"April?" The dirty window squeaked as Donnie forced his way into the apartment from the fire escape. Normally he wouldn't have force entry, but something was wrong.
There was no answer to his call so he made his way down the short hallway that lead from the bedroom to the living area. When he entered the main room he saw her, laying in the couch staring blankly at the television as it flashed infomercials for a carpet cleaner. "April?" He said again. Her only response was a small groan as she turned head from the tv to look instead at a random floor board.
Donnie glanced around the room. There were dishes and take out boxes piled up on the counter, Clothes, and shoes littering the floor, and a pile of blankets and pillows that looked as though at one point they had been piled up around the couch to create a nest of sorts, but which were now simply strewn about on the floor. The collection of potted plants on the window sill were upon deaths door, and the air was stale. Donnie sighed to himself before walking over to the couch and crouching down so their heads were in line. "April, I know its hard, but it's been weeks since you checked him in. This isn't heathy. You have to have hope" He said in a kind tone, moving to stroke his large fingers through her hair, which was laying limply over her shoulder instead of in its usually well kept ponytail. "There's no use Donnie" she sniffled, still not making eye contact. " there's no use. he's gone. He's never lucid anymore, I couldn't even take care of him. My own father and I couldn't help at all." Tears filled her eyes, but they still maintained there fixture on the floor boards.
"April, I- I hate to see you like this. I know this is shitty, but maybe it will help to get back to normal at least a little bit? Come on." He said standing up and stretching a hand out for her to take."you take a shower and I will get this room cleaned up." April took the offered hand and stood on legs which felt like they hadn't been used in an eternity, making her way to the bathroom. About an hour later April emerged from the bathroom. Donnie let out a relieved sigh, he was getting worried at how long she had been in there. The kitchen was now spotless, and all the clothing and things had been placed in various baskets to be washed, and even the plants had been given a chance at living again after Donnie had water them. "How do you feel?" Donnie inquired, trying not to go to deep into doctor mode.
April shrugged "better I guess." The lack of eye contact was really starting to make Donnie nervous, she hadn't looked at his face once since he's arrived. "Come on let's go out on the fire escape. The sunshine will be good for you. Vitamin D and all that."
They spent the next hour or so just sitting on fire escape, lags dangling down to the streets below. They didn't speak. They didn't need to.
The sun was setting casting it's Amber glow across the city skyline ,outlining the high rises. "Thank you." April whispered still not looking up.
"Oh April, you don't need thank me." Donnie replied, kissing her forehead gently. April finally raised her eyes to look into donnie's. Without a word she leaned forward and connected their lips. Maybe she still did have a little hope left, April thought.