By the time I woke up the next morning Tommy was already out of the house. His job—whatever it is—starts really early and ends pretty late. Which today is good for me, I can go to the hospital to see the girl without his questions.

I’ve never really been much of a breakfast person, but since I’m starting the day with a long walk maybe it wouldn’t hurt to eat something.

I jog down the stairs, slipping my arms through the long sleeves of Dad’s leather jacket. There’s not much to eat in the mornings, Tommy does the shopping and like me he doesn’t really do breakfast. So we don’t have any oatmeal or whatever.

A dull red apple—still in the thin plastic bag from when Tommy picked it up in the store—catches my eye. I rip a hole in the center of the bag, reaching for the prize that’s buried inside.

It’s covered in bruises but that’s never stopped me before. I take a huge bite out of the apple, the juice sliding down my chin as I head for the front door.

. . .

I turn a corner and the huge hospital comes into view. The millions of windows, the parkling lot filled with cars even though it’s only eight in th morning. It used to blow my mind that while I’m still snuggled up in bed there’s a whole world already up.

My heart starts racing as I near the sliding doors. I play with the apple core, rubbing arcoss my hands as I enter the hissing doors.

I throw the apple in the trash can that’s at the side of the door. My hands are wet and sticky from the juice of the apple, which makes me totally regret playing with it.

I search for hand sanitizer, finding a bottle perched on the side of the front desk. I press the top down, watching the thick liquid ooze out.

I rub my hands together, breathing in the strong smell of alcohol that makes me feel instantly clean.

I’m not sure how to find the girl. Am I even allowed to see her? They can’t just let me in unless I’m family, besides I don’t even know her name so finding her will be impossible.

Still I walk down the halls, climbing a set of stairs that take me to the floor I was on when I first arrived here. It doesn’t give me that terrible feeling that I was expecting. I don’t even get a flash of the time I spent here.

“Davian?”

I swirl around at the sound of my name. The doctor is standing in front of me his clipboard tucked under his arm.

“Everything okay?” He asks, a worried look filling his green eyes.

I nod. “Yeah I’m fine . . .” _The girl, I bet he’d let me see her. _“Do you think I could see the girl? The girl I crashed into.” I add when his eyes don’t spark away the confusion.

He sighs, rubbing a hand down his face. “Davian, why do you want to—“

“_Need_,” I cut him off, smiling nervously at his very surprised look. I’m guessing not many people ever stop him in the middle of his sentences. “I _need_ to see her.”

“Okay, why do you need to see her?” He asks.

“Because,” I start, searching for the right words. “I just do.”

The doctor seems even more confused. “Davian, she’s asleep, you’re—“

“I know!” I say, interrupting him again. “I don’t care I just need to . . .” I trail off, looking down at my feet. “I need to say sorry.”

The doctor’s eyes fill with sadness. Maybe he’s finally broke, and I won’t have to keep trying to convince him I’m not a bad guy.

“Follow me.” He sighs, leading me down the hall.

. . .

The door creaks open, darkness spills around me as I walk in. I search the darkness my heart stopping in my chest as I see the girl. Her blonde hair almost seems to glow as it lays gently at her shoulders.

_She’s . . . Beautiful. _I let the words echo through my mind, I don’t try to stop them or say I shouldn’t think that about someone I’ve hurt. It’s Probably because they’re the most true thing I’ve ever thought.

“Her names Maisie Bowden,” the doctor mumbles. “By the way.”

The door swings shut, leaving me alone in the dark. Except I’m not alone, I don’t feel alone, but shouldn’t I? It’s just me and the gir— Maisie. It’s just me and Maisie, and somehow that makes me feel safe.

“Hey,” I smile quickly as I walk up to her, the heart monitor at the side of her bed is beeping softly.

I stand at the edge of her bed, staring into her eyes. They’re blue, I don’t know why I think that. Her eyes are closed how could I know the color?

“This is all . . .” I start, sighing as I look at the gash on her forehead. “A stupid mistake.”

I never should have done this. I never should have left the house that night, I never should have taken the car, and I shouldn’t have come _here_.

I blink hard as a tear slides down my cheek. I shake my head, running a hand though my hair as I back up. _I did this . . . I . . . Hurt . . .Maisie._

“I . . .I . . .I,” I stammer swiping at my wet cheek. “I’m . . .I’m sorry.”

I rush to the door, throwing it open and bolting down the hallway. My heart races in my chest, Maisie’s blank face flashing in my mind.