Author's Note: Sorry It has been awhile if I am not reminded to post it slips my mind. I have a lot going on like most people do these day. Since I am did post for a bit I will upload to chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hey Arnold.
CHAPTER 9: Piece of the Puzzle
Arnold's POV
"What? What do you mean I almost killed her?" Arnold said with a very stunned expression.
"Look Arnold, I still think you should talk to Helga about this. After all she can tell you the whole story."
"The whole story?"
"Yes, I can only tell you what I know. It is best if you hear the whole story from her."
"But how am I going to help her if I don't know what is going on. Gerald, what do you know?" Arnold asked impatiently.
"Maybe you should not help her, she wants to help herself."
Arnold gave his friend an indignant expression, "Gerald you said you would tell me."
Gerald let out a deep sigh. "Arnold sit down."
Arnold sat down on Gerald's bed. Then he waited for the African-American boy to sit on his chair by his computer.
"It was a year after you left…" Gerald began.
FLASHBACK
"I was hanging-out with Phoebe that day. Back then I was trying to get close to her so that I could ask her out. I really wanted to make sure she felt the same way before I made my move."
Arnold gave Gerald an amused expression. Since he knew as well as the whole class that Gerald and Phoebe liked each other since the fourth grade.
"Anyways, Phoebe said that she had to go to Helga's house because she left something there. When we got to Helga's place we rang the doorbell a few times but no one answered. I told Phoebe that perhaps no one was home. But she refused to listen. She insisted that she spoke to Helga earlier that day and assured her that she would be stopping by, and it was unlike Helga to forget something like that. I attempted to open the door but it was locked. However,, before I knew it Phoebe was picking the lock. I didn't even know Phoebe could do that! She said that she had a bad feeling and continued to fidget with the lock. She finally got it open and we entered Helga's house. We called out for someone anyone but no one answered. We found her mom passed out in the kitchen and reeking of alcohol. Then we went up the stairs and...and we saw her. Helga was passed out on the floor with a pool of blood surrounding her."
Gerald paused then gave Arnold a pensive expression before continuing with the story.
"Phoebe let out a painful scream when she saw her." Gerald shivered at the memory. "I still can remember it, till this day. Well anyways I called 911 well Phoebe checked to make sure that she was still breathing. Then finally when the paramedics got there they rushed her to Hillwood Memorial."
"Once in the hospital Phoebe and I were told that Helga tried to kill herself. When she passed out she must have hit herself with something and that's why there was blood everywhere. The doctors had to pump her stomach and get her a blood donor as soon as possible. Phoebe obviously checked to see if she was a match, but she was not. I only checked for Phoebe's sake. I never in my right mind would have thought back then that I would have anything in common with Helga G. Pataki. But, I was wrong I was a match. I donated the blood that saved her that day."
"Wow...Gerald that's amazing, why didn't you tell me that?" Arnold asked.
Gerald gave Arnold a dismal expression. "Arnold that's not the whole story it...it...it gets worst."
Arnold eyes widen. "Gerald please...please continue." Arnold said.
"Are you sure man?" Gerald asked.
Arnold nodded.
"Well since her mother was passed out. She was arrested for child endangerment. The police tried to contact her father but he never answered. Lucky , they were able to contacted her sister. She gave consent to the procedures that saved Helga's life. Man oh man, I never thought that I would feel bad for Helga G. Pataki, but when I saw how little her parents cared about her Mmm mmm mm…" Gerald shook his head. "A few days later Helga finally came to and woke up."
"Well I guess that is why she does not live with them, thanks Gerald…" before Arnold could finish Gerald interrupted him.
"Man Arnold, do you want to here the story or not?"
"Wait, are you saying it get worses than this?"
Gerald nodded. Arnold's' eyes widen again and gestures for his best friend to continue.
"Once Helga 'was back' she was not the same she started asking for you. Yelling your doctors started to give her different types of drugs. Antidepressants that made her into a vegetable then drugs that would counteract that. Eventually, she started going into these manic episodes, where she would hallucinate that you were in the room and even make poems about you. I...I witnessed it once, she was so unstable that she started to throw stuff in the room once we told her you were not there. It got so bad that the doctors recommended to Olga to insiutionize her. At this point you remember the Pakati's were broke. No one was buying beepers. Therefore, it would have to be a public institution, that really did not have the best care. I guess Olga did not have much of a choice because she committed her. I believe she went to the same place Curly went to. Well anyways, after, that I didn't see Helga for almost three years. I thought she would never get out. Then I saw her Freshman year hanging out with Rhonda like nothing happened. I do not know what happened to her there, but when she came back she was different. She never talked about it and I have never asked."
END OF FLASHBACK
"She was institutionalized for three years? Arnold asked.
"I guess man and I do not know how she got out or if she was in there the whole time? Or how she got better? Or even what happened to her there? Gerald stated.
"Gerald, Helga told me that after I left her parents started paying more attention to her. Why would she say that? Unless they were the ones that took her out." Arnold said.
"I don't know man. You need to talk to her. I only know one piece of the puzzle, knowing Helga there is plenty more." Gerald stated.
"I know...I...I can't believe this all happened to her."
"Ya, well that's why Phoebe and I said to give her time. It must be a shock to her to have you around again. Who knows what she went through in there. Or what is going on in her mind."
Arnold was quiet for a moment. "Your right Gerald I should give her some time, thanks."
"Your welcome man."
With that the two exchanged their signature handshake.
Author's Note: Please Review!
