Chapter 17: I Deserve A Treat

One Year Later

Although it was nice having her memory back, the past year hadn't been easy for Helga…

Anesthesia complications, such as a sore throat, nerve injuries or vomiting after waking up.

Bowel perforation, including an accidental tear, puncture or hole in your large intestine.

Stomal stenosis, abnormal narrowing in your large intestine near the site of the cecostomy tube.

Stomal leakage, a hole that allows enema solution to leak out of the cecostomy tube.

While Arnold had followed through on his word to keep a strict diet with Helga the entire year, not having her actual problem didn't mean he went through those side effects as well.

Hospital

Not wanting to have to worry about Helga's anxiety getting the best of her (or Olga's annoyance taking over her) again, Arnold decided to spend the day at the hospital with her.

The reversal of this procedure was much quicker and easier than the start of it. Although it only took forty five minutes, that didn't mean Helga was excited about her boyfriend witnessing it.

"Don't worry, I won't leave you." Arnold assured her.

Rolling her eyes at him, she smirked "For crying out loud, is Olga's worry wart attitude rubbing off on you?"

Arnold could see that although Helga was grateful not to have Olga in the room, that didn't mean she was happy to know anyone was in there.

That being said, he simply took a seat in the chair in the corner of the room, letting the doctors perform their business.

Helga wasn't proud of the ungrateful attitude she was showing, but she never wanted Arnold to know about this to begin with. Her parents hadn't exactly been supportive of it either…

Flashback

"Has the girl been eating right? I don't ever want to have to deal with something like this again!"

"How much are these 'mandatory supplies' going to continue costing me?"

"How many appointments does this condition of hers require?"

"Does she have to spend THAT much time in the bathroom? Yeesh!"

End Of Flashback

While Bob made his emotions overwhelmingly blunt, Miriam never stepped into fix anything. All Olga was good for was showing emotional support. That didn't mean Helga liked the idea of needing someone to do it though.

45 Minutes Later

Arnold was happy to see his girlfriend's procedure had gone well. Unfortunate, once again Helga wasn't supposed to just walk out and return to her normal life.

There the two of them sat, listening to a list of instructions she was meant to follow for a few weeks…

Avoid bending

No heavy lifting

No strenuous activities

While Arnold was making sure to take this seriously, Helga was sitting in bed with her arms crossed. The annoyed girl sat up thinking to herself…

Will this doctor EVER shut up?

Later That Afternoon

Helga's House

Bob watched his daughter and her boyfriend walk in, after her day spent at the hospital. As opposed to asking how she was feeling, he scowled "I don't ever want to have to deal with something like that again! Got it missy!"

Helga stared at him gobbling a bag of pork rinds, wondering how he could have the nerve to get onto her for eating poorly. Miriam never went shopping. She was always forced to fend for herself. How could he be so surprised she ended up with a problem like that?

"I got it BOB."

Arnold took a seat at the counter, watching Olga put together a healthy meal for her younger sibling. "It's nice of you to take care of Helga like this."

Still feeling like a huge part of this was her fault, Olga said "I should have been taking care of my baby sister! I'll never let anything like this happen to her again!"

Moments later, Helga came downstairs in her normal dress attire. Just when Olga was about to offer her sister the healthy meal she made for her, Helga said "Let's get out of hear football head."

Arnold looked back and forth between the two, before getting out of his seat. "Okay…"

Outside

"Aren't you hungry?" he couldn't help but wonder.

"I'm starving! Let's go get a burger and shake. Then we can get the team together for some baseball!"

The oblong headed boy rolled his eyes as he replied "Helga, did you not listen to anything the doctor said before we left?"

Helga pointed a finger at her boyfriend and snapped "Have you not paid attention to anything I've gone through the past year?! I think I deserve a treat!"

Arnold rolled his eyes, feeling as long as it wasn't an every day thing, it couldn't hurt to reward her this once "Whatever you say Helga."

THE END

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