A day being in the hospital is a day too long. I was sick of only seeing white. I was sick of having this stupid IV in my hand. And most of all, I was sick of the annoying beeping noise that was my heart.

The doctor said that I couldn't leave until I told them what the bruises are, or the bruises disappear. I haven't said a word yet. I'm not planning to. I will wait it out until the bruises disappear. They'll have no claim over me then. And then I will be free.

"Well, free from the hospital." I mumbled to no one. My parents had promised to 'unleash the wrath' if I didn't tell them where the bruises from.

"Hey Evie." Josh said as he walked in. He had left right after his little 'better' promise. He left me sputtering for answers. But he didn't answer any of my half sputtered questions, he just left. At least he was smiling, like a fool.

"Hi Josh." I said, my voice clipped. I was still irritated that he just left.

He scratched his head, "Listen, about yesterday-"

"I don't want to hear your excuses. Just tell me the truth." I interrupted him. My voice was accusing, hopefully very accusing.

Josh took a deep breath and came to sit next to me. He ruffled his hair, and seemed to be at a lost. How ever lost he was, I will wait patently until he starts talking.

"I wasn't lying when I said it's going to be better. I'm not lying now when I say it's going to be so much better," Josh took a deep breath and turned to look me in the eye, "but I can't tell you. I'm not the one who should tell you. You need to be told by someone who's much more important to you."

I opened my mouth to protest that there's almost no one who's more important than him but he put his finger over my lips, silencing me. I sat back and let him continue.

"Evie, can you trust me? Please?" Josh looked so earnest as he asked me. He looked pleading, like the whole world depended on my trust in Josh.

I sighed, "Only for a little bit." Josh smiled, and in turn, I smiled back at him.

"So when are you getting out of here?" Josh asked suddenly.

"The doctor said that I couldn't leave until I told them where the bruises are coming from or the bruises disappear. So, I don't know." I responded.

Josh became tense suddenly. I guess the bruises were a sore subject for him. Though, why, I have no idea. It's not like the bruises are on him.

"So which are you going to do?" He asked, still tense.

"Well, the only one I can do. I'm just going to wait it out until they disappear. It's not like I know where they are coming from." I told him. Josh was still a tiny bit tense. He winced at my last sentence.

I sighed, knowing that he won't explain why he winces at the mention of my bruises.

"Oh, so bad news," Josh changed the subject, "Math and science test coming up." It saw as my turn to wince. I hate tests.

"Wait, not the worst part," he paused for dramatic effect and I groaned, "they're on the same day."

"Josh! I'm supposed to be relaxing! How am I supposed to relax when you keep ruining my day with news about tests?" I groaned again.

He started laughing at my expense. I retaliated by punching him in the arm, which only succeeded in making Josh laugh harder.

"You punch like a girl." He said through his laughs.

"I am a girl. What's your excuse?" I smirked. Josh's laugh died down and a competitive gleam appeared in his eyes.

"You don't want to play with the big bad wolf." He said through a mocking smile. Josh knew I would take the bait.

"I don't think you would be a 'big bad wolf'," I paused for dramatic effect, "more like an adorable puppy." After a pause, Josh started to laugh again. I seemed to miss out on some hilarious joke, because Josh couldn't stop laughing.

"What's funny?" I asked, playfully irritated.

"Nothing. Just something really ironic. I didn't mean to say it." Josh said, still laughing.

I took a moment while he was laughing to replay our conversation. The only thing that stuck out to me as being funny was the 'big bad wolf' comment. I guess it could be funny, though I don't know why it would be ironic. Oh maybe it was my 'adorable puppy' comment. Maybe Josh has a dog and that's why it's ironic.

"Evie," I was snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of my mom's voice at the door, "Kristin is on the phone."

"Oh, okay." This was going to be interesting to explain to Kristin. My mom came towards the bed and handed me the phone. But before I talked to her, I wanted a little privacy.

"Josh, could I please talk to her alone." I hoped he understood that I wasn't trying to be rude.

"Oh, yeah. Of course. I actually have something to take care of, so I will see you later." Josh responded as he walked to the door. I waved goodbye as I put the phone up to my ear.

"Hi Kristin. What's up?" I hesitantly asked her. I knew she was going to explode as soon as she got the chance.

"Oh I don't know," the response came though the phone, "I almost flunked a test. I saw a movie or two. Oh yeah, I found out my best friend is in the hospital!" Kristin ended in a shout.

