We arrived at the hospital at 2:24 am and sat in the waiting room for three hours. Captain America: Civil War played on the tv in the corner. Alana curled up in the chair beside me and closed her eyes. I couldn't tell if she was actually asleep or not.
"Alana?" A nurse called. Alana's eyes popped open and she sat up. We followed the nurse into a hallway and down past three doors before being let into an exam room.
"The Doctor will be in shortly." The nurse said and left. I lifted Alana onto the bed so she wouldn't make her arms worse and then sat down on the doctor's stool. I spun in circles and gave myself a headache and Alana looked she was going to pass out. There was a knock and the door opened. A woman I blue scrubs and a lab coat came.
"Morning." She said with a smile.
"Morning." I said around a yawn.
"So what's the problem?" She asked, looking at Alana. Alana gently pulled sweater off. The once white washcloths were pink. Alana took the first one off and let the doctor look.
"Looks like your stitches ripped. I'll be right back sweetie." The doctor smiled and then left. Alana covered her arm again.
"You don't have to hide it, you know. I know what you're going through." She shook her head.
"I didn't do it." She whispered. I furrowed my brows in confusion.
"Wh-"
"Mom did." I didn't know what to say to that.
"Sh-"
"I had to go to school with bruises and the teacher was worried so she told the principal who called social services. Mom wasn't happy. When I got home she took a kitchen knife to my arms. Told me know would believe it hadn't been me. I wrapped them up, social services came and went, but two days later my arm started getting infected and I couldn't write they hurt so much. The school nurse freaked out when she saw them and one of the teachers called my mom. Mom didn't answer, and I was bleeding a lot so they took me to the hospital. When they asked what happened I told the truth. Naomi came to the hospital and told me mom had been arrested for drunk driving and then trying to beat up a cop. And then when mom got bailed out by her boyfriend I was already being sent to you." My mind was reeling, trying to comprehend everything she was saying. I didn't have time to form a coherent thought before the doctor came back.
"Alright, I'm gonna numb you up and then I'll stitch you again, okay, sweetie?" Alana nodded. Then she turned her head and closed her eyes. My phone started vibrating, Monica was calling.
"I'll be right back." I said. Alana and the doctor nodded.

———

"Hey." I said when I had closed the door behind me.
"Don't hey me. You're at the hospital with Alana?! What the fuck?! Why didn't you wake me up? How long have you been gone?"
"Since two."
"What happened? Is she okay?"
"Yeah. She just ripped her stitches and was bleeding a lot. The doctor is stitching her up right now." Monica sighed.
"I'm the future wake me up when something like this happens."
"I will, sorry." I yawned. "In my defense my brain doesn't work right this early in the morning."
"Does it ever."
"Haha. You're hilarious."
"I know." I smiled.
"I think Alana and I'll probably grab breakfast before we come home."
"Okay. Don't be too long, Cherry's up and anxious to see you."
"Sure. I should get back to Alana. Love you."
"Love you back." She ended the call. I put my phone away and walked back into the room.
"Alrighty, now I'll just wrap them up and you're good to go." The doctor said. Alana nodded, but didn't open her eyes. The doctor wrapped Alana's arms in gauze and then ace bandages to make sure the gauze stayed on.
"Be careful, okay? Try not to rip them open again."
"Okay."
"You're good to go." The doctor left. I helped Alana off the bed and followed her out the door. We left the hospital and got in the car. It was quarter to six.
"Hungry?" I asked.
"I guess." I nodded and I started the car.

———

We went to McDonald's for breakfast. We ordered and waited. Alana's eyes were unfocused and she looked tired. I didn't doubt that she was. I told her to pick a table while I waited for our food. When our food arrived I immediately started eating. Alana just stared at hers.
"You gonna eat or just stare at it?" I asked.
"I can't feel my fingers."
"Oh. Huh. I didn't even think about that."
She shrugged and tried to pick up her hash brown. She gave up and stared at her food again. Ten minutes later she had a little bit of feeling back in her fingers and could at least hold her hash brown. I finished first and rested my elbow on the table. I put my chin in my hand and closed my eyes. I could feel my glasses slipping down my nose.
"Mr. Leith?" Alana poked my arm. I jerked up and looked at her.
"Mm? Call me Remington." I mumbled and rubbed my face before fixing my glasses.
"Oh. Okay. I'm done." We threw out our trash and left.

———

   When we got home I immediately dropped onto the couch. Alana sat down beside me and pulled her legs up onto the couch. A few seances later she fall against my side, asleep. I closed my eyes and had almost fallen asleep too when Cherry came running in.
"Deedee!" She climbed up onto the couch and sat down on my lap. I didn't open my eyes.
"Hey, Stargazer."
"Deedee?" She asked and poked my cheek.
"Cherry, let's let Daddy sleep, okay? He's tired." Monica said, picking Cherry up. I laid my head against the back of the couch and fell asleep.

This was shit. Sorry.