"...love you. Bye..."
I sighed, closing my eyes, and taking calm breaths to ease my sad and aching heart. Once that I felt that I could bear my sad heart again, I reopened my eyes again, and stared at the last three words that I wrote on this journal of mine...
...Vixie's last three words.
...I gritted my teeth. It's too freaking painful. Despite all these months, I still am suffering from a painful heart illness that no medicine on earth could ever heal...
With a sigh, I closed my journal, placed my pen on the small bedside table beside my journal, and I lied back on my bed.
I've been going through therapy ever since I woke up. Well, being in a coma for a long while left my body pretty weak to do...pretty much anything, actually. Walking was the most annoying thing, but damn, I sure am glad that I can walk now. Only a few more days from now and I'm sure that the doctors will finally give me the green light to leave.
I sighed and turned, staring at the other bed closest to mine. The economy section of the hospital lets patients share a wide room. But I'm not complaining. At least my brother was the one who was on that bed next to mine.
I frowned. He's not awake yet, which added to the burden of my aching heart. Sigh...
A doctor was approaching me, catching my attention. He was carrying a clipboard, and he was staring at it until he was only a few meters away from me.
"Well," he said, scratching his head with the dull end of his pen. "Looks like you're stepping out soon. I'll just need your signature, since your parents aren't here..." He handed me the clipboard and his pen.
I signed it quickly, and gave the items back. He left after telling me that a nurse will come and aid me soon.
I kept on staring at the wall. Wow, I'm already leaving. Freaking finally!
But...that'd mean leaving my brother... I turned and stared at my sleeping bro with a frown.
"...sorry bro," I whispered, "but as much as I'd like to stay and watch over you, I need to help mom and dad with money now..."
After signing my signature on some papers by the counter, I turned towards the hospital's exit. I took a step, and a thought struck me. I turned back to the counter and asked the lady there about...someone.
She checked her computer, and after a few seconds, she told me the details I needed.
I thanked her and went towards my destination, while asking a few staff for directions on the way.
I was on the other wing of the hospital now, and with a breath, I entered this wing's economy service section or whatever they called it. I slowly began to walk around, eyes on the numbers on each bed.
Beds here were separated by blue curtains though. Mine was as well, but the curtain was pulled, probably because the one next to mine was my brother. My parents must have requested that though.
Anyway, after staring at the number on the board by the end of the bed, I turned and stared at the blank-faced girl. She had long and black hair, but her hair shines a little bit of red when hit by the light.
"Um...yes?" she awkwardly said, fidgeting slightly.
I smiled warmly and stood by the foot of her bed. Her name was on the board, so that assured me that this was her. She looked young though, but then again, she told me that she was sixteen. "I actually pictured you to be..." I stalled, circling a hand in the air, "...prettier."
She arched an eyebrow. "Um...okay?" She was slowly inching her hand towards the buzzer.
I chuckled. "Fine, fine. I'll stop stalling." I took a breath, and sighed as I extend a hand towards her. "Jay."
She blinked. She gasped. "Jay? You're Jay?"
I nodded, still wearing that little smile of mine.
She looked at my extended arm, then back at me, then at my arm again, and shakily grabbed it and shook it. "Erm... N-nice to meet you?"
I arched an eyebrow. She was blushing? "Likewise, I guess," I said, staring at my hand still being shaken. "...you can let go now..."
She lets go with a smirk. "It is you!"
"Mind if I sit?"
"Sure!"
I sat on the chair beside her bed. I failed to hide a frown, and was too late to hide it with a smile.
She frowned a sad frown as well. "You miss them, huh?"
I sighed. No point in hiding it. I might as well talk with someone who I can relate to. "A lot... Yeah..."
"Especially Vixie, right?"
I glared at her teasing face.
It was late in the afternoon by the time I got out of the building where I work. Or at least, where I used to work. My boss didn't want to see my face and I'd rather not go into details of what happened...
But, my boss fired me since I was on 'AWOL', according to that fat bastard. Whatever. The sooner I got away from the place, the better.
But, I got no job now... Where am I gonna go from here? Applying for a job will take forever! Gah...
...and I'm getting hungry... I might as well get some hotdogs from Mr. Kelly...
After getting a ticket, I went in line and rode a bus towards home. There was nothing for me to do in the city now. Well, I can always try and apply to other jobs but, I don't feel like it at the moment...
I sat by the window, so I can go all 'emo' as I stare at the scenery.
Soon, the bus shook as the engine hummed to life, and soon, the bus started moving.
Now that I think about it, I've never had the chance to see the scenery during daylight. Well, then sun's already setting, so eh...
Every single day, I wake up early from home to take the early bus to the city. And after work, I take the bus heading home. That was the routine of my life, hence why I barely knew anyone in the city, let alone in the office.
Mike was the only one who took the time to befriend me... I didn't see him during that little visit I had in my old office. Either he was on leave or was in the men's room...
I didn't see Claire either... But then again, I shouldn't think about her now. I have Vixie...
...I had Vixie...
There was a soft thud when my head hit the glass window of the bus... Sigh...
Well, at least my little talk with Krystal lightened the load in my heart, if only a little bit. I promised to visit her though, when I get the chance of visiting my brother again. When will that be, I wasn't sure, but we ended up exchanging phone numbers before we said goodbye.
She was a nice girl. And quite annoying, but eh, what did I expect from a teenaged high school girl? I'm just surprised that I recovered quicker than her though. I guess me sitting down and writing helped with the recovery? I wasn't sure.
...writing... Now that I think about it, the story really sounds like it'll become a good fanfic. Not great, since there was little to no conflict...but eh, I can try and post it online when I get the chance. And who knows, maybe posting it online and immortalizing my adventures with my friends would help me...move on...
