Chapter 7
The next day, Alex woke up at ten in the morning in the hospital. He was groggy, and his vision blurred, but that was alright… he had just slept all night.
"Hey," a voice whispered next to him.
Alex turned his head as his vision came into focus. "Penny…?" He said groggily.
"Shhh…" Penelope whispered, stroking his hair gently. "I'm here."
He started to sit up. "Pandora… she… she's gotta know I'm…"
Penny placed a gentle hand on his chest. "It's alright, honey," she said gently. "It's okay… just lay there." She smiled. "How ya doin'?"
He sighed. "When you ran in, I realized I actually wanted to live," he said, his senses slowly returning. "Kill myself over a father who doesn't interact with me anymore and… and Pandora loving Dick." He scoffed. "God I'm a dope."
Penelope gently took his hand. "Have you considered… talking to someone?"
Alex hummed in thought. "I don't believe in therapy," he said. "You're basically paying to have a fake friend for an hour a week." He paused. "However… a shrink could help me. I might be able to take something."
Penelope smiled. "I'm here, honey," she whispered. That was when she started to softly sing.
"It's just like heaven being here with you
You're like an angel, too good to be true
But after all, I love you, I do
Angel baby, my angel baby
When you are near me, my heart skips a beat
I can hardly stand on my own two feet
Because I love you, I love you, I do
Angel baby, my angel baby
Oh, I love you, oh I do
No one could love you like I do
Please, never leave me blue and alone
If you ever go, I'm sure you'll come back home
Because I love you, I love you, I do
Angel baby, my angel baby
It's just like heaven being here with you dear
I could never stay the way without you near
Because I love you, I love you, I do
Angel baby, my angel baby
Oh, I love you, oh, I do
No one could love you like I do…"
Alex smiled as a few tears rolled down his cheek. "That was… my mother used to sing that to me before she…"
Penny kissed his forehead gently. "Don't cry, honey," she cooed.
He sat up slowly. "My mother killed herself to escape my father. Hung herself in the garage."
She held him close.
"I… tried to save her… I cut the rope but…". He sighed. "I was nine when it happened."
"Shhh…" she whispered, cuddling into him. "Alex… shhh…"
Alex sighed, and Pandora walked into the room.
"I'm sorry..." she said thickly. "I'm so sorry… I tried to tell you but…"
Penelope kissed Alex's forehead again. "I'm here for you," she whispered.
"Pandora, you… you can tell Penny what I… what I said that night. It would help her understand."
As The Pitstop sisters went back home, Pandora did just that.
Penelope then went to her room, flopped onto her bed, and did something she almost never did.
She cried her eyes out.