Broken (A Josh Hutcherson Imagine)

Chapter 56

56.2

After Darrel and his mom leave, you and Josh say goodbye to his social worker and start a slow walk back to your room. "You look really tired, do you want me to carry you?" Josh asks after a second. "You don't have to." You insist, despite Josh being able to read you like an open book. Josh just shakes his head, and grabs you in his arms carrying you the rest of the way to your room. When you get to your room, he lays you down in bed, then changes into a pair of sweatpants and takes off his shirt, crawling into your bed next to you, and putting his arms around you. You bury your head in his neck and take a deep breath, a few tears spilling over your eyes. "What's wrong babe?" Josh asks you. "Everything. Everything is wrong. I miss Darrel. I miss my bedroom. I miss not being sick. I miss my Daddy holding me when I don't feel good. I miss my mom talking to me about boys and fashion even if I spent all my time with her in hospital gowns without boys. And I know other people have it worse. And I know I shouldn't be making a big deal about this, because there's good things in my life too. I have Henry and Rosie. And I have you. But sometimes.. I don't know.. Sometimes-" Josh cuts you off saying "sometimes you just need to cry and let it all out. It's okay, don't feel bad, you're bound to have a bad day somewhere along this crazy path to get you better. I'll be here every step of the way. I miss Darrel too, but we'll see him soon enough. And I wish I could make you better, I would do anything to do that. But right now you just have to be the strong girl I know you are." He stops talking for a second, taking a deep breath in and saying, "I'm not gonna act like I know what it's like to lose a parent, because I still have both of mine. But I'll tell you that I'll hug you and hold you in my arms when you don't feel good. And I know she's not your mom, but my mom will talk about fashion and boys, which I expect to be annoying and not nearly as handsome as your boyfriend, with you at anytime. She always wanted a daughter and she was stuck with two crazy boys. I love you baby. So much." This brings more tears to your eyes, hearing how much Josh cares for you. After a second you say "I love you too Josh, thank you." "For what?" He asks. "For being here for me when I need you most." Later that night you and Josh are laying in bed, watching tv when the commercials start. A few minutes later an informercial comes on and after it's done Josh says "I want one." "Well it's probably a piece of crap, but it's only $19.99 you might as well order it." You say grinning at him. "Not that piece of crap." He says simply, and when you raise your eyebrow at him in question he smiles a big toothy grin, and he says "A baby. I was talking about a baby." "You want a baby?" You ask him. "Yes. I do. Darrel was literally so much fun. Kids are so cute. And you'll be such a great mommy." He says, continuing to smile. "Josh.. I mean, of course I want kids at sometime. And at this point in my life I can't imagine having kids with anyone but you.. But I.. We.. Right now that's just not a possibility for us." "I know we can't right now. First we have to get you healthy. And move you into my house. And then maybe get married. Travel a little bit. But after that. Were gonna have the cutest fucking babies together that this world has ever seen. They'll have my little nose and your bright blue eyes. And we'll pick the cutest names and spoil them rotten." You can't help but smile. "You keep saying 'them' do you want a boy or a girl?" You ask him. "Well, I used to think I wanted a boy. Ya know, teach him how to play soccer and basketball and throw a baseball. Take him fishing, take him on a ride on my bike and take him four wheeling through the mud back home. But I think it'd be fun to have a girl too. Daddy's little princess. Take her to dance class, play dolls, color a picture of flowers. As long as you're happy and he or she is happy and healthy. I really don't have a preference." "Man," you say, "you've really been planning this whole thing out." "I have indeed" he smiles. You smile back at him and say "You're insane Joshua Ryan Hutcherson and I love it."

56.3

About a month later, you wake up to an empty hospital room. Things have been getting much better. In the past month you've gotten so much stronger, that you're back on chemo and radiation. The doctors also told you that if everything keeps positively progressing at the same rate it has been, that you'll be out of the hospital within the next month. Your doctor said that you can go home, and chances are you'll only have to come in for chemo for two days every three weeks. The bad news, is that with doing chemo again, your hair is completely gone, and you do get tired and sick to your stomach after it. But the good news, you're so much stronger, and on a whole you feel so much better than you did before. Probably even better than when you were first admitted to the hospital after a few weeks of treatment. Nicole comes in to your room about ten minutes after you woke up and says "Ahh you're awake!" Then she hands you a box, and says "I was instructed to give you this as soon as you woke up." "Thank You" you say, as you tear the wrapping paper off the box and open it. There's a note on top and in Josh's hand writing you read "Put this on, I'll pick you up at noon. Get ready for a day of fun Xx Josh" You take the contents of the box out and see it's an entire new outfit. There's a teal dress that has bright yellow chevron patterns spaced equally throughout it, that goes just above your knees and has a triangular cut out near the small of your back. Along with that, he includes a bright yellow bracelet that matches the color of the chevrons, a pair of sandals, and a black beanie. Thank God he didn't forget the beanie. He's so good about things like that. You put everything on, and put a little makeup on your face. You're feeling pretty good, strong, not sick. You know it's gonna be a good day. Not only because you feel the best you have since this all started, but because you know Josh has to have something fantastic planned for tonight. You wonder if he somehow got them to allow you out of the hospital. They got a lot stricter on that, and haven't let you leave since the incident happened. You look at the clock and realize you still have about an hour until Josh told you he'd be there, so you decide to just sit on the edge of your bed and look out the window. You dream of a day back in Minnesota. You remember a single day that for some reason sticks out in your mind. It was late summer day, much like the August day it is now, and your parents wanted to spend it as a family. As you had been out of the hospital for about a year at that point, you remember wanting to go hang out with a few friends, including a boy you liked. You didn't wanna spend the nice day with your dorky parents and your annoying little brother. Looking back at it you would give the world to spend that day over again with your family. On that Summer day, you all went for a bike ride, your Dad leading, followed by your Mom, and then you, with a young teen Henry zooming in and out of the row of bikes between cars with your Mom screeching at him to be careful. After the bike ride, you ended up at a park near a small creek, and had a picnic as a family, and you remember after you got over the missing your friends, you really enjoyed the day. You're snapped back into reality when you hear someone clear their throat. You turn to see Josh standing in the doorway holding a dozen Gerber Daisies in his hands. He has a goofy grin on his face, and is dressed in khaki shorts and a white button up shirt, partly unbuttoned, showing off his tanned muscles nicely. "Wow." you say, unable to drag your eyes away. "For You" he says crossing the room and handing you the flowers, "I figured I'd change it up and go with something other than roses for once." "Thank you, Josh. They're perfect. " you say grabbing them and inhaling their amazing scent. Josh grabs them and sets them aside, and then grabs your hands, pulling you up so your bodies are just centimeters away from each others. "Ready?" He asks you. "Ready." you answer, and before you know it, Josh is lifting you upside down onto his shoulder. He takes off running, as your midsection bumps off his toned shoulder with every step and you know it's going to be a day you'll remember for the rest of your life.