Down & Out

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Part Seventeen: Here We Stand

Marissa glanced at the clock beside her for the tenth time that hour, after Ryan had left she'd been anticipating Alex's arrival. Only to be saddened each time a nurse came in, instead of the blonde.

Six o'clock rolled around, and there was still no sign of Alex. Marissa watched the sun from her window, admiring the light it flooded into the stark room. Wishing she could be out in the sunshine, instead of confined to her bed. She promised herself that if she ever got out of the hospital she'd do whatever she could to help decorate the rooms and make them less boring.

Looking around the room, she faced white walls, beige chairs, and light colored paintings. Off to the side there was a small table with two chairs, and a tv in the corner. Aside from the nightstand and other furniture, the room was vastly empty. Empty and boring, Marissa thought.

Marissa heard a "thunk" from the door, and watched it open. Alex walked in rubbing her forehead. Cursing under her breath, she made her way towards Marissa's bed, still rubbing her forehead. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Marissa giggling at her.

"Did you walk into the door?" Marissa questioned, covering mouth. Alex felt a blush creep up her cheeks, as she smiled sheepishly.
"I'm not that coordinated I guess." Alex said, gesturing towards the door.
"Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine."
"Come here," Marissa said, patting her bedside, "Let me see."

Alex forced her feet forward, and sat on the edge of the bed, leaning close to Marissa.

Marissa moved around a bit in the bed, and leaned forward. She pushed the hair behind Alex's ears, and examined her forehead, using her thumb she rubbed it gently. "Does that hurt?" She questioned.

Alex hadn't heard the question, because this was the first time she'd been this close to Marissa in months, it had been a year and more since they'd shared this much space. Alex found it hard to breath, they're faces were mere inches apart. An argument was ensuing in her mind, one side telling her to lean in more and break the space barrier, and the other telling her to back off.

Weighing her choices heavily, she finally snapped out of her daze and leaned back. Breaking Marissa's contact from her forehead. For an instant it almost looked as if Marissa had been hurt by the action, a frown adorned her face but quickly vanished.

Alex got off the bed and sat on the plastic chair beside Marissa, she had to remain a few feet away, she had to keep her distance. She couldn't afford to get lost in Marissa's eyes again, she couldn't try to absorb every detail of her, most importantly she shouldn't try to anything, not until Marissa was ready. If she even was.

"So how's the walking going?" Alex asked, trying to keep her cool.
"Pretty good I guess, I'm gaining strength in my legs. I can almost walk on my own now, quite an accomplishment if I do say so myself." Marissa said grinning.
"That's great, pretty soon you'll be able to do it on your own." Alex looked around the room, feeling an uncomfortable silence creeping up.
"Alex can I ask you something?" Marissa questioned, looking into her blue eyes.
"Um yeah sure."
"Were we ev-" Marissa was cut off by a knock from the door.

Looking perplexed she glanced apologetically at Alex, as the door opened. Dr. Jacobson walked in, a big smile plastered to his face.
"I have some good news." He said looking down at his clipboard, he leafed through a few pages to make sure everything was in order.
"Marissa, you can go home."
"Really?" Marissa asked, obviously not expecting that.
"Yes, I spoke with your mother, and we both feel that you'd be better off there. Your more likely to retain your memory in familiar places. And although I know you adore your lovely room here, I think you'd like a change of scenery." He added with a wink.

When Dr. Jacobson left the room, Marissa turned her attention back to Alex. A dreamy look on her face, "I get to go home." Marissa whispered, unable to believe the news. For a moment Alex was relieved, she had known what was coming. She'd been saved from answering the question that would fit all the pieces of the puzzle together.

"Hey when I get out of here, we're going to hangout right?" Marissa asked, not sure if she'd still be able to see Alex as much once she got out of the hospital.
"Yeah sure, definitely. Um I'll go call Summer and tell her to pick you up now or something." Alex muttered, looking for an excuse.

The fact that Marissa was being released, gave her not only butterflies, but it harvested a lot of questions. Did that mean she couldn't see her as much? Did that mean she'd have to find a new place to stay? Was she still supposed to stay in Newport? Alex needed air, the questions were starting to suffocate her.

Standing up, Alex gestured towards the door. "I'm gonna call her." She said walking the short distance, she pulled the door open without looking back, but before she closed it she heard Marissa's voice.

"I hope we get a chance to finish our conversation." The words rolled off Marissa's tongue before she could really process what she'd said. Alex looked at her and gave her a forced smile, before nodding and closing the door gently.

Alex was in way over her head, she had no idea what she was going to do. When Dr. Jacobson had said Marissa could go home, everything Alex had considered as a 'routine' would change. She didn't know where this left her.

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