Set Me Free

Jorge’s P.O.V.

“What the hell is a self meditated coma? Is that even possible?”

I knew I shouldn’t have left him. If I’d have stayed, then maybe I could’ve stopped this, maybe he wouldn’t have done this to himself. Does this mean that he injected himself with some drugs or something? That’s not enough to place someone in a coma? What the hell is going on here?

“Dane’s mind has...well, it’s sort of like.” Ash fumbled with her words, not sure of what to say to get me to understand this. “Okay, so think of his mind like a light switch, it’s usually on, like it was last night, but he shut it off. If that makes any sense.”

“NO, IT DOESN’T!” I yelled. Kris placed a reassuring hand on my arm and soothingly rubbed it. I looked over to see him pouting with tears in his eyes.

Kris might’ve only met Dane once, but he knows how much my little brother means to me. All I ever talk about is Dane and not once has Kris ever stopped me or told me how boring I was being. Dane was pretty much his brother too, just not by blood or marriage...yet. After over seven years of dating, I was planning on proposing to Kris, before I got the call from the hospital. This can’t be happening again. I was broken up once when I found out he attempted suicide and now this. I don’t know how much more I can take.

“Can’t you get him out of it? You were going to with the regular coma.” Kris whimpered beside me.

“I’m sorry, but only Dane can take himself out of this. No amount of drugs or medical attention can do it; he placed himself into it, so he has to take himself out.” She saw the look on both of our faces and hurried to say anything that could help. “We will help as much as we can to get him out, but we have to know what could’ve brought him to the point where he felt the need to shut down. What happened last night that could’ve made him do this?” She asked, her voice wavering slightly. Even though she might not know us that well, she sympathized, she wanted Dane to get better...she looked out for him.

How am I supposed to know what could’ve made Dane do this? If he left a letter like last time, then sure, but we have nothing. I knew I should’ve stayed last night; I should’ve been by his side. I mean, Drew stayed by his side for days and I couldn’t for one night? What kind of big brother am I? I’m supposed to protect him and keep him out of harm’s way, but the only thing I’ve done is show him that sometimes suicide is the answer. How was I supposed to know that by attempting it myself once upon a time ago I’d be setting an example for my little brother in the future? And what kind of example is that? I feel like the worst person on the face of the planet.

If I hadn’t been bawling my eyes out on the hospital floor, I would’ve noticed the girl with the curly brown hair and bright blue eyes, chewing on a Twix bar, listening to the entire conversation...

Genna’s P.O.V.

I was humming to myself, skipping lightly down the hallway, receiving odd glances from those waiting for loved ones. The hospital is not really the place people find happiness, so I’ve sought out to make it. In my mind, this place is too bland and depressing, these people just need a little cheering up. And that’s what yours truly plans on doing.

Before my expedition, I stopped at a vending machine, deciding that today was in fact a Twix day; maybe I might meet someone who needs a little cheering up and nothing does it better than a Twix.

Lightly skipping down the familiar halls, I stopped dead in my tracks at a familiar door, one that was rarely ever closed.

My mother’s the on hand therapist at this lovely hospital here (feel the sarcasm), so I’m here pretty much everyday. Dane’s a fellow classmate, so of course I would know what door was his. Ash, one of my favorite people here, was standing there awkwardly, talking to two gentlemen, both with tears in their eyes.

I might have “accidentally” read Dane’s suicide notes, so I know he has a brother. Most likely the tall one that looks just like him. He was cute, but unfortunately pour moi, he was taken.

Ash caught my eye as I just stood there, nibbling on half of my delicious candy, the look in her eyes clearly saying that I shouldn’t be here, but do I ever listen? Nope.

“We will help as much as we can to get him out, but we have to know what could’ve brought him to the point where he felt the need to shut down. What happened last night that could’ve made him do this?” She asked.

Shut down? Why on earth would Dane shut down? Nurse news travels fast and just yesterday Ash was telling us how Dane had managed to get himself out of his state of comatose. What is this supposed to mean?

I waited patiently (yeah right) for Ash to finish and send Jorge and his little boyfriend into Dane’s room. She rounded immediately and stalked over towards me.

She was like my big sister; my mother made it her responsibility to look out for me, seeing as I tend to get myself into trouble. Not a lot...I swear…at least not on purpose.

“Genna, what the hell are you doing here?” She whisper-yelled. “Your mother told me you were grounded, meaning home-bound.”

She turned me around by my shoulders and pushed me through the halls, headed for the front door.

“What’s wrong with Dane?” I asked, not caring that I was being dragged around like a dog. “And where’s Drew?”

“I’m not going to answer you Genna, you have to get home.”
I planted my feet into the ground and stopped her short. I may be only 5’4”, but I am most certainly not a weakling. Ash knew this too; if I didn’t want to go, there was no way she was making me.

Ash sighed heavily, bringing her hand up to pinch her temples; yes, I’m stubborn.

“If I tell you, will you go home?”

“Scouts honor.” I replied, raising two fingers up in air after crossing my heart. She didn’t need to see my other hand, hidden behind my back, crossing my fingers.

“Even though you were never a scout, I know that’s the best I’m going to get.” She looked around herself before pulling me into a corner. “I can’t believe I’m going to tell you this, but Dane has placed himself into a self meditated coma.” What!? “I don’t know what tipped him off to doing this, but it happened.”

“Where’s Drew, he can help, I know he can!” That boy is more stubborn than me. I know he