"What are you doing here?!" Mrs. Wu exclaimed.

"I was just-"

"Get out!"

"But-"

"Now!" She slapped my face.

"Yes, ma'am." I got up off the couch. I picked up my pill bottle and pulled out three small pills. I put them into my mouth and swallowed them down with a glass of water. I put the pill bottle, along with five others, into my pocket and headed for the door.

"Cody, wait." Mr. Wu rushed down the stairs.

"I want that dirt bag out of here, Anthony," Mrs. Wu said.

"I have to give him his medicine. He won't stop scratching the burn around his neck."

They didn't notice when I slowly forced my hand from my neck.

"Well, that's his own fault." Mrs. Wu said.

I took a seat on the steps, suddenly feeling weak.

"No, it's not. If he doesn't stop scratching, it could start bleeding again."

I leaned my head on the bars of the banister next to me.

"I couldn't care less if he bled to death!"

"Glenda!"

"He's the reason my daughter's out there! It's his fault she's gone!"

My eyes were droopy.

"No, it isn't."

"It was all his and his father's fault."

My voice was barely audible. "Sir?"

He ignored me. "No, it wasn't."

"What if she dies?!"

"Sir?" I tried to speak louder, but failed.

"She's not gonna die. Don't think like that."

"Well, how am I supposed to think?!"

"Sir?" I could no longer hear their ranting.

"Don't interrupt, Cody!" Mrs. Wu said.

Weakly, I reached my hand up and tugged Mr. Wu's shirt sleeve.

"What?!" Mr. and Mrs. Wu said together, angry.

I could barely speak. "I…I think I'm dying."

I woke up to find myself in the hospital.

My room was empty.

I lay there for a moment. I tried to swallow, but my mouth was too dry. I pressed the 'nurse' button on a remote next to me.

Nothing happened.

I pressed it again.

There was no response.

I sighed, then pushed myself into a sitting position. I put my feet onto the cold floor and struggled to stand. I slowly walked toward the door and opened it. I stepped out into the hallway.

The place was empty. There were no nurses, no patients, no visitors in sight.

My strength was leaving me quickly. I went back into my room, then turned around. I pulled the door to close it, revealing Frankie.

He smirked. "Hello, b****."

"Ahhhh!"

"Cody, what is it?!"

"Please, leave me alone. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Don't hurt me. Please."

"Cody, it's just me. It's Mr. Wu."

"Mr. Wu?"

The man nodded.

Tears fell from my eyes as I exhaled shakily. "What happened?"

The doctor spoke up. "You took the wrong pill: too many muscle relaxants."

I was silent.

"When can he leave?" Mr. Wu said.

"Any time he's ready," replied the doctor.

"I'm ready, sir." I weakly pushed myself up, stumbling when I stood.

Mr. Wu caught me before I fell.

"Here's a wheelchair." A nurse stepped into the room, pushing a chair. She helped me take a seat.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"You're welcome." She smile, rolling the chair down the hall and into an elevator.

When we got outside, Mrs. Wu pulled the car to the pick-up area.

Mr. Wu opened the door.

He and the nurse gripped an arm, supporting me as I got into the car.

"Thank you."

"Bye." The nurse waved before turning back to Mr. Wu. "Good kid you got there."

I couldn't help but smile. I was good.

I leaned my head against the window, watching the trees pass by. I'd occasionally squeeze my eyes shut tight when I felt an aching pulse in my head.

Mr. Wu noticed this since he frequently looked through the mirror to check on me. "You okay, Cody?"

"Yes, sir. I'm fine."

"You sure? We don't want a repeat of that last incident."

"It's just my head, sir. But that's all."

"Glenda, would you take a look at his pills?"

She rolled her eyes, annoyed. "Give me your pills."

"Yes, ma'am." I pulled out the six prescription bottles and handed them to her.

She looked at each one, then read aloud. "'As needed.' That means when you need it. You could've thought of this yourself."

"I'm sorry, ma'am."

She handed me the pain pill.

I swallowed it with my saliva, then put the pill bottles back into my pocket.

Mr. Wu pulled the car into a driveway, then got out of the car and came to my side. He pulled the door open and helped me out.

I put my arm around his shoulder as he supported me.

We stepped onto the porch slowly.

Mr. Wu opened the door and led me inside. He helped me up the stairs.

Eric came out of his room, looking at me. "What happened to you?"

"Eric, help me get him to his room," Mr. Wu said.

Eric sighed, then did as he was told.

Mr. Wu was changing his position.

Eric purposely let me go.

I fell forward.

Mr. Wu hurriedly pulled me to my feet.

"My bad," Eric said with a smirk.

When we finally made it into the room, Mr. Wu helped me onto the bed. "You gotta be careful with your pills, Cody. If you take the wrong one, it could be dangerous-especially if you take too many of the wrong one, which is what you did today."

"I'm sorry, sir."

"It's okay. Just don't let it happen again."

"Yes, sir."

"I'm gonna put your pills in the kitchen."

"Yes, sir."

"I'll see you later."

"Bye, sir."

He stepped out of the room.

I lay in the dark, quiet room, soon falling asleep.