Love me when I'm gone

Chapter 9

How you changed my world you'll never know. I'm different now it helps me grow.

~Monica, Angel of Mine

Arnold marched down the street. His anger had cooled down some but he was still ready to explode if necessary. All he could he think about was Helga and the so-called boyfriend that shot her. As he walked on he didn't notice the brown haired person walking in front of him until he heard, " Is she okay?"

Arnold looked up. He could feel his anger grow, " How dare you ask me how she is! Right after you shot her!"

" I know it was an accident. I never meant to hurt her. I love her."

" I should kill you right now for saying that!" Arnold growled, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt.

People were stopping and staring but Arnold didn't care.

" Let me go." Chad pleaded.

" Is that what she said to you while you beating her?"

" Please man. I never meant to hurt her. I told you that."

Arnold snorted and hit him in the face. Then dropped him, " How do you like it?"

Chad held his face in pain, " Doesn't feel so good does it tough guy?"

Arnold grabbed him by the shirt again to hit him but stopped. While beating Chad would serve complete satisfaction to Arnold, he knew this wouldn't help Helga so he released him. " Get out of here. Don't let me catch you around cause next time you may not be so lucky. Oh yeah one more thing I hope you rot in hell."

Arnold walked back towards the hospital shaking his head. As the doors slid open he looked around everyone was crying. Gerald walked up to him, " she's getting worse. The doctor said here vital signs are dropping dramatically. She's not going to make it and…" Tears welled up into Arnold's eyes as he headed for Helga's room. He sat down on a stool and slipped his hand into hers. " Hi…. I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you. I hit him for you but I'm quite sure that that's not a great consolation for you. Helga I know you probably can't hear me but if you can please listen. Back when we were in 4th grade I liked you. Even though you made my life a living nightmare I still liked you. I won't be able to go on if you die. Please Helga don't leave me. Not now I…I need you…" he buried his head into the bed sheets and cried. He lifted his head and watched Helga's hand squeeze his gently. Then her eyes fluttered open. " Arnold?"

" Helga."

" What happen?"

" Chad shot you then you almost died but now you're awake but how…."

Dr. Shaw opened the door and was taken by surprise that she was awake, " Excuse can you leave for a moment."

Arnold nodded slowly. After a minute she came out. " I can't believe it. Her heart rate is back up and she's breathing on her own. It's a miracle. I've never seen anything like it happen so fast. I don't know what you did Arnold but it saved her life."

" Can we go see her?" Phoebe asked.

" I would prefer only one at a time."

" Arnold you should go first." Gerald said.

" But I was all ready in there."

"You know she's going to want to see you first."

Arnold sighed and walked back in. Helga smiled wide as he sat down.

" How do you feel?"

" Like I got ran over by a bus but other than that I feel almost fine."

He chuckled quietly. " Ya know I heard what you said…and I'm sorry."

" What for?"

" For picking on you and calling you names. Like football head."

" It's okay."

"you thought I was going to die didn't you…"

" Yeah I did."

" I heard the doctor say it took a miracle. Do you want to know why I woke up?"

" Yeah I do."

" Because of you. I wanted to give up on my life but your words gave me the strength and all that jazz to wake up. You were….my miracle."