The Sweet Hereafter: Dawn
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Part XX: Look Closer
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"Be careful, lest
in banishing your demons, you banish the best thing
within you."
--Nietzsche
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It's morning. The start of a new day. Another terrible day. I can hear birds singing, faintly. What do they have to be so happy about? I don't want to wake up. It's nicer here. It's not quite reality. I don't want to face them right now, not like this. I'm comfortable. Too comfortable.
Okay, fine, maybe just a quick peek. Maybe for once in my life, I'll get lucky, and things will be different.
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Helga slowly opened her eyes, blinking the sleep out of them. Everything looked brighter than usual. Waking up didn't seem miserable at all.
A quiet rustle convinced her she wasn't alone. Breathing deeply, she stretched a leg in either direction, not daring to look and risk confrontation with most private of dreams. She was only somewhat disappointed when she failed to make contact with anyone else. Very slowly, she pushed her torso upwards, deciding she might as well confront whoever was waiting for her. She stifled a curse when the redistribution of her weight was betrayed by the sound of her bed creaking. Her mysterious watcher immediately looked in her direction. "Arnold?"
"You're awake." Arnold said with a smile, hopping off the chair and walking to her bedside.
"This isn't my room!"
"You're in the hospital, Helga. You gave us all a scare."
"The. . .hospital? That's funny, I don't remember anything."
"The doctor said you most likely wouldn't. I'm just glad you're safe. You're lucky that Phoebe found you. We were able to carry you down from your roof and get a cab to take you to the hospital."
"What happened to me?"
"You slipped into a coma, Helga. The doctor said it wasn't too serious, that it was something you would come out of on your own."
"How long have I been out?"
"Three days."
"THREE DAYS? Criminey, what happened?"
"I don't know, Helga. I haven't seen you since school on Tuesday."
The memories of hitting her best friend, trying to strangle her football headed lug of a savior were still clear. "Then it was all a dream?"
"You were dreaming?" Arnold asked.
"Yeah. And Phoebe was there. And you, and. . ." Helga shook her head to clear the cobwebs. "Forget it. I'm not doing the 'Wizard of Oz' bit.
"Fair enough." Arnold chuckled.
"Do my parents know I'm here?"
"Yeah, your dad came down here when you were brought in. He asked Phoebe and me to check up on you before and after school. We're supposed to make sure the hospital calls home when you're awake."
"Gee, I'm glad he could fit it in." Helga spat. She became aware of the flimsy hospital gown she was wearing and sank more under the covers. A horrid realization came over her as she realized something was missing. My locket! Where is it?! Oh no! What if he saw it? What if I've been exposed?! What if-
"How do you feel?" Arnold asked.
"I just woke up from a coma! How do you think I feel, Football Head?!"
"Well, you seem pretty normal to me." Arnold sighed. "Except for the glucose bag."
Helga looked to her left, noticing for the first time the thin tube running from the hanging bag down into her arm. She scowled at it. "Hey, a girl's gotta eat, right?" Helga caught her reflection in a mirror attached the wall and grimaced. "My hair! It's all droopy!"
Arnold turned around and picked a small gym bag up off the floor. "Yeah, they gave you a bit of a makeover when they admitted you." Arnold smiled. "Don't worry. Phoebe brought this when we both came by after school yesterday. She packed it full of some stuff you might want with you." He opened the bag and after taking a moment to sift through the contents, zeroed in on what he was looking for. Arnold gently removed the article from the bag, turning back towards Helga and presenting her with it. "Here, maybe this will help."
"Perfect." Helga rolled her eyes. "I'm sure my hairpiece will do wonders for my condition." She cursed herself for putting down the sweet gesture. "Thanks, Arnold." She said, trying to keep sarcasm out of her voice this time as she took the proffered pink accessory.
"It's okay, I'm probably doing it just as much for me as for you. It'll be more comforting."
"Comforting?"
"I like your bow."
Helga held it in her hands now, twirling it over and over, the memory of a day perhaps not so long ago or lost after all. "It's pink." She said quietly.
"Like your dress."
