So, it has been a while...and I'm sorry. I know that a lot of you have probably given up on this story and I feel horrible for my lack in updates. I haven't been great lately and I've had an extreme lack of motivation to write. I also had to write a huge essay for honors english which took forever. anyway, my excuses don't excuse me for being a horrible person for making you guys wait so long. I really appreciate all the people who have stayed with me, I love you all so much.

In this chapter there are a few time skips, and I'm sorry if you don't like them, I just felt like they fit. Now on with the story.

Chapter 36:

TRIS POV:

I lye in bed, my head resting on my pillow that Tobias brought me from home. Hour's ago Tobias and my parents came back in the room along with my doctor. She helped me get the IV back in and then told me that later tonight I would be able to undergo some testing for any damage to my brain or body. Currently it's around six at night and, probably from emotional and physical exhaustion, Tobias and my parents fall asleep leaning on different sides of my bed.

I can't sleep, however, I'm just not tired enough to be able to sleep in this hospital bed. All I can do is turn over and watch the way Tobias is slumped in the chair, his mouth slightly parted, and his head hung to the side. The way he sleeps makes him looks so content, the lines in his face gone, and instead of looking like a 25 year old, he seems his own age. He looks like he has no problems in the world as his chest slowly rises and falls with his breaths.

After a few minutes of me just staring at the handsome view that Tobias is, I hear a very faint knock on the door. As quietly as I can, I tell the person to come in.

"Hello," the nurse whispers as she comes closer to me, on the side of the bed that my parents are on, "we are ready for you to take the tests."

"Oh, uh, would you mind waking my parents up?" I ask as politely as I can, and she nods her head in response.

"Mr. and Mrs. Prior, wake up, I am going to be taking your daughter to get some tests done." Both my parents wake to the nurse shaking their shoulders.

My mom's eyes pop right open in a panic until her eyes meet mine, then her brain registers what the nurse was telling her.

"Oh," she yawns, quickly apologizing afterwards, "are we aloud to come with?"

"Yes, that is fine." She states, helping to take the IV out of my arm and assisting me into a wheelchair.

The MRI scan takes longer than I expected, a lot of me just laying there, closing my eyes and trying to dream. It's long and boring. I'm relieved when the lady, taking the scan, pulls me out of the machine, and wheels me back to the room. She hooks me back up to the IV and then walks out quietly.

Tobias is still sitting in the chair next to the bed, breathing steadily in his heavy sleep. I frown at the sight of the black puffy spot on his jaw, but then I smile a little, watching him with no care in the world. Then I hear my mother call my name softly.

"Beatrice?"

"Yes?" I answer turning on the bed to face her.

She glances once at my father, then back at me, "W-We wanted to say that we are sorry. We never thought that you would end up here...again."

"Mom, it has nothing to do with you, I promise."

"Thank you, Beatrice." She says, allowing one of the gathering tears to spill over and roll down her cheek, "I also want you to have a say in something that we," she gestures toward my father, "have decided to do as long as you are alright with it, though you more than likely will be….we want Tobias to come live with us."

I sit up a little straighter at her words. She wants Tobias to stay with us? After my brother and father hit him and then also found out he cheated on me they seem to forgive him just as I have? I don't get it, I can see it coming from my mother, but my father?

I look to my father, doubtful that he had a say.

"Beatrice, what Tobias has been through is horrible. Your mother and I want to watch over him in case things become more elevated than what we have seen evidence of. He talked to your mother and said a few things that are astonishing in the sense that….he loves you, Beatrice. I have no doubt that he will someday marry you, and I want to be a part of that. We all make mistakes, and I don't see what he did as okay, but I will accept that if you have forgiven him, then I can too." my father tell me, smiling a tiny bit, his words causing my heart to speed up.

What could Tobias have possibly said that would move my mother and father in such a way to realize he may be the one for me? Now that is something I would give anything to hear.

"I would love for Tobias to stay away from Marcus. He's a dirty man who deserves to rot in jail." I reply, smirking at my parents, then sneaking a glance at the peaceful Tobias.

"It's settled then."

Minutes after, a knock is heard from the door. We allow them to enter and in walks my doctor with a nurse behind her.

"Hello Prior family. We have gotten the results quite fast as I put it in as urgent. If I could, I will please ask to speak with Beatrice before sharing the results with the rest of you all." My doctor speaks, her voice ferm.

My parents nod, standing up and going to wake Tobias up. His eyes pop open as my mother shakes his shoulder. He comes to life quickly, not wasting any time jumping to his feet, shoulders tense. Tobias doesn't seem to physically relax til his eyes meet mine, then takes a deep breath and listens to my parents as they tell him what the doctor has requested.

I watch them as they exit, having to tear my eyes away from the door. My doctor takes her time in informing me on the results, as she walks close to my bed and messes around with some of the equipment.

Then, finally she speaks, "Beatrice, this is a very serious matter that we need to discuss. Regarding your MRI scans, your brain was unaffected by the lack of nutrients. The problem lies within something called dopamine. Have you ever heard of dopamine?"

I shake my head at her, no.

