"I guess, but mom, that's our home." She pulled away and I couldn't help but let the tears fall.
"I know, but this is something that we have to do and this is for the better." She smiled through her tears.
"Okay…" I cried. I didn't know what else to say.
Next day
"I can't wait to finally lay next to you." Travis came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He was helping me get all my things together in the bathroom.
I leaned my head on his chest and looked at him in the mirror.
"Aren't you getting sick of me?" I raised my eyebrows and let out a quiet laugh.
"Never Anastasia… never." He looked into my eyes through the mirror smiled then kissed the top of my head. "I'm so happy that you are finally making progress and I can't wait to get you home. My house is waiting for you. Our house is waiting for you." He said as he rested his head on top of mine. Looking at him through the mirror, he's very tall compared to me. It's quite sad as to how short I am. Well I'm tall for a girl, but I'm short and small to him.
"I'm looking forward to your talking shower, you know." I laughed at him and he laughed back.
"Believe me, I'm looking forward to it too." He smiled while grabbing my bag on the floor. I turned around to face him.
"Travis, you really could have gone h-"
"Anastasia, stop." He stopped me. "I needed to be here. I wanted to be here." He shook his head at me.
"You just lost so much with your time and training, spending time with your brothers… so much." I said sadly.
"It was all worth it, Anastasia. Besides, if it were me, I know that you'd do the same." He said and I shut my mouth. He's right. I would do the same. "Exactly." He smiled and winked at me knowing that I lost this argument. "Now, let’s go!" He moved his head towards the door and I moved slowly in front of him.
"Are we all ready?" Mom asked us.
"Yup... I think we are." I smiled at her and she walked over to give me a hug. I hugged her back tightly.
"Now please, I am sick of seeing these hospital walls." She pulled away and rolled her eyes.
"Hey! For your information, this paint job was very expensive." Travis joked.
"Oops… I forgot that he's the boss." Mom leaned over and whispered loud enough so he'd hear her.
"Damn right, I am." He nodded and held open the door for us to go into the hallway.
I took one last look inside the room, took a deep breath and walked out with my mom behind me. Once I stepped out of the room, I heard the nurses and doctors all clapping as I exhaled.
"I'll miss you." One of my favorite nurses said. She came up and gave me a hug. I hugged her back.
"We will all miss you." One of my doctors said as he came up and gave me a hug. I hugged him back.
"I'll miss you all too." I pulled back and smiled at all of them.
I started walking towards the doors as they were all waving.
"I'll meet you at the door. Hold on a second." I told my mom and Travis.
"Okay, sweetie." Mom said to me as her and Travis looked at each other confused.
I turned around and the doctor that I hugged was looking at me. I walked up to him and I gave him another tight hug.
"Thank you." I squeezed him as my arms were wrapped around his back and my head rested on his chest.
"Aww... For what?" He squeezed me back. I pulled back and looked up at him.
"For saving my life." I smiled sadly with tears in my eyes.
"Don't thank me… I'm grateful that we are here today and having this conversation." He smiled at me.
"I am thanking you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here for this conversation. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had a life to look forward to. I will always remember you and I will come visit you, so you can count on that." I started crying. "Everything I do, every milestone that I take, I will come here to see you." He had tears in his eyes. "That's because I want you to see that I won't take life for granted. I want you to see the life that you made me have, the life that you gave me." I smiled to him and gave him another hug. I pulled away and walked towards the door again, giving him one last look and one last smile.
"Are you ready?" Travis asked while holding my bag in one hand and wrapping his arm around me with the other. My mom was holding my hand and she squeezed it while looking at me with a smile. They are making sure I don't fall.
"Yes… I'm ready." I took a deep breath, nodded and looked ahead of me as the doors shut behind me.
Until the next beginning…
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My greatest thanks goes out to my family. I give special gratitude to my mom, who is my strength. I am strong, fearless, and brave all because of her. She made me the warrior I am today. She has been here for this book since she read the first line of chapter one.
Matthew, you are my positivity. Everything in my life is better with you by my side. There aren’t enough seconds in a lifetime to explain the depth of my love for you. You go above and beyond for me. Thank you for all that you do.
While writing Eyes For You, I went through ups and downs, good and bad. I’ll always make sure to remember to enjoy the good times and make sure that I have the valor and fearlessness to go through the bad ones.
ABBY-ROSE grew up in a small town in New England with her grandparents and mother. When her homework is set and done, her desk is her happy place where she writes. She is currently attending college in Rhode Island and is just a student who loves creating a whole little world with people in it… kind of like a snow globe.
Visit her online:
www.facebook.com/abbymacchio www.instagram.com/abbymacchio
Eyes For You (Chasing Tomorrow Book 1) Page 20