"You. . .remember that?" Helga asked hesitantly, unsure what to feel.
"My first impression of you is better than any other you've given me over the years." Arnold shrugged.
"You always have to see the good in everything, don't you? Do you have any idea how annoying that can be?!"
"Not really. But I'll take your word for it."
"Shouldn't you be in school?" Helga asked.
"I'm allowed to miss first period to be here." Arnold explained. "Phoebe's allowed to miss last period, so she usually comes down in the afternoon."
"Who arranged that?" Helga asked.
"Dr. Bliss. She said it was important for you to have some familiarity whenever you wake up."
Helga scoffed. "Some psychiatrist. She has YOU come down here to welcome me back into the world of the living."
Arnold shrugged. "She must've had a reason. She requested us specifically."
Helga immediately decided a change of subject was in order. "So, what did I miss? Anything good?"
"Not much going on. Rhonda's throwing another party next week."
"Pfft, who cares about her lame-o parties."
"Yeah, well, to tell the truth, I'm probably going to make an excuse and stay home. I'd rather spend an evening eating ice cream and looking for patterns in the stars."
"What are you talking about?"
"Sometimes, at night, I just go up to the roof, look up at the stars, and see what's up there. It helps me clear my head."
"You can be so weird, Hair Boy."
"Anyway, I should probably get going. I have to catch my bus if I want to make it to school for second period."
"Great." Helga sulked. "Now what am I supposed to do all day?!"
"I don't know. I hate to break it to you, but daytime TV is really lousy."
"Gee, thanks Arnoldo. Can you at least hand me my bag? Maybe Phoebe packed something I can use to pass the time."
"Sure." Arnold picked the gym bag up and handed it to Helga. "Don't worry, it's already nine now. Phoebe should be here by 2 o'clock. I'll come back later this evening. It's Friday, so there's no school tomorrow."
"Whatever. See you later, Football Head."
"Yeah, later." Same old Helga. Arnold gripped his book bag and opened the door to step outside. He was about to step through when Helga's voice stopped him.
"Hey Arnold?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks. Y'know, for being here and stuff."
"Don't mention it." Arnold smiled at her, then left.
As Helga watched his shadow pass in the hall outside and disappear, she collapsed backwards into the bed, sighing. "Oh, Arnold, my love! Most fair and noble is your visage. Here you sat each morning, watching over Sleeping Beauty and keeping the dragons at bay! Flash your smile, my handsome Prince, for one day, for the Princess has awakened, and now everything is going to be okay!"
Helga felt revitalized, and she hummed quietly to herself as she rummaged through the bag Arnold had left out for her. There wasn't much that proved useful. A dress for when she got out of here, a conversational Japanese handbook, some Pez, a doodle pad and pens, a gold locket, pajamas, toiletries. . ."A GOLD LOCKET!" Helga shrieked. Sure enough, it lay there in her hands, incriminating evidence. "Arnold. . .he was there when he and Phoebe brought me to the hospital! And he was just going through here a minute ago! What if he saw it?! So what? This is a nightmare! I've got to. . .I've got to. . .I've got to get more rest. . ." A moment later, Helga was fast asleep
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Two hours later, Helga was awoken from her sleep at the sound of someone else entering her room. She opened her eyes to see what had to have been her nurse, followed by Dr. Bliss.
"I see you're finally awake." Her nice smiled, taking a chart from the foot of the bed and frowning at it. "I'm just here to check your vitals, Helga." The nurse quickly ran through her routine, checking temperature, blood pressure, and respiration. Satisfied that Helga was coming along nicely, she briefly showed Helga how to call if she needed anything, then left the girl in the hands of her psychiatrist.
"I'm glad to see you're back, Helga." Dr. Bliss smiled.
"Yeah, well, I decided I missed the place. You know me, I get homesick." Helga frowned.
"I'm sure." Dr. Bliss allowed the comment to pass. "How are you holding up?"
"Well, I'll probably deny this if you said it, but the reality definitely beats the dream. And stop trying to skirt the issue. You have Arnold here every morning. That's very unfair to him."
