A/N: This is my rewrite for chapter 2. It's a TOTAL change in direction from what I had posted before, but I like this one so much better. It's coherent and it fits.

My entire storyline has changed AGAIN. Woot. Also, it is very difficult to write child monologues.

So I present to you… A very short (but sensical) CHAPTER 2!

Disclaimer: I don't own Ouran.


As the nurse wheeled a food next to the door of room 372, she heard the voice of a child's whisper, as if she was telling someone a secret. She knew better than to go in when Annie was talking to Nora.

A little girl sat next to the hospital bed inside of room 372. Her face was somber and ashen. It appeared as though she hadn't slept in days. She was holding the hand of the girl in the bed. The girl in the bed wore a hospital wristband with the name "Nora Weston" written on it. The little girl squeezed Nora's hand.

"Hi Nora. It's Annie. Again. You must think my voice is boring by now." Annie laughed to herself, but the half-smile on her face soon faded. "We miss you at home. Daddy's being mean again, but it's getting worse. Every day that you're here, it gets worse. I'll have to start sleeping in the hospital. But don't worry about me! I'll be comfy enough in that big chair over there. You don't know which one I'm talking about, but there's a big, cushy chair in the corner. It's like they WANT me to sleep on it.

"We're don't have a lot of money right now. Dad's trying to get a job pay the bills without using mom's money, but it's not going good. Everyone knows what he does. But we have some people helping us out. Zeke's family and Flora are sending us food and stuff. They know that there's not a lot of money without you, so one of them makes food for us every few days.

"The leaves are changing colors again. Fall started a few weeks ago, but you can see the trees turning orange and red and yellow… It's really pretty. I know you love fall, so I brought you a bright red leaf. How bright? Well, remember that time that you dyed your hair bright red? Yeah, that color. I remember Dad wasn't able to talk. He couldn't even get mad." Annie chuckled again, but her expression turned somber once more.

"I got none wrong on my multiplication table test. I used all of the tricks that you told me and I was the only one that got them all right! My teacher even told me that I can pick a storybook and bring it in and read it to the class tomorrow! I'm going to bring 'A Pocket for Corduroy' because you always used to read that to me when I was little. My teachers said that she'd help me with words I don't know.

Annie looked down and her thumbs and sighed. She adjusted herself in her chair and continued.

"I'm scared, Nora. How am I going to live without you? Who's going to help me tie my shoes or do my math homework with me or read with me or tuck me in before bed or scare away the monsters in the closet or protect me when Dad gets mad?

Annie paused and took a deep breath before speaking again.

"Zeke still won't leave his house yet. I don't know why. I made him a card with glitter and everything, but when I went over to his house, he wouldn't answer the door and he was home and I know that because I saw him sitting in the window. I yelled at him and told him that when you come home, you'll tell him that was mean and MAKE him take my card. So ha! Take that, meany Zeke!

"I have to go do my homework, so I'll talk to you tomorrow. I love you Nora!"

Annie hopped down from the chair and wandered out of the room. When she reached the end of the hall, she heard a commotion behind her. She thought that it was too loud and hurried out of the door into the crisp fall air.