The Life of a Horrid Boy

Trains of Thoughts are Leading to Nowhere

"Henry, you need to calm down, Ralph will be okay, but right now you need to focus on yourself, your injuries are just as serious as Ralph, but you need to calm down, can I touch you or would you not like that?"

Henry nodded his head, but was still a little hesitant to touch. Peter grabbed his hands, and stared at Henry's worried filled lime green eyes.

"Henry, I want you to breathe with me alright?"

Henry nodded but still breathed as heavily as he was a few minutes ago.

"Alright, so I want you to breathe through your nose, and out your mouth alright? We're going to count five okay?"

Peter breathed through his nose, and held his fingers up to count to five. Once five hit, the two breathed out of their mouths. This went on for a little, and Henry was starting to feel better. Once he started to calm down from his panic attack, Henry mouthed Peter a 'thank you' which Peter just returned with a soft, relieving smile.

"Peter, where did you learn that?" Simon asked, proud of his son for calming down Henry after his panic attack.

"Well, you see um, Gordon suffers from them a lot, so usually I have to calm him down. So I studied ways to help someone during a panic attack, so I could help Gordon out, but I have to admit, this is the first time that I had to help Henry during one."

His mum patted Peter on his shoulder, gave him a sincere smile.

"You're a good friend Peter"

Peter immediately cringed, She doesn't know that they're dating. Hell, he doesn't even know how she'd react to him being gay, though he made it pretty obvious as a kid growing up, just him liking stereotypical 'gay' things. Henry watched Peter's face heat up with embarrassment, and had a laugh, it's funny seeing Peter so embarrassed over something so miniscule.

"Henry, do you often have panic attacks? Or was it just shock and stress at the moment that caused it?" Simon asked, worried for his hospitalized son.

"Y-yea, it was just the stress at the moment that caused it, I don't have panic attacks often.." Henry lied. He's multiple panic attacks, usually Ralph helps him through it, but when he's not there he usually has to deal with them himself, and that means by waiting it out, that's what he does.

"Often?" Simon interjected Henry's thoughts.

"Oh, um yeah, I had them just once or twice before.."

Simon believed him, but Peter couldn't help but find it weird. Did Henry only have panic attacks one or two times? Or was he lying? Peter watched Henry's body language. He looked nervous, not wanting to look anyone in the eyes, his right hand played with his cast on the left. He seemed anxious, yup, he was definitely lying, but Peter decided not to press the issue until later. Asking him now could be bad, considering his parents are there, and knowing his mum, she doesn't like being lied to, so it's best to wait until they're gone so he could ask him privately.

"Well since you're talking now Henry, do you feel comfortable telling us what happened?" Henry's mum asked.

"No pressure! Whenever you feel like you're ready Henry" Simon interjected. Henry's mum turned to look at her husband, with anger.

"But, he has to tell us, we need to know these things!"

"Obviously, but whenever he feels like he can, we don't want him to have another panic attack."

Henry's mum gave an annoyed look, as she crossed her arms. She examined her son, she stared at how his once clean face, was filled with small cuts, and bruises, she was internally grateful that he didn't end up with concussion, or a nose fracture or anything. But it was still hard for her to take a look at him, with a black eye, broken arm, and bedbound temporarily. It was heartbreaking, she definitely wouldn't know what to do if that were Peter in his place.

The nurse came in, and told them that they have to leave for a bit while she checks his vitals. He all nodded, and said their goodbyes to Henry as they left his room. He let out the breath he didn't know he was holding.

Was his mum mad at him for not telling her what happened? Why was Peter up at that time, let alone at the area he was beat up at? Will he need to go to court or something, since Ralph knows the identity of the guy who beat them up? How is Ralph? Henry's mind wondered, he had so many unanswered questions, that he'd wished that they could be answered. Maybe one of them can be answered now.

"Um, excuse me miss?"

"Yes, sir? What can I help you with?"

"Um, do you know what happened to Ralph? Ralph Butuiller?"

She seemed pretty thrown off at the question, He guessed she wasn't expecting that question.

"Oh, you were the kid that was there with him were you?"

Henry nodded, a little anxious for the response.

"I feel like you have the right to know, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to spread this information out. I will ask for permission so you could know his condition, but I will tell you this, he is in fact awake."

Henry didn't know if he should be relieved or scared that the only thing he was told so far was that he was awake. Like is that supposed to be good news? Is he not okay? What if he's dying? What if they slit a vein or something and he's on life support?

Henry watched as the nurse walked out the room, as he took deep breaths to calm himself down. He's being over dramatic, he needs a more positive mind set, He shouldn't work himself up for something that hasn't happened. Thirty minutes have passed and Henry swore she must've forgotten, but a knock at the door, and her walking in, reassured him.

"So I got permission, they said I can tell you, We haven't looked at the condition of his arms much, but we gave him stitches for his arm, and his stomach, and he's been doing a lot better. He constantly talks about feeling so good he could get out of bed, and wanting to see you."

Henry couldn't help but blush at that statement. Ralph really wants to see him?

"His vitals are really good, but we have yet to check on the condition of his arms to see how they will be affected by stab wounds, so far we just kept them both wrapped in bandages. His knuckles were pretty roughed up, but they'll be fine."

Henry felt like a huge amount of weight got off of his chest, at least he was okay, that's all what matters. Henry was relieved to know Ralph was okay. Now all he has to think about is getting to leave the Hospital with Ralph.

The nurse gave him a soft reassuring smile as she was about to leave the room.

"Oh, would you like me to call your parents just to let them know that they could see you again?"

Henry thought about it, but figured he needed a break from people.

"Could you not, I just was pretty overwhelmed by the amount of worries I got, I'd just like to be alone right now please."

"Yeah, that happens to patients a lot, seeing other people worry just stresses them out more, and it often leads to them having panic attacks, so that's why we ask our patients if they'd like people to visit them. But if you ever feel an anxiety or panic attack, just click that button next to you, and i'll be here immediately, and if it's not me it'll be another nurse, so don't be afraid to call for help, alright?"

Henry nodded, as he gave her a grateful smile, as she left the room. Henry stared up at the ceiling thinking about how he can't wait to get out of here.

Outside

Margaret steps out of her car, as she walks up to the hospital with flowers, and two "get better soon!" Balloons. She walks into the building and walks up to the front desk.

"Hello, could I see Ralph Butuiller, or Henry Doyle? whichever one is free."

As Margaret waited for an answer, she was ready to get information spilled out of either of them, and get ready to murder someone.