"Oh, I'm sure he'll do fine in his studies. Come one, Helga, you know the reason I have him here."
"Criminey, do we have to talk about this now?!"
"Yes, Helga, we do." Helga sighed and began at the beginning of her dream explaining everything that had happened in it, as well as a few days before her incident that she could remember. "There, you see, it's really quite simple. Based on what you're telling me, I think a part of you is trying to express how you feel, but at the same time, your fears are bubbling to the surface and making their presence known. Your best bet, Helga, is to channel. You need to start thinking about explaining to Arnold how you feel. Even a little."
"Can I tattoo 'Helga Loves Arnold' on his forehead while he's sleeping?" Helga asked, not being entirely facetious.
"No. That's the kind of behavior you want to avoid. Why don't you just try talking with him about it sometime?"
"Doi! Because I couldn't handle the rejection? Haven't we been through this before?"
"It's worse now, Helga. You need an outlet. And putting Arnold down isn't the answer. I don't think you should try and tell him everything, but you should just talk a bit about it."
"You must be the one dreaming now. I am so not ready."
"Okay then, Helga. Let's say you don't tell him anything. So what are you going to do? Let it fester until you're too late? Is this how you want to spend the rest of your life? People have to talk about their feelings, Helga. It's how we all get through life."
"Yeah? Well I'm doing just fine, Doc."
"Says the girl who just woke up from a coma and doesn't know why." Dr. Bliss smiled. "Helga, from what I'm hearing, this dream you experiences is just your subconscious trying to make itself known. There's no need to be scared of it. Just try talking to him normally instead of lashing out at him. You don't have to tell him your feelings just yet, but you have to do something or you're going to risk damage to your mental health."
"Okay, okay! Geez, it's like having a drill instructor for a shrink."
"It's called therapy, Helga." Dr. Bliss stifled a giggle.
"Okay, fine. I'll talk to him the next time he drops by. I won't even insult him. Satisfied?"
"I think that would be an excellent start." The psychiatrist smiled. "And I look forward to hearing about it later. We've decided to keep you here over the weekend, but if nothing abnormal surfaces, you'll be discharged on Sunday afternoon. Although I will want to see you everyday after school this coming week."
"Every day?!"
"It's a regular precaution. I want to help you so you don't face another relapse of this. Unless you like waking up in strange beds."
"Okay." Helga grumbled.
"Good. Now, it's almost time for lunch. Eat up, watch a little TV. We'll talk later."
"See ya." Helga mumbled as her psychiatrist left. "Five days in a row? Criminey! How long does it take?" Not that she didn't have bigger problems. Immediately after Dr. Bliss left, Helga snatched her locket off the table. "I still have to figure out if he saw this thing or not." She twirled it in her hands, much like she had played with her bow earlier that morning. Clutching her most prized possession to her chest, she curled into the fetal position. "C'mon, give me some kind of sign here. What am I supposed to do?"
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I think that will do it for this one. Thanks again for reading everyone. This chapter was probably the most fun to write. I know the format was a bit different than the others, but I felt it was important to lay everything out here in one part.
Fear not, the story isn't quite finished yet. We're getting there, but there are still a few more things to tell (and a few more creative decisions for me to make). As always, your wonderful responses have been truly inspiring, and I hope you'll all remember the story as one of the good reads long after you've finished it.
Hope I didn't disappoint anyone by making the past few chapters a bit surreal, but I've had a purpose all along. I've been duly impressed with my ability to do an update for this story on a daily basis. That's unprecedented for me, but I've been beyond inspired, and I suspect I'll be looking back on this experience with fond memories.
Next up, expect a lot of healthy conversation, and a few unexpected twists before the end. I anticipate one or maybe two more chapters, but who knows? I intended to finish the story when I sat down tonight, and two pages into it, I realized there was still more that needed to be told!
As always, send your questions, comments, compliments, complaints, love letters, death threats, marriage proposals, and ransom demands to:
Lord Malachite
09/23/04
4:15AM
E-mail:
AIM: Asukaphile26