"I'm sorry-" I started to apologize for not phoning her earlier, but was cut off by her explosion.

"How could you not phone me? Your mom had to tell me where you were in the end! I was trying to contact you! No answer to the texts, then I called and left voice messages, but you never contacted me back! Finally, your mom must of picked up your phone and called me and told me that you were in a fricking hospital!"

I was silent during her mini rant. I knew she needed to get everything out in one go. I heard her take a deep breath, while I was silent.

"Evie," Kristin started again, "what happened? Why are you in a hospital?"

It was my turn to take a deep breath. I didn't even know how to start explaining this. I didn't even know if I wanted to explain this to Kristin. I mean, how crazy would it sound? Bruises that just appear after, what feels like fire, races through my veins every night? It doesn't make any sense. Hopefully, she could make sense of it.

"Do you want the long version or the short version?" I asked her.

"Long." Came the immediate reply.

For the next half hour, I told her how I got to the hospital. From what happened on that first night, to the last night that it happened. I tried to explain the 'fire' as best I could without sounding completely crazy. I explained how the bruises would show up every morning, and just when they seemed like they would disappear, another night of pain would replace the fading bruises with new ones.

Kristin didn't say anything during my story. Surprisingly, she kept silent, not interrupting at all. Even when I finished, she kept silent for a minute, like she was letting everything sink in.

"Wow." Kristin finally said something.

"Yeah." I responded hesitantly. Kristin didn't give any indication that she believe my story. I heard her take a deep breath.

"Do you know where they're coming from?" Kristin asked. She believed me. A wide smile stretched on my face.

"You believe me." I stated, hoping she heard the gratitude in my tone.

"Well, it makes no sense whatsoever, but I've never know you to be a liar." She elaborated, but I didn't care. Kristin still believed me.

"Thank you Kristin! It feels so much better that two of my best friends-" I was interrupted by Kristin's loud exclamation from the phone.

"What! I'm not the first person who knows about this?" She shouted.

I grimace, "No. Josh was. I told him on the night of our date-that-wasn't-a-date."

"Evie! And here I thought that I was the first!" She exclaimed, but I heard a hint of sadness in her tone.

"Kristin, I'm sorry. But if it's any consolation, Josh forced me into telling him," I quickly try to explain, "he wouldn't bring me home after our date unless I told him. So I told him."

"Doesn't count. You could of got home by yourself." Kristin retorted. I had to chuckle at that.

"Yeah, I guess." I sighed.

I heard a muffled shouting on Kristin's end of the phone. Probably her mom shouting at her to do something.

"I'm on the phone!" I hear Kristin shout back. Then there is more muffled shouting.

"But mom! I'm on the phone with Evie! I don't care about going out to eat!" Kristin shouted back. Then there was some more muffled shouting.

"Fine! Maybe I will starve!" Kristin retorted to her mom. I laugh at that. Then Kristin lets out an obnoxiously loud groan.

"Evie, I'm sorry," Kristin starts, "my mom won't let me starve." I start laughing again and her blatant want to starve in order to talk.

"She better not." I say through my laughs.

"Oh, so you're taking her- No I'm not talking to you mom!" Kristin shouts and I keep on laughing.

"Evie, I have to go, I'm sorry. Get well. Love you!" Kristin shouts, this time to me.

"Love you too." I respond. The dial tone clicks, telling me Kristin left. Probably to go argue with her mom.

I close the call and place the phone on the small table next to the bed. The room settles into silence, with the only sounds being my breathing and my heart monitor. I close my eyes and enjoy the silence as best I can.

With my eyes still closed, I hear the door click open.

"Oh, she's asleep." A woman says, presumably the nurse. The door clicks shut. I smirk, loving how easy it is to trick people into thinking you're sleeping.

My eyes start to feel heavy and I realize that soon, I won't have to trick people into thinking I'm asleep. I'll just be asleep.

I feel someone rocking me softly, and I open my eyes. My dad looks down at me.

"We get to leave and go home." He whispers as he lifts my arm over his shoulder to help me get up.

I slowly move my legs so they are dangling off the bed, barely touching the floor. I use my dad to help me stand up. As soon as I'm standing, I wish I wasn't. A headache immediately comes on as I continue to stand. I spot my clothes on the end of the bed.

"Can I get dressed?" I whisper, hoping he gets the hint.

