RON SURVIVED.

Ron is alive.

But to Noel, it didn't feel like it.

The events after the car crash was a tumultuous blur, Noel had stayed hidden in the bushes, his knees grazing the muddy dirt that stayed there as he made the long walk home.

He didn't like to remember the way his mom's face crumpled into itself, her frail body shaking, half her hair done, half her makeup done, half her dress on, his relatives surrounded her, trapping his mom with perfunctory condolences. Noel knew they were going to have a field day spreading gossip around town.

Nevertheless they sped to the hospital in Aunt Yoko's car, Noel's mom grabbed Noel's arm so tight, blood stained her palms from Ron's cuts, but in her manic state she didn't even notice.

They said Ron had severe third degree burns, evident in the blackened severely scarred skin, stretching from all over his face down to his very legs, the doctor said it was a miracle he even survived.

His mom cried for a solid ten minutes after seeing his face, grabbing onto his wrinkled hands and squeezing them so tight her eyes balled up into fists. Cheryl had came tumbling through the doors a few hours later, her expression one of a wild chipmunk.

She didn't cry.

Instead she hauled Noel out of the room, slamming him against one of the small plastic hospital seats that are uncomfortable to sit on.

"What happened?"

"You know what happened." Noel had mumbled underneath his breath, his arm hurt so much he clutched it tightly, wincing slightly before continuing his incoherent speech. "He was in a car crash."

"And you weren't in the car with him?"

"How did you-"

"I talked to your mom's sister, she said you were the last person with Ron."

"Are you insinuating-"

"I'm not insinuating anything, I know my dad did something to you."

"He didn't-" Then Noel clutched his arm again, grinding his teeth together uncomfortably.

"Let me see." Cheryl stated firmly, grabbing Noel's arm and pulling up the sleeve of his bright polo shirt. What lay underneath were deep stab wounds in multiple lines running across Noel's arm, Cheryl was sure if she looked close enough they looked like letters. "Imperfect." She had whispered underneath her breath. "He did the same thing to my mom."

"Oh, I-"

"Noel you need to tell your Mom what my Dad has done to you. He can't get away with it."

"Technically, he didn't."

"Noel!"

"Aren't you upset?" Noel had ripped Cheryl's slender fingers out of his grasp, kicking the hospital chair to the floor and leaning against the wall in exasperation. "Your Dad was literally burnt alive, the doctor said it's a miracle he's still alive...but your worried about me?"

"I can't let the same thing happen twice." Then Cheryl walked back into the hospital room, Noel following behind. She watched Ron breath through his tubes laboriously and she thought that this wasn't even close to the pain Ron had given her Mom.

She tapped Noel on the shoulder, a sad smile etched on her face. "I'm going to go." She looked over at Noel's mother who seemed to be trying to attach herself to Ron's tubes. "Take care of yourself Noel, take care of your Mom." Then Cheryl left, a bundle of ginger hair, green eyes and falsified insults. Noel knew he probably wasn't going to see her again.

----

Noel didn't go to school for the entirety of next week, instead he stayed at the hospital, consoling his mom and eating hard rock potatoes with no seasoning. His phone was blowing up with messages from his friends hollering about his whereabouts. They were worried about him but Noel was too drained to begin to explain his situation.

The only person he wanted to talk to was Myron but he hadn't even sent Noel one text.

Though he couldn't dwell on it for too long as on that Friday evening, while his mom sat next to Ron squeezing his hand and crying, Ron spoke.

"What-"

Then doctors came rushing in, checking his heartbeat and taking blood tests and kicking Noel and his mom out of the room. It felt like eternity passed before they were allowed back in.

Ron's pond water eyes were wide open, his mouth crooked and deformed. Noel stayed close to the door, unconscious Ron was easier to be around, but conscious Ron, with life instilled back into his wicked body was enough to have Noel keeping an uncomfortable distance away. Noel's mom however took the opportunity to grab onto Ron, weeping into his scarred face.

"You're awake, my love."

"Show me a mirror." Ron's voice was thick and dry, although having been fed numerous amounts of water through a tube, the fire remained lodged in his throat.

"A mirror?"

Ron didn't reply, only staring at Kim with glassy eyes. She complied silently, rifling through her purse and producing a small pocket mirror. She opened it and angled it towards Ron's face with trembling hands.

The first sound Noel heard was a heaving cough then a smash. Ron had knocked the pocket mirror to the ground aggressively. His face was twisted up and morphed, an ugly scowl etched into his features. "Get away from me."

"Love-"

"Get. Away."

"If it's about your face, know I still love you-"

"Woman! Are you stupid? Why are you still here? What do you want from me? You have scarred me, you have made me like this!"

"Darling I don't understand."

"Your stupid, sorry excuse for son will explain everything...Nurse! Nurse! No visitors, get them out!"

"Darling please." Kim had began to tug on Ron's hospital robe, fresh tears spilling out of her eyes.

"Kim. It's over." Then the hospital staff came bounding in, pulling Noel and Kim out of the room, stating kindly that 'he needs rest' 'and he's delirious' and 'its a big shock to get accustomed too'.

Soon they were standing in the hospital car park, Noel's temporary home for the past week, his mom's eyes were dark and heavy, her hair like straw, her skin like sandpaper. Once they arrived at their car, a myriad of parking tickets was scattered across the windshield wiper, Kim swiped them away messily, tearing the tickets into her palms and falling into the driving seat. She was silent the entire drive home, and once home slammed herself into the master bedroom without sparing one glance at Noel.

Noel, however, slept in Cheryl's room, as expected it was stripped bare, he lay on the beige carpet, staring at the plain bland ceiling as he listened to his mother's silent cries.