Runway

Chapter 2 – Broken Doll

Authors Note- Each chapter is going to have a song accompany it, The song in this is called "Swing Life Away" and it is by Rise Against. (Just in case you'd like to listen it. It's an acoustic song.)

Am I loud and clear? Or am I just breaking up?

Manny sat next to him on the small wooden swing outside of his garage, looking into his eyes. She had only asked him if he liked her hair cut. He seemed so far away, even though his hand was on hers. He stared off into space. Manny wondered if she wasted her breath a lot. Craig never seemed to be listening these days...

Am I still your charm? Or am I just bad luck..? Are we getting closer, or are we just getting more lost?

Their relationship had been frozen lately. Craig never heard her. He always seemed so distant. Like he didn't care anymore. Maybe he didn't love her anymore. The porch swing swayed in the breeze, and he still sat, idle and silent, before looking into her eyes.

I'll show you mine, if you show me yours first. Let's compare scars, I'll tell you whose is worse...

Craig was always comparing their relationship to when he was with Ashley. Manny felt second best. Just the backup plan. He opened his mouth, hesitating to speak, "I'm leaving tomorrow, for Vancouver. I think we've only got one more night. I'll be gone so long. Maybe it's better? Maybe we can both move on? Manny shook her eyes as they slowly teared up. She didn't want this, this wasn't in her plans. This wasn't supposed to happen. She pleaded with him to stay.

We live on front porches and swing life away. We get by just fine here on minimum wage. If love is a labor I'll slave to the end, I won't cross these streets until you hold my hand

She couldn't imagine life without Craig. How could he cut her out of hers. So fast. So heartlessly. He shook her head as she pleaded. He didn't want to hear it. When Craig made up his mind, that was it. No ifs ands or buts.

I've been here so long, I think it's time to move on...

With that, he was gone. She sat alone on that porch swing. He left her with broken memories. Feeling hate and love at the same time was a sickening feeling.

If love is a labor I'll slave to the end, I won't cross these streets until you hold my hand.

When Manny awoke, she felt the warm, wet tears in her eyes. Glancing around she was confused, before it all came flooding back. The room smelled slightly of chlorine, and the machine's hummed ever so gently. She glanced at the clear tube, protruding from the needle in her hand. She followed the tube up the to the IV fluid bag.

She turned to face the other noise she had heart, watching the nurse set a cup of water on the stand next to her, beside the phone. The nurse smiled, "You've been gone quite awhile.." Manny was silent, her tears were running dry. What had she done? This wasn't in the plans either. She had to find Craig. Love was forever, not until one of them gave up.

She smiled at the nurse, as she nurse smiled back, exiting the room and back to the nurses room.

Manny turned over, searching for her clothes, which were on a shelf below that end table. She rose slowly, painfully. As she reached for her clothes she suddenly stopped, pulling her hand back, glancing at it.

The stitches wound up from her wrist to the bottoms of her fingers, across her palm. She had done this to herself? Shaking, she reached again for her clothes. This was no time to be weak. Actually, this was to time to admit her weakness. Grabbing her clothes, she turned to the IV machine, pressing the off button before ripping the tape off of her left hand. Gritting her teeth, she ripped the needle out.

Pushing her bleeding hand against the bed sheets, she prayed the pressure would stop the slight breeding. With her free, stitched hand, she untied her hospital gown. Glancing at her left, the bleeding had almost stopped as she turned to her white dress. The entire front was covered in blood.

She sighed, remembering. Glancing over her shoulder she noticed another pile of clothes, probably for a roommate who she just hadn't met yet. Desperate times called for desperate measures, as she grabbed the abandoned set of clothes. Glancing up, before she turned to her bed, she saw the small girl, sleeping. Closing her eyes, she turned away.

She slipped on the pair of jeans, which were a size or two too big. She pulled on the blue tank top she had found with them. Turning to the sleeping girl, she placed the cup of water the nurse had left her on the other girl's nightstand.

With that, Manny Santo's walked right out of that hospital room, down the hallway, and out the doors. She was going to see Craig if she died trying. She walked to the edge of the parking lot. She had no money for a car, glancing around, she had decided on hitch hiking, but then stopped, seeing the bus sign. She smiled, her luck was coming back. The city bus was there, and people were boarding, she ran, throwing her hands out so the driver wouldn't shut the door.

She boarded that bus with a half full heart. Maybe half empty, whichever way you'd look at it. But that empty half, she was going to get that half back. Manny wasn't going to lose him again. Not if she could help it.