Mitch

A couple of days have passed and Rachel got the ok to be released from the hospital today.

A nurse came in today to measure Rachel for her crutches and teach her how to use them.

"I already know how to use them. I've broken both legs before from dance." Rachel said quite proudly in a way.

God I really don't know a lot about Rachel. I find something new about her almost everyday.

"Well then you're all set. I'll go get a wheelchair and wheel you to the car. We don't want you to be up and walking too much because the stitches in your abdomen may rip causing the wound to reopen and we don't want that." The nurse stated with a little giggle at the end. "Oh and the doctor did give you all the medications right?" She asked looking directly at me.

"Yes, I have them in my bag." I responded.

"Alrighty, let me just go get a wheelchair and you'll be on your way home Miss Rachel."

Rachel sat upright on the edge of the bed as she waited. She was wearing a plain black short sleeved shirt with blue pajama bottoms.

The paleness that haunted her face disappeared and was replaced by her normal glow. The dark circles under her eyes were still there but she had a small smile on her face. She looked......happy. Although her hair was a tangled mess and her eyebrows were in need of some plucking, she still looked beautiful somehow.

"Are you excited to go home?" Scott asked Rachel.

"Oh God yes. I hate hospitals so much. They smell weird." Rachel said. She wrinkled her nose up which made me giggle. "Hey what day is it? I keep losing track." She said.

"July 17, 2016. It's a Friday." Scott said.

"Oh yeah. Right." Rachel said nodding.

She has been having some episodes of memory loss. The doctor said it was because she hit her head pretty hard when she fell but it won't be long before these episodes stop.

"Hello Rachel. Gosh you are looking better and better every day." Dr. Brenner cheerfully said once he walked in the room.

"Thank you. I'm still allowed to go home right?" She asked.

"Of course! I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing and also talk to your parents." He looked at us now.

"Oh sure." Scott said.
We followed him out to the hallway.

"I wanted to give you this." He pulled out a small bag with two bottles of medication from the inside pocket of his white coat. "These are stronger doses of what Rachel has for her depression and anxiety. I'd advise you not to tell her that it's a stronger dose. They tend to freak out a little." He hands the bag to me.

I looked at the bag and back at him baffled that he doesn't want us to tell a 16 year old daughter about her medication being altered.

"Trust me. I've done this before and from what Rachel had to go through she will need this. I also would think it would be a good idea to get Rachel into therapy." He pulls out a small card with a name and number on it. "My good friend is a therapist and he will be able to help Rachel."

I grabbed the card and read it. In neat cursive were the words Dr. Turner.

The name rang a bell but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"Is that all?" Scott asked.

"Yes. Take care." With that he turned in his heel and walked down the hallway.

We went back into the room and I went straight for my bag to put the medication and card in.

The nurse who was in here before, came in with a wheelchair. She put it next to Rachel and held the handles firmly so it wouldn't slide around.

Rachel pushed herself off the bed slowly with her hands. She winced at the pain probably from the wound in her abdomen. She stopped and took in a deep breathe. Scott reached to help her but she put a hand up in protest.

She is so damn stubborn. She will not let anyone help her.

She eventually made it on to the wheelchair. Scott and I followed behind her with our bags and her crutches. We were near the exit of the hospital when I noticed someone watching us. It was Ruth. I touched Scott's shoulder to get his attention.

"I'll be right out." I told him.

He nodded and went on walking.

I went up to Ruth and gave her a huge bear hug.

"What's this for?" She asked with that deep heartily chuckle of hers.

"Thank you for everything Ruth. I appreciate everything you have done for me and Scott and Rachel. If you need anything and I mean anything, please call me." I handed her a small piece of paper with my number on it.

"Alright baby. Take care of her now." She said.

"I will." I promised.

"I know you will honey." She winked before I turned and walked away from her.

I caught up with Scott and Rachel and we walked to the car. The nurse helped Rachel in the car while Scott and I loaded the trunk with all our things. We thanked the nurse with the wheel chair and we climbed in the car.

I was so glad to be leaving the hospital. It was like a weight was being lifted off my shoulders. The hardest part was over. Or so I thought.

We pull out of the hospital and on to the main road that leads to the interstate. We were above water and the sun was now beginning to set. It's mix of oranges, yellows, and reds were absolutely mesmerizing.

I looked at Rachel through the rear view mirror. She had a pleasant smile on her face and she gazed out the window in amazement. But why? It was just the sunset. It does that everyday. Sure it's beautiful but why does she have that twinkle in her eyes? That smile on her face?

It was only then that it hit me. She hasn't seen the sun set in a long time. She hasn't seen the ocean with its deep blue color in almost a month.

Who knows when we will see our last sunset. Might as well take it all in as much as you can now.

I believe she has a new outlook on life now. That she is not going to take it for granted. That now she fully understand the saying live life to the fullest. And so do I.

I touched Scott's shoulder and pointed back to Rachel. He looked through the rear view mirror like I did. A smile crept along his handsome face as he watched her. As he watched at how happy she looked and is. He reached over to the side of the car door and pressed down the button to Rachel's window.

