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CHAPTER 34
Annie
GONE
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<>Moral Of The Story by; Ashe ft. Niall Horan

IN SOME ODD CONVENIENT WAY, it rained almost all week for a month. A month. He's been gone for a month. I felt guilty, like it was all my fault.
During that time I had done nothing but sit in my bay window staring off into space, imaging Julian sitting across from me. I kept remembering all the good times we had, all those memories echoed in my mind, and no matter how many times I tried erasing them, they always came back. And to be honest, I didn't mind. I felt like I wasn't myself.
It's better this way Annie. I keep reminding myself.
Dr. Atler agreed to let me be discharged from the hospital. I was somewhat sad to leave, I wouldn't see Kim as usual, but in a way I'm glad, leaving was the only way to forget. Ginny was coming home for a few weeks from college to help out around the house. I really missed her.
The drive home was long but somewhat bittersweet. I was happy to be home and see Ginny and my dog Luna. She's a small cockapoo with big brown eyes and very playful. Ginny and I used to make jokes about how Dad was the only boy in the house because for as long as I can remember, it was always Mom, Ginny, Me and Luna, all girls. And then my Dad, the only boy.
Finally, we pull up in the familiar driveway and to me it feels like I've been sitting in the car forever. Eventually I open the door and step inside the house, the warm happy feeling takes ahold of me as I look through the hallway and the stairwell, looking at all the picture frames my Mom has up on the wall of me and Ginny when we were kids, our parents wedding photo, and so on. The chandler hangs over the staircase as well as other family pictures hanging on the wall. To the right was the kitchen, the interior was mostly white with a little bit of brown and grey, Mom always cooked the best food there. To the left was the dining room where we always had dinner there, dinner time was always one of my favorite times because it was a way to escape the reality that was me being sick, the laughs that me and my sister would share was like a way of forgetting our life's problems. Next to the dining room was the living room. Also one of my favorite places, probably because we always had family game night there.
Up the stairs was my room, my parent's room, Ginny's room, the bathroom, and my dad's office. My hand lingers on my bedroom door knob, fear takes over as I slowly open it to see my old room. It's much bigger than my room at the hospital. The walls are still the same color, grey, white, and a little bit of baby blue. My room with all my medical equipment already set up. I put my bags down on the bench in front of my bed. Mom, Dad, Ginny and I all sat at the dinner table enjoying each other's company.

But for some reason, I feel like there was something missing. I just didn't know wht. After dinner, Ginny and I went up to my room so she could help me with my equipment. "Alright, you're all set. Want me to get you anything before I go?" Ginny asks, sitting on the edge of my bed.
"No I'm good. Thanks Gin." I say, holding my breathing mask in my hands.
"Well good-night then Annie. I love you." Ginny says, walking over to my door. "Night Gin. I love you too." I say before putting my mask on and getting comfortable in my blankets.
I woke up to the feeling of someone caressing my cheek slowly. I open my eyes to see a pair of familiar ones staring back down at me. "Hi Annie Grace." The voice is soft and gentle. He takes his hand off my cheek. "Hi Julian." I say. I sit up quickly so I can get a better look at him.
"What are you doing here?" I ask.
"I came to see you of course." He chuckles then looks down at his lap with a sad expression on his face. "I wish I could stay long." I move closer to him but for some reason it's like he's not there. "Why not?" I ask. "You know the reason." He smiles sadly.
"Can you tell me anyway?" I giggle.
"Because this isn't real." Was all he said. I am jolted awake by the sound of my alarm clock blaring in my ear. I looked over to the spot on my bed that Julian was last night and it was as if he wasn't there. I get out of bed and make my way downstairs to the kitchen where Mom, Dad, Ginny, and Luna are. "Morning Sweetie. Did you sleep well?" Mom asks, looking over her shoulder.
"Mmm hmm." I say tiredly, as I enter the kitchen.
"Still not a morning person I see." Ginny says from the kitchen island, coffee mug in her hand. "Funny." I say, poking her in her side. I take a seat on one of the stools next to Ginny and watch as my parents cook breakfast. My chin rested in my hand as Dad put a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast in front of me. I mutter a thanks before picking up my fork and start eating. I look down to see Luna staring up at me with those puppy dog eyes that I love. I smile, already knowing what she wants and take a piece of bacon off my table and giving it to her.
"Annie, don't forget that you have your doctor's appointment this afternoon." Mom says.
"I won't, I promise." I say.

☆

"So how have things been at home?" Kim asks, taking my blood pressure. "Fine." I lied.
"You don't seem so sure, mija." "It's just different that's all." I lie, looking down at my legs that were hanging on the edge of the bed. "It's been a month Annie, it's alright to still be upset about him leaving." "I'm not upset, I just don't understand why." I say, I feel the tears in my eyes.
"Let go of the illusion that it could have been any different Annie." Kim says.