Readers p.o.v

   It wasn't long before Gabriel started to recover, he could move his arms without wincing, that was the first step to his recovery, his back was doing better as well, the gashes were still present but slowly closing up and healing. I couldn't get him to the hospital yet since the plows haven't come yet and I haven't gotten a chance to shovel out the pathway and the driveway. The storm had lighten up some but the snow was still falling, slowly, in large clumps. The east coast didn't always have such harsh winters but for the past few years they've been getting worse, the summers weren't eventful either. Coming back from the kitchen with a bowl of soup in my hands I put the bowl onto one of the TV trays and moved it closer to Gabriel so he could eat it without my help. He smiled up at me and made busy with eating. Since he could move his arms without them hurting or him wincing, he could eat on his own, which he has been doing for the past day or so. Sitting down in the chair next to the window, I let my mind wander to topics I've been meaning to talk to Gabriel about but I didn't want to overwhelm him with questions or make him feel uncomfortable in any way. Glancing over at Gabriel, who was still eating his soup, seemed a little distressed. Turning my body so I was facing him, I asked him,
"You feeling alright Gabriel?" He looked up at me, hesitant, and nodded. Raising an eyebrow at him, he sighed and put down his spoon.
"I'm fine...but it's just some things are on my mind right now...important things." Nodding, he continued. "I haven't seen my family in a long time, we left on pretty bad terms. My two eldest brothers were fighting all the time, my father left, and I couldn't take it anymore so I left home. Since then...I haven't spoken to them at all." Gabriel set his spoon in the bowl and leaned back into the couch, wincing a bit.
"I understand that, I really do. I never knew my dad and my brothers always fought with each other and my mom never really was around." I smiled softly at Gabriel. "I'm really sorry that you're going through this and I know you probably hear this all the time, but it'll get better, it always does." He gave a soft smile and nodded a bit.
"Thanks..I appreciate that." He sat forward and continued eating the soup.
   After he finished his dinner, I put away the TV tray and cleaned up a bit. Gabriel attempted to take off his shirt but grunted with every movement and failed to fully raise his arms over his head.
"Need help?" I asked, already helping him take off his shirt and putting it to the side. He gave his thanks and I helped him to lay on his stomach. His muscles protested but he was able to lay completely flat on the couch cushions. Grabbing some supplies, I kneeled down next to him and undid the bandages around his upper chest. The fresh scars were still pink and fleshy, the edges were lined red and some pus formed at the bottom of the left scar. Grabbing a gauze pad and some rubbing alcohol, I dabbed at the area and mumbled and apology at the grunt Gabriel made. Cleaning the rest of the area with carefulness, I applied some cream that helped with inflammation that will surely occur and rewrapped the area with fresh gauze.
"I'll be right back, I'm gonna get some ice for you." Getting up, I went to the kitchen and grabbed two icepacks and made my way back to Gabriel. Laying the packs on his back where the scars were I laid a blanket over the bottom half of him. "Let me know if the ice hurts in any way, alright." Gabriel hummed and nodded, his body visibly relaxing at the contact with the ice. I smiled a bit and cleaned up once more, putting away the supplies.
"Hey [Your Name]?" He asked, turning his head to look at me.
"Yeah?" I replied, taking my seat back in the armchair.
"How do you know all this medical stuff?"
"Oh well I'm a nurse." I said and he nodded.
"You're pretty good at it." I chuckled a bit and he smiled.
"I would hope I am." At that he laughed some, his eyes crinkling up and his smile widening. For a few moments after that, everything was silent. All that was heard was the wind blowing against the house and the branches hitting the windows.
"About the family conversation before," Gabriel started, I looked over at him and took note that his head was facing the opposite direction," I just wanted to say that I really do appreciate it when you said it'll get better...no one really told me that before..they just brush it off. It means a lot that you told me that...I'm really hoping it gets better."
"Everything does with time." I said, silence fell over us again.
"Did your dad...ever come back?" I paused at that. "You don't have to answer, I know it's probably personal, I shouldn't ha-"
"No it's okay, I just didn't expect it that's all." I interrupted him. "But to answer it..no he never did..I stopped worrying about him when I was a teen. I realized he didn't want anything to do with us and that was that, I didn't let his actions effect my life."
"Man I wish I had that kind of spirit like you do." Gabriel chuckled a bit and I smiled some. "My dad left..he left when I was a teen and after that, everything went downhill. I never saw him again, I don't know why he left after all these years. I tried to find him but it's like he disappeared into thin air, like he never existed." His shoulders slumped down and he sighed. "After I left, I lost all contact with my brothers, I couldn't deal with their fighting anymore. They were being selfish and idiotic." Gabriel finished and I gave him a sympathetic smile.
"I'm sorry Gabriel, truly I am. You seem like such a nice guy, I wish none of that happened to you." He shrugged a bit.
"Shit happens, ya know?" He chuckled sadly and sighed.
"Yeah it does..."
"This took a depressing turn." He said, chuckling again.
"Yeah it did." Chuckling as well I shifted in the chair.
"Sorry about getting deep and bringing up past wounds." I waved him off.
"It's alright, we all have to talk about it someday. I just didn't expect it to be with a stranger."
"Hey!" He said defensively," We know each other's names." Laughing a bit, I nodded.
"Yeah I guess your right." Standing up I stretched a bit. Closing the blinds and curtains, I turned off the small lamp next to Gabriel's head. "I'll see you tomorrow, Gabriel. Get some sleep." I patted him gently and left upstairs.
"Goodnight, [Your Name]."