"Summer, can you play with me?" She knew I couldn't say no to those puppy eyes.

"You bet," I replied, "Just let me finish washing these dishes okay? Why don't you set up your toys while you wait for me."

Today was a good day, and we didn't have good days very often. Well, I didn't have good days very often. Stella managed to make every day a good day.

I finished up washing the last few dishes and set them on the drying rack before drying my own hands on a ragged towel.

"Alright Stella," I called out as I walked back into the living room, "What are we playing today?"

Stella didn't have many toys. Any money I made went to paying the bills and making sure Stella didn't go to bed hungry. Buying toys with the limited money we had was never even a thought of mine. Sometimes I'd see old or broken toys that people had thrown out in front of their houses and I'd bring them home for Stella, but it wasn't often.

The thing was though, Stella had an extraordinary imagination and even with the limited and worn-out toys, she could create these incredible worlds filled with all these characters.

"Stella?"

Stella was sitting in the middle of the small room, holding Miss Penny in her arms, a pout on her face. I was confused because it seemed like Stella was upset with her toy, something I had never seen her do.

"What's wrong?" I asked, sitting down next to her on the ground.

"Miss Penny broke her arm," Stella moved her hand to show me the doll, who's sewn arm was almost ripped off, holding on by just a few threads. The soft, white stuffing was sticking out.

"Oh no!" I took the doll gently from Stella's hand so I could have a closer look, "Well, we'll have to have to fix Miss Penny up, won't we?"

Stella gave a little sniff, "We can?"

"I can sure try," I promised.

I didn't know if we had a sewing kit in this house but I sure had to try to find one. I handed the doll back to Stella and told her I'd be back before heading to the bathroom. I rummaged around through the cabinets but managed to find a small sewing kit tucked away in the back corner of the cabinet under the sink.

It was probably from before Stella was born because there was no way after-Stella Mom would have bought a sewing kit.

Holding the kit as if it was gold, I headed back to the living room, a giant smile on my face.

"Give Miss Penny over here Stella," I said and Stella handed me her doll, "I'm going to fix her arm."

I wasn't very good at sewing. To be honest, before this, I hadn't really sewn much. Maybe a hole in a sweater here or there but nothing like practically sewing an arm back onto a doll.

It took much longer than it should have and the colour didn't really match so Miss Penny looks rather odd, but the arm was holding together. The arm stuck out strange, unlike before, and my stitching was messy, extremely messy, but none of that mattered to Stella.

"Thank you!" Stella flung her tiny body onto me when I showed the doll and I wrapped my arms around the little girl.

"Anything for you Stell-Bell," I whispered.

...

The next time Dr. Robbins came into my hospital room, she came with Dr. Karev. They did everything they were supposed to, check my vitals, prod my ribs, but on her way out, I stopped her.

"Uh, Dr. Robbins?" I asked, hesitantly, unsure if I was totally ready to do this. I was starting to think twice about this whole calling my mother idea.

"Yes, Stella?" She turned to face me, a smile on her face like usual. I wondered if her cheeks hurt from all that smiling, or if her muscles had just become used to it. Stronger in a way. A professional smiler.

I took a deep breath, "Can I use a phone? To call my mom? I think I should be the one to call her."

"Of course," Dr. Robbins gave me a knowing look and I felt my stomach bubble nervously. "Dr. Karev, can you get a phone in here?"

Dr. Karev left to get a phone for me, leaving me alone with Dr. Robbins. I was so scared about making this call I started trembling.

"Is everything okay?" Dr. Robbins gently placed her hand on my shoulder.

I nodded, "Yes."

No.

"You sure?" Dr. Robbins looked dubious.

Not at all. Not one bit.

"I just," I tried to think of something quickly, even though it was my monster that was a fast thinker, that as only when it wasn't fed, "It's just...I wasn't supposed to come to Seattle today. I think she's going to be mad I didn't listen to her."

"Oh," Dr. Robbins' face relaxed, "I can't promise that she won't bring this up next time you decide to go behind her back, but she must be so worried, I'm sure she's just glad you're okay."

No, she probably wasn't worried. I'd be surprised if she even knew I was gone.

"Okay..." was my reply though.

Dr. Karev returned with a phone and Dr. Robbins pulled over the little tabletop that was attached to the bed over my lap so that the phone could be placed on it.

I didn't want to give away that I was lying though because that would make it harder for me to lie again to Dr. Robbins if I needed to since she would know I'm not trustworthy, which I'm not.

Luckily, her pager went off and she excused herself before she and Dr. Karev hurried off.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to convince myself to pick up the phone. To say that I was getting major cold feet would be an understatement. Huge understatement actually.

I reached out my hand for the phone multiple times but never picked it up.

I couldn't.

Finally, I forced myself to pick up the phone before dialling my mom's number. I wasn't sure if she would answer, but after a few rings, she picked up, surprising me greatly.

"Hello?"

I cleared my throat, "Uh. Hi Mom."

"Summer? Why are you calling me?" She asked and I could tell she wasn't high at the moment.

Yet.

"Look, I need you to come," I swallowed hard.

"Home? Why?" My mother questioned. "Surely you can figure it out. I didn't raise two dumb children, did I?"

I felt my blood boil listening to her talk about Stella that way.

I took a deep breath, making myself stay calm, "I'm not home Mom. I was on the bus and it got in an accident. I'm at the hospital right now."

When she didn't say anything I figured I should elaborate where the hospital was.

"I'm in Seattle Mom, Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital," I went on.

"You got yourself there, you can figure your way back," She eventually said and I could sense that she was about to hang up.

"I would if I could," I seethed, "Believe me, I don't want anything to do with you, but I can't be discharged unless you say I can so you better come before the doctors become suspicious."

I knew that got through to her because I heard her sigh through the line.

"Where are you?"

"Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital," I repeated.

My mother let out another sigh, "Whether you can leave today or not, you're leaving, you understand?"

I nodded, even though I knew she couldn't see me, "Yup."

"Good," She replied, "I'm coming to get you."

"Okay," I breathed out, "Okay."

"Keep your mouth shut until then and I'll bail you out of that place," She sneered.

I snorted, "You're talking like I got arrested."

"And if you don't keep your mouth shut, I will be the one arrested," My mother retorted.

"Not my problem," I glanced out at the hall to make sure nobody was listening.

"What are they going to do with you huh?" I could hear some background noise and wondered if she was already starting to head out, "They're going to put you in foster care and nobody wants you in their home so you're going to be passed around and around until you're old enough to take care of yourself. Then what?"

I wanted to tell her that I was old enough to take care of myself. That I had to be since she was never there. That she was actually making my life harder. But I didn't. Instead, I practised keeping my mouth shut and just gave a little "mhmm."

"I'll be there in half an hour," The background noise was getting louder and her voice was starting to become muffled.

"Alright," I said and nodded again, "Oh and, try not to look high when you get here."

The line went dead.