Even If Saving You Sends Me To Heaven

The next couple of days were uneventful. Gerard had to go back to work and would only stop by briefly on his way home before the visiting hours were over. He brought food and asked me how I was and if I needed anything. I always told him no, and that he didn't need to bring me food either; although the food I got served at the hospital was dry and tasteless, it was still filling my stomach and helping me gain weight when I was able to eat it. I still had trouble relaxing, I was stressed, and most of the times I tried to eat would result in bad nausea or even actually throwing up.

Although Gerard wasn't able to stay with me for long, Frank stopped by often and usually stayed for a while. He kept bringing me snacks and the local newspaper. After briefly looking through it, he'd tell me that nothing interesting had happened and that it wasn't worth reading. He always left it for me however, just in case. I never read it, but I liked the comics so I flicked through them sometimes. Most of the time with Frank was spent watching daytime TV. We were both bored out of our minds and he's often fall asleep in his chair. We didn't talk much, but I still appreciated him coming over to spend time with me.

I knew Frank visiting me in the hospital was because Gerard asked him to. After getting to know him a little better, I had learned that Frank was a bartender and mostly did night shifts. On the rare occasion he would be hired to work at weddings or other big events during the day, but that was mostly in the weekends. I couldn't help wondering how their relationship was working when Frank always had to go to work as soon as Gerard got off. The logistics of a relationship kind of didn't work in my mind if they never got to spend time together. I couldn't figure out how they had met either; Gerard's job as an art assistant at a daycare for children didn't exactly mix well with a nighttime bartender. I never asked either though, thinking it was too personal to ask Frank and not exactly fitting to ask Gerard either. I guessed I'd have time to figure it out when I moved in with Gerard as soon as I got out of the hospital.

Even though I was supposed to be leaving the hospital shortly after my arrival, the doctors kept prolonging it. They told me I wasn't ready for it yet; that my body didn't respond to the medicine yet; that they were worried about my weight. After a week's delay, I finally got a specific date for departure, but it was still another five-day wait. I was getting restless and hated being stuck in the cold, white room. My wounds were healing and I was feeling a lot healthier that I had in a long time. I spent most of the time in bed, only getting up when I needed to use the restroom or to stretch my legs. The nurses were a little too helpful at times, and I was getting fed up with always having to decline their offer to take me for a walk outside. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to go outside; I really longed for some fresh air and a small change of scenery, but I didn’t want to socialize. They always asked me questions about my life at home and my family, my childhood and Gerard. I never knew what to answer so I just didn’t. Luckily they’d stop asking after a little while, but I still didn’t want to go outside and spend more time with them to give them an opportunity to ask more questions. I preferred sitting in my bed with the TV on mute for a little while before falling asleep. I would sleep until the nurses came back in the morning with my breakfast. Frank would usually show up just a little while later, offering some quiet but much needed company.

Notes

Okay people! This is the first I've written of this story since 2011 - wow! I know this chapter is a drag, but it is mostly a filler. I needed to figure out what should happen next (unfortunately I don't remember whatever plan I had for this story when I started it), and also get back into writing.

I don't know exactly where I'm going with this yet, but I know the events for the next few chapters, and the rest will come to me as it always does.

The next chapter will be up shortly. I'm already nicely started on it, and it will be much longer than this one.

Thank you to the subscribers I already have. Also, I would appreciate a comment if you have the time :)

Word count: 691