Days Gone By

Light

These last few days were heaven and hell.

Vanessa thinks the beginning of these chain events happened when she was, well, stabbed. Then, she had to go through the motions of slipping in and out of consciousness - she was somewhere with glaring lights and white walls. And then, soon enough, she had fully woken and 2 people had rushed in to see her. Truly, she never thought she'd see the day.

A few days later, while Vanessa was still at the hospital, the man beside her bed with dishevelled hair and tired eyes - who already put too much effort into anything concerning Abby - shared his and Abby's idea. "I've talked about this with Abby," he had started, "and, well, she really likes you - not just as a guardian but as a friend. I think it's important for her to be surrounded by people who she, well, all of us can feel like we can talk to about what happened - plus, I think it would really help her if she would have another adult in her life. You know, like another parent figure? So we were thinking we could visit each other, like for an evening or a lunch thing. I know you're going back to work soon after you're discharged and I know you have your own life so it doesn't have to be for the whole day every day, but I think a visit to mine or yours every other day would be good for all of us. I know it's a big ask, so what do you say?"

So then she was welcomed to the Schmidt household - Mike insisted that Vanessa could come to his first. She had a theory that Mike didn't want her busying herself too much as soon as she got home and that he wanted to cook for her and keep an eye on her. Yes, she did just come out of the hospital and still has stitches, but this certainly won't be for long and she would have them come to her house soon. "No, Mike, it wouldn't be overworking me." Vanessa will have to explain to him soon, "I would simply be repaying you for your hospitality."

So that is how she's sitting on the comfiest sofa with Abby next to her, who sits forward and swings her legs, clearly invested in the show Vanessa recommended to her. A cute kid - she can see why Mike adores her.

She peers over at Mike, who has his head down with a concentrated expression and seemingly juggling between a notebook, a newspaper, a pen and a calculator. How is anyone that disciplined? So different from the Mike she first met, who would give anything to sleep. To be fair, he did just have the shittiest job of his life (chosen by a career counsellor, not even himself), so that's always a good motivator.

She wants to step in money-wise, to help him and Abby, but she knows he would be very offended by that right now and she doesn't exactly plan on getting on the host's bad side.

She analyses a little closer, to the point where she can see flecks of gold from the lighting amid his dark hair. Warmth stirs deep within her - she predicted it might. These past few days have been very strange and, really, she's not sure what to make of it. She feels that she has subconsciously changed her view of Mike lately because, well, she's gotten a closer look at him - personality, appearance and all. She definitely didn't get these small sparks when they first met, or back at hospital, or even her very first few days here. But small sparks quickly fizzle out.

A tender tugging at Vanessa's woolly sleeve breaks her thoughts and her stare. She quickly swivels round to Abby, who eyes her curiously, "Vanessa? The episode is over."

"Right, I suppose we better get you to bed." She should go soon too, or Mike might again offer for her to stay the night, or worse, she accepts.

Before Vanessa can stand up, Abby stops her and then brings her voice down to a whisper, "Has he still not found a job yet?" Vanessa decides she doesn't like the tone; such an anxious one shouldn't belong to a 10-year-old. "He will soon, he's just trying to find the best one." Vanessa tries to comfort, "Not every company will reject him, you know."