Epilogue
“She’s awake.” Is all Spyder has to say before we’re leaving the house and heading to the hospital.
I tried to come by and see Low the day I was discharged, but her parents kicked me out.
Justifiably, they blame me. They told me I wasn’t allowed to see her, but now that she’s awake it’s no longer their decision.
It’s strange for Eli and me to be able to walk into the hospital hand in hand; even though this was what we were both hoping it would eventually become.
Turning down the corridor and passing the waiting room, we see Spyder propped up in one of the chairs. Eli moves from my side over to where he’s sitting, clasping hands, before pulling one another in and hugging.
It pulls a smile to my lips as he glances back up at me and nods.
In the last two weeks, I’ve watched him fall into his role, fall back into his life, back into who he always was but had to hide away for so long.
He’s finally happy. Seeing Eli like this, carefree and back to who I remember him being so long ago, makes everything feel like it fits together perfectly.
Maybe Dad was onto something when he told me all those years ago that it was easier to hate someone you couldn’t love…
“Drew!” Low’s shocked as she looks up at me.
“Low!” I gasp rushing over to her and hugging her. She flinches slightly, but feels rigid under my touch. “Are your parents still around?”
“My dad left this morning, but Mom just went to get some coffee.” Her voice is gravely as she speaks; I’m sure it’s due to the tube being down her throat.
Dan said he tried to do his best with intubating her in the asylum, but the pressure he was under, or the time constraint they gave him, the lack of help, and the lighting all played a role in the small amount of damage to her vocal cords.
He also said that he hoped there wasn’t permanent damage but wouldn’t know until she’d completely healed.
He may have also started making plans for his retirement as soon as we got out.
Told me he needed to wash his hands of this club once and for all, and the only way he’d be able to do so was to leave the city.
We’ll see if he’s really done.
“She kicked me out of the room when I came by.”
“I know. She told me.” She pauses. “You should go before she gets back, or she’s gonna lose it.” She says, but her eyes look everywhere but at me.
“Are we okay?”
“Yeah,” she clips out.
“That doesn’t sound very convincing.” I can feel the lump already forming in my throat. My best friend since the first day of freshman year, maybe my only real friend ever, at least the only friend I’ve had who wasn’t after something regarding my family.
“I’m gonna go back to the farm once I’m released.”
“What?”
“Drew, I think I just need some time.”
My heart breaks a little.
“What do you mean?”
“Drew, I just need space.”
Running my hands over my face, I nod. Of course it would end like this. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.” It’s a whisper, but I don’t plead with her; I just turn around, walking back out the door and down the hall.
The tears are slipping down my cheeks as I walk back towards the waiting room when I see it.
“Shit,” muttering as I reach up, brushing them away quickly. Eli’s standing up in front of Low’s mother, and by his face I know she’s quickly pissing him off.
“You!” she shouts as she strides toward me. “I told you to stay the hell away from my daughter.”
“I just needed to make sure she was okay.” I tell her, lying.
“Yeah, no thanks to you.” She glares as she looks me up and down.
“Hold the fuck up.” Eli shouts.
Cutting him off as I just look over at him, stepping past her, and shaking my head. “She’s right, it’s my fault.” The tears defy me as he looks at me. “Please, just take me home.”
He doesn’t argue with me. Just wraps his arm around me, pulling me in for a protective embrace, and walks me out into the parking lot.
Staring out the window as the scenery passes by. Eli says nothing to me, maybe knowing that there’s not much he can say to make it better.
Pulling into the driveway, he finally glances at me and sighs. “She’ll come around.”
“Will she?” taking a quick pause and shaking my head, we both stand from the bike as I sigh, looking at him, feeling the water threatening my lids. “Maybe she shouldn’t.”