I woke up, and I wasn't sure where I was. I wondered how I ever fell asleep. I hadn't slept in so long, I almost forgot what it felt like.

I looked around, because I felt someone's gaze on me. What I saw left me speechless.

"Darry?" I asked, not believing what I saw.

He smiled and he had tears in his eyes. "Yeah, it's me."

When I turned, I saw Soda looking at me with a big grin on his face.

"Soda?"

"Yeah, baby. I'm here." He said.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head back on my pillow. Tears ran down my face. I didn't know what to say.

"Pony? You okay?" Darry said.

I shook my head no, and began to cry harder.

I heard Darry and Soda move and soon they were on the bed with me. Darry's muscled arms wrapped me in a hug, and Soda's arms encircled me also.

"What's the matter, baby?" Soda asked.

"Nothing." I choked out. "It's just. . ."

"What?" Darry asked with concern.

"It's been so long. . ."

They understood what I meant and their hold tightened.

"I know, honey. It's okay now. You're safe. Nothing's going to happen to you now."

I cried into Darry's shirt, but I was happier than I had been in a long time.

When I finished crying, they made a move as though they were going to move, but I grabbed their arms, and pulled them back.

"What is it, Pony?" Darry asked.

"Don't go. I want to make sure you're here."

"We're not going anywhere, Ponyboy." Soda said. They sat down in the chairs next to me, but held onto my hands. I held tightly to their hands. I still couldn't believe they were here.

"How do you feel?" Darry asked.

"Better now."

"You don't look very good."

"I know." I said, not giving them anymore information than I had to.

"You want to talk about it?"

"No. I'm fine."

"Okay." Darry said.

"Are you hungry?" Soda asked me.

"Not really."

"Well, the doctors say you have to eat, or they'll put a feeding tube in you."

"Why?"

"You've lost too much weight."

"Oh." I said.

Darry looked at me for a long time. THen he said, "Are you still tired?"

"Yeah." I said and yawned.

"Okay. You can go to sleep now." They moved their hands, but I held them firmly, so they wouldn't go.

"No. I need to know you're here."

"Okay." Soda and Darry said. Soon I fell asleep, feeling the best I had in seven weeks.