Rachel jumped a little bit but she looked at the rear view mirror where Scott was looking at her. She smiled and and went back to looking out the window.

She closed her eyes as the wind hit her face softly. Her tangled hair flowing in the air behind her. It was a sight to see. It was almost like it was a scene from a movie.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When we got home the sun had fully set and a the stars were coming out one by one.

"Rach do you want me to carry you?" Scott asked as he took the key out of the ignition.

"You sure?" She asked.

"Yeah I've carried you up the stairs before. You're not that heavy. Plus I'm pretty strong so yeah." Scott said as he flexed his bicep on his right arm.

I slapped his shoulder and rolled my eyes which earned a laugh from Rachel.

"Yeah sure Scott. That would be great." Rachel said still recovering from her laugh.

Scott and I both got out of the car and I opened Rachel's door for her. Scott came around to Rachel and picked her up without a struggle.

"Babe can you go in front of us so you can open the door." Scott said.

I nodded and went in front of them. I opened the front door and the smell of freshness overwhelmed me. I turned the light on to find a very clean and neat house.

"Welcome home!" I cheerfully said to Rachel.

"It's so clean." She said with a little surprise.

"Kevin has been staying here while we were gone and he is kind of a neat freak." Scott explained.

"Oh." Rachel responded.

"To your room?" Scott asked Rachel.

"Actually I wanted to take a shower." Rachel said.

"Good 'cause you need one bad." Scott said jokingly.

"Hey!" Rachel exclaimed as she slapped his arm.

Our laughter disrupts the silence. It takes us a while to control ourselves before speaking again.

"Hey now you can finally use your bathroom in your room. Avi fixed the plumbing in there." I said once we stopped laughing.

(A/N I know in this story it never mentioned Rachel's bathroom having plumbing problems or even Rachel having a bathroom in her room but just go with it. You'll see why......)

"Aw that was sweet of him." Rachel said.

"Well that's Avi for you." Scott said as he began to ascend the stairs
To Rachel's room.

I walk back outside to get our stuff. I grab a bag full of some of my clothes and things along with Rachel's crutches.

I drop the bag off in my room on my bed and go to Rachel's room to put the crutches there. I set them upright next to her bed which had a content kitty laying on top.

I pet Wyatt and gave him a couple of kisses on his tiny head. He purrs quietly as I scratch behind his ear gently.

I start to make my way out before I hear the bathroom door slightly open.

"Mitch is that's you?" Rachel asked trough the tiny crack.

"Yeah baby. Is everything ok?" I asked approaching the bathroom door.

"Um...yeah....I uh.....kinda.......God this is so embarrassing."

"What is it honey?"

"I kinda need help.....taking my clothes off.......yeah." Rachel said.

"Okay. Can I come in?" I asked. I could sense her uncomfortableness.

"Um yeah. I guess." She said.

I gently pushed the door opened. Rachel stood on her good leg and was holding on to the sink counter. I closed the door behind me.

"Ok let's start with your shirt." I said.

"I can't lift my arms that high. It hurts too much." She said as she points to the healing wound in her abdomen.

I nodded my head understanding what she meant. I grabbed the bottom of her shirt and she raised her arms as much as she could. I slowly lifted it up and over her head and arms revealing her bare torso.

She had lost so much weight that you could count each of her rib bones. Her skin was still pale from the lack of sun. My eyes traveled from her bony body to her face.

She looked mortified at what she saw in the mirror. She turned to see her side and she just stared at her body.

"Rach, are you okay?" I asked.

"Look at how hideous my body is." She said breathlessly.

"It's not. Don't say that." I said.

"Mitch yes it is and I know you know it is. God it's going to take forever to get my muscles back to where they were."

"Rach it's okay. Let's just focus on getting better. Do you need help with anything else?" I tired to sound normal but I could feel tears springing to my eyes.

"No. I'm good. Thanks Mitch."

I gave her a small smile and left the bathroom. I went to Scott's room and found him unpacking.

"Hey where were you? I had to unpack everything myself. I-"

He looked at me and noticed the tears streaming down my face. He dropped everything in his hands and came over to me. Soon I was engulfed in his arms.

"Babe what's the matter? Why are you crying?" He asked.

"It's horrible Scott. What she has to go through. It's just horrible. I want to do something to help but I can't do anything. I'm useless." I said.

He peeled me off of him and cupped my face in his hands. His blues met my browns.

"You are not useless. Never say that about yourself. You are not useless. You have no idea how much you have done for Rachel. And for me. You are not useless. You are an amazing person and anyone who's anyone is lucky to know who you are. I love you."

I grabbed his head and pressed his lips onto mine very firmly. His arms wrapped around me and he held me close to him. Our lips parted and I rested my forehead on his. My hands still on his cheeks and his around me.

"I love you too. Always."

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I hope 2206 words are a good comeback chapter 😂😂 just wanted to thank you guys for being patient. I hope you enjoyed it and tell me your fav part!❤️