"Oh yeah, of course. I'll just be outside the door." He whispers back. I take my arm off his shoulder, and making sure I have balance, I walk two steps to get to my clothes. My dad walks behind me and leaves.

I reach behind me and pull the strings to the hospital gown. It becomes loose and I take it off while reaching for the sweatpants. I pull on the sweatpants, and reach for the sweatshirt. I slowly pull the sweatshirt over my head, as to not make my headache worse. I slip on the moccasins that are sitting on the floor.

I take slow, small steps to the door. I open it cautiously to not frighten anyone on the other side. Just like he said, my dad was waiting for me right there.

"Alright, sweetie, let's go home." He says softly as he loops an arm around my waist to help me walk. In my drowsy state, I know I need the help. I gratefully let him hold the majority of my weight as we slowly walk to the entrance of the hospital, where I assume, my mom is waiting with the car.

We reached the front of the hospital, where Dr. Riff was lounging by the front desk. As soon as we were in her sights, she started walking toward us.

"Evie, can I please talk to you?" She asked me, though she was looking at my dad.

"Dr. Riff, Evie and myself are very tired and we would like to go home." My dad said respectfully, but the stiffness in his voice didn't go unnoticed.

"Please, I just need to tell her something that's going to be very important." She pleaded to my dad. Dr. Riff gave me a look that asked me to help her persuade my dad. I looked away.

"Whatever you say to my daughter, you can to me. Please say it quickly." My dad said, no longer being as respectful as he was a minute before.

"I'm sorry, but I am going to have to enforce the patent confidentiality." Dr. Riff responded apologetically.

My dad's expression immediately became hostile towards Dr. Riff. She, in response, looked to me apologetically. Her eyes, however, pleaded me to reason with my dad.

"Dad, let me talk to her. It will only be a minute." I said quietly. My dad's gaze snapped to me, and I returned his hostile gaze with a tired one. His expression immediately changed to one that was more calm.

"I will only be over there." He said pointing to the waiting area Bout twenty feet away. I nodded in response and he carefully unwrapped my arms and walked to sit in the nearest chair, which was still twenty feet away. I knew that no matter how hard he tried, he wouldn't be able to hear us.

"Thank you Evie." Dr. Riff sighed.

"Just talk quick," I said rudely, "please." I amended after I realized how rude that demand had been.

Dr. Riff's voice turned quiet, "Evie, I know what those bruises are. I know where they come from, as does Josh. But I already talked to him and he told me not to tell you. So I won't."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. She was a doctor, for God's sake, isn't she required to tell me where my injury is from? I opened my mouth to protest, but what quickly cut off by Dr. Riff.

"Shh, Evie, " she pleaded in a whisper, "I understand you want to know. Josh explained the situation and I understand both sides. Kind of. But, you need to know that I am always here for you."

I gave her a disbelieving look. I didn't know her. I only met her a yesterday, unless I was sleeping for longer than I thought.

She sighed and seemed to know where my thoughts were, "I know we just met, but please believe me. Here's my card," she discreetly hands me a business card, "it has my cell number on it. I need you to promise me that if those bruises show up again, you will call me." Dr. Riff stared into my eyes, pleading me to promise.

"I don't even know you. And you won't tell me anything!" I whisper yell.

"Please, we don't have much time yet before your dad comes back over here. It's almost been a minute. Please, promise Evie." She pleads. I wait a couple of seconds before responding.

"Okay, sure. I promise." I say quickly once I notice my dad looking at us and the clock.

"Thank you Evie. I expect you to hold up to that promise." She says a little louder, sounding like a mother who is talking to a child.

I don't respond and instead motion my dad back over to us. He quickly hops out of his chair and rushes over to us. My arm immediately goes around his waist and his around my shoulder.

"Thank you Dr. Riff." I say, hoping to sound normal in front of my dad.

"Your welcome Evie, just remember to contact me if you have any headaches. But otherwise, you are in the clear for school tomorrow." She says, catching on.

I give an appropriate groan at the thought. Truthfully, I don't mind going back and getting back into the normal routine. I missed being normal, and school was normal. No matter how hellish it is.

Dad started walking out of the hospital slowly, at a pace that was easy for me to walk at. We exited the hospital and mom was right there with the car.

"Excited to go home?" She asked as soon as I got into the back seat.

"You have no idea." I mumble, already closing my eyes.