Life Changes, chapter 12

I woke up the next morning and instantly, my heart began to race. I really hope that she didn't get him back.

I got out of bed (I usually sleep in my clothes) and slowly walked down the hall towards the living room. No one there. I checked in the kitchen. Nope. I looked in the bathroom. No one there, either.

My hand shook as I reached for the doorknob to open the door to Mom and Stan's room. I slowly turned it and with the same speed opened it. No one.

I smiled and walked into the kitchen to grab a beer. I looked at the clock hanging above the fridge. 9:30. A little early. What the hell, I really need one right now. I turned around with the bottle in my mouth towards the counter. There sat a note. I raised an eyebrow and took the bottle out of my mouth.

I walked over to it, beer in hand, and flipped it open.
Dear Chassidy,

I wasn't able to get Stan back last night. He'll be there for the next fifteen years. This is all your fault. I hate you. I'm at work right now. I'll be back later. I'm not going to stay. I'm just dropping by to get my shit. Then I'm gone forever. I don't need this anymore.

-Ramona

The bottle dropped and smashed on the floor. I was mad. What does she mean she doesn't need this anymore? That's me! I ripped up the note as fast as I could and let the pieces fall to the ground and soak in the beer that was running everywhere.

I don't know why, but I started to cry hysterically. Why was I crying? This is the best thing that could ever happen to me!

There was a knock on the door but I didn't answer it. I couldn't. They walked in before I could. "Hello? Anyone home? Chassy?" Mike.

He spotted me in the kitchen. "Hey Chass- Whoah. Why are you crying?"he asked. I realized he was there and quickly began to wipe the tears away. "I-uh-I," I stuttered, "I stubbed my toe."
"Then what's with the smashed beer and pieces of paper?"
"Ummm... I was drawing and it wasn't good so I ripped it up and I had a beer in my hand and I stubbed my toe as I was going to throw it away and I dropped it all. It really hurts."
"You're such a bad liar."
"Yeah. I know."
"What happened?"
"Nothing. I just feel like crying."
"Why?"
"Billie."
"Speaking of him, he can come home."
My face lit up.
"Really?"
"Yeah. His parents are out of town and they want us to pick him up."
"Then let's go then."

We hopped into his car and he turned the key. The engine rumbled and something klunked. The exhaust coming out the back was thick and black. "You do know that this thing's a piece of shit, right?"I said.

"Yeah," he sighed, "I know. But I love it." I punched him in the arm.

We pulled into the hospital parking lot. We walked through the doors and to the front desk. The nurse took us to Billie's room. We walked through the door to find Billie with his eyes closed and earphones over his ears. I winked at Mike and walked to the tape player sitting on the table next to the bed.

I picked it up and quickly turned the knob to the volume all the way up. He quickly opened his eyes and threw off the earphones. "What the fuck?!" he yelled, "Oh, it's just you two."
"Yep, just us,"Mike said shrugging.
"What are you doing here?"
"Didn't the doctors tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"You're going home today."
"Where's my parents?"
"They had to go out of town."
"O-oh. When will they be back?"
"I don't know."

"Okay," I said, "Enough with the twenty questions. Let's go." Mike and I helped him up and walked him over to a wheelchair by the wall. A nurse walked in. She grabbed the handles and began to push him out the door.

"Where're you going?" Mike asked.
"Well," she said, "if he's going home, he needs to wear clothes."

We all got into the car and drove Billie home. Mike was going to stay but I wanted to go home. "I'll drive you," he said.
"No," I said, "I wanna walk."

I walked the nine blocks back home and walked through the door. I walked to Mom and Stan's room. Everything was gone. She left already. The only thing that was left was a picture on the nightstand. Of me and Mom. Before the divorce. When we were happy.

There was a note tucked inside the frame:
Chassidy,

I can't say that the last seventeen years have been good. I can't say that they've been bad, either. I'm not going to say I won't miss you. I will. I'll miss our fights. I still hate you.

Goodbye Forever,
Ramona

I balled up the note and threw it on the ground. I turned the picture over. I laid down on the bed and cried myself to sleep.