I sighed.
Who am I kidding...? I love her, and I surely doubt that the feeling would ever go away that easily...
Vixie...
I wonder what she is doing right now.
Shock, Fay and Saur... I wonder if they're all having fun adventuring somewhere...
...I wonder if they're in trouble.
I can only guess... And it's...sad...
I blinked. I just realized that the bus was already out of the city. We were on the quiet highway towards small towns now. Kinda like in Pokémon, where there were grassy routes in between towns and cities. I used to imagine myself walking these routes and battling Pokémon and other trainers if Pokémon were real...
...erm... Pokémon are real, just not in this world... Sigh...
Hm? I received a text... Wonder from whom...
...Krystal? I wonder what's up?
'Doctors said that I'll be out soon! Yey! I miss my online friends and my games and everything! Good evening, everyone!'
I rolled my eyes. I always find group-greeting messages to be annoying. I utterly despise it during high school and college. But eh, thinking back, my social life kinda sucked back then. I guess if I need my life to be a little bit better, I should start to get used to it...
'Get well soon, my little Eevee.' I chuckled as I clicked the send button.
'Says the little Eevee!' was her reply, along with an angry smiley face.
...angry smiley face? I shook my head. 'I'm gonna enjoy the scenery now.'
I was about to put my phone back in my pocket when it vibrated again. 'K. Try not to be too sad, k?'
I blinked. 'Ok.' I smiled.
Yeah, I'll try not to be too sad.
I was too freaking sad the entire bus ride. And hurt. I can't believe a heartache would be this painful... Krystal only laughed at my situation though, and then said some mood-inspiring garbage she picked up online or something. Meh...
The sky was glittering with stars now as I walked on the grassy path in town. The main roads were cemented for vehicles, while the little roads, like this one, wasn't. It was natural, grassy, and annoyingly muddy when raining.
I greeted a few people I knew that I passed by, and gave a quick reply to those who asked about my health. I couldn't delay. I wanted to lie down on my bed and continue being sad and lonely, as I wore this smiling mask.
After a few minutes of walking on this quiet little road, I finally stood in front of our home's little gate. The fence and gate were only up to my waist. Then again, we rarely have any trouble here.
Home was a simple, one-storey building made of wood. We barely get any strong storms here, thanks to the tall mountains surrounding our town.
The lights were on, and as I closed the gate after letting myself in, the front door opened, and out came my mom, carrying a bag of thrash.
"Sweetie!" she cried, dropping the thrash bag and ran to hug me. "You're home!"
"Yeah," I breathed out, returning the hug while staring at the scattered thrash. "I'm not cleaning that."
She laughed and broke our hug. "My fault, dear. Go get changed. Dinner's almost ready."
I smiled a sad smile. "Can't wait..."
Simple home, with simple stuff and simple to no decor. Yep, that's the life of a country boy, I guess. The house is a little small, now that I thought about it, but eh, it was still big enough for the four of us. There were three rooms in total: two for bedrooms and the smaller one was the bathroom. I opened our—I share this room with my bro, while my parents share the other room, because reasons—room, closed the door behind me, and finally let myself sink in the sea of sadness as I drop myself on our bed.
A cold breeze flew above my back, and I shivered. I glared at our room's only window. It was wooden, and it was open. I sighed and pulled myself up. Mom always left it open when she cleans here. I closed the window and dropped myself back on the bed, letting the darkness soothe my lonely mind.
"Dinner's ready!"
...or I can satisfy my hungry stomach first, and then drown myself in sadness later.
"Now where'd that good-for-nothing father of yours went this time?" my mom said, glaring at the door leading to our little backyard.
"I'll go get him," I said, heading out.
The sounds and smell of chickens greeted me outside. Yeah, we had a small number of chickens here, and we either sell the eggs or turn them into dinner. It made little profit, but hey, it was free money or free food. Unless a chicken dies or gets eaten by stray dogs, that is.
"Jay, dear," my mom's voice was slightly muffled from the inside. "I just remembered that your dad's probably in the marketplace. I'll go and get him."
Oh. "'kay, mom!" I shouted back as I heard our front door closing.
I was about to turn back when I noticed something...yellow? I looked around, but I saw nothing but chickens doing chicken stuff... Shaking my head a little bit, I went back inside, and my stomach growled as my eyes fell on our dinner table. I'm hungry, but eh, I'll just wait for my parents to come home. That was the whole reason why I always go home after work and never bothered to find an apartment. Family. Family is too freaking important to me, and I really love eating dinner with my family, together.
...and that was why I was so sad to leave Vixie behind, raising her...our egglings alone...
I sighed as I heard sounds of plastic being ripped open from outside. My eye twitched. Either the rats were eating the thrash, or the stray dogs. I took our broom and went outside. My bet's on the stray dogs.
With the street lights and the not-yet-a-full moon, I saw something...purplish that dashed away from our trash bag. I sighed and went towards the gate, hearing the front door close behind me.
I swear that it was big enough to be a dog, and some kids must have painted it purple or violet... I sighed as I fixed our thrash bag. I swear, kids would do everything if they were bored these days.
Scratching noises. My eye twitched. Darn it, and now they must have smelled the food from the inside. Picking the broom back, I turned with a glare, and gasped.
It flinched, its ears and six tails drooping, as it stopped scratching the front door, and slowly turned to look at me.
My mouth struck the ground. There was no mistaking it... That reddish-brown fur... Those pointy ears... T-those eyes...
"...V—" my lips quivered. "...V-Vixie?"
The cute, little fox-like thing blinked, and blinked, and smiled. "...vulpix?"