"Dopamine is a catecholamine neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, retina, and sympathetic ganglia, acting within the brain to help regulate movement and emotion. Low dopamine levels can naturally occur in a person, usually passed down by genetics. Having a lack of dopamine can cause depression as dopamine helps develop motivation and the amount of joy in a person. Without it, you feel unmotivated and in extreme cases, you want to give up because you don't see the point.

"In your case, you have next to no dopamine to help you feel joy and happiness. We have prescribed pills to help with this. None of what has happened to you is your fault, okay? When something went wrong, there was no bright side to look at in your brain, none of this was your fault."

When she finishes talking, it's as if my hearing gets fuzzy.

I didn't do this to myself? I don't understand. My brain is my brain so I did do this to myself, but it wasn't my fault. I couldn't control my own lack of motivation and sorrow. This wasn't my fault.

As much as this should hurt to know that I have a medical condition, in some weird way, this is one of the best things I've heard in a long time. I'm happy in a way, I'm happy that I won't have to go through unspeakable things. I'm happy that this is almost over. I'm happy.

I don't notice that everyone is back in here til I hear the doctor say once more, "...None of what happened was any of your faults, including her's."

"Oh my gosh," my mother squeaks out, crying with what I can only assume are happy tears, into my father's shoulder.

I search the room til my eyes land on Tobias's, his already looking at mine. The expression lacing his features is one of relief and something along the lines of love. In an instant he's over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist, bringing me into a huge hug.

He whispers in my ear, "I love you so much, Tris. The pain is almost over."

A few days have passed and Tobias was forced by my parents to start attending school again, leaving my days to become boring and uneventful. The best part of my day is when Tobias comes back from school at around three, telling me all about his day, and how my friends hope I begin to feel better.

The doctor required that I have to gain ten pounds before I get my freedom from this hell hole. When I got here I weighed 78 pounds, they want me to get to 88 to be able to go home. Then I still have to gain 20 pounds before I'm allowed to go back to school. So, for now, Tobias is bringing me all of the homework from each class and helping me learn everything. In a way he's my tutor, and I really appreciate what he's doing for me.

Then there's Caleb, who disappeared that day, and only called my mother and father once saying that he needed to do something important. He's been absent for all these days, and I'm beginning to think he couldn't handle me or my problems. My parents did tell him that I'm now on anti-depressants, and some pills that increases my dopamine, and I've been doing a lot better.

I know that this whole ordeal won't just go away, but all I know for now is that I'm on the right track, and I'm over joyed about that.

Currently it's 6:30, which means Tobias should be here with dinner and pills any time now, then, in the morning they weigh me….worst part of this whole thing.

"Knock, knock." I hear from outside my door.

Smiling, I say, "Come in, Tobias."

"So for today we have potatoes with chicken and some green beans." He tells me, carrying the tray into my lap, then plopping himself down in the chair next to mine. "Which reminds me, how much were you this morning?"

I give him a little side glare, "You know I hate talking about that, Tobias….84 pounds."

"Tris, that's great. I can't wait til you can leave, then we can be together with the comfort of your house." He grins, giving my forehead a kiss.

"I kind of wanted to talk to you about something along those lines." I mumble, placing my fork back down after a bite of green beans.

"What is it?"

"Well, you know what happened last time I was in the hospital and then went back to school. Maybe I shouldn't go to school. Maybe I could transfer to another high school. I don't want a repeat of what happened last time." I ramble, wiping my hands on the sheets out of nervousness of his response.

"No, you are not transferring. People can be cruel, but you are strong, you can handle a couple of jerks. Plus, if you really want me to, I can give them a good black eye or something." Tobias replies, grinning at me.

Maybe it won't be that bad this time around. I know there will still be a few people who are willing to give me crap, but if I have Tobias around, I'm sure he could calm me down. Plus I have pills to help me with my emotions and motivation, which means I will want to achieve more and be more adventurous….I think.

"Fine, I won't transfer, but I may have to take you up on that offer." I conclude.

"Good, now eat up. The more you eat off that plate, the faster we can escape."

I laugh, picking the fork up and beginning to eat my meal again.

Ever since I've started taking my pills, Tobias has been more light and funny, less sad. I asked him about it a few days ago and he explained that he felt like the weight of the world was lifted off his shoulders when I began to seem happy. He told me that right now, I remind him of what we were like as little kids, joking around, and laughing at everything. Tobias said that, the best thing in the world to him was my smile, and that if my smile could light up a room, then my laugh could bring world peace. That statement had just caused me to laugh, which he then responded with, Bam, everyone is happy, told you.

My parents have been in and out of the hospital. They are trying to fill out all the paperwork required for my lengthy stay, which I'm guessing is not fun at all. I'm fine with them not being here as often though, because Tobias is enough company.

I can't wait to leave this place, though in some odd way, I don't want to. I know that as soon as I leave and enter my own home, everything that happened will come rushing back. It will flood me, and all I will be able to think is about the things I did.

The drama is over for now but we all know that it can't be over forever.

I know this chapter wasn't one of my best, as i said before, I've had a lack of motivation on writing. Thank you for reading my story so far and I will try to update as soon as possible. Until next time. Love you all!

~divergent24-7