"Look at my beautiful crippled friend. Is this what you are going to be doing for the next four weeks?" She asked.

I rolled my eyes. "Could you shut up? My head hurts like a bitch and you aren't helping with your yelling." I whispered.

"Sorry." She said in a lower tone. "Oh my god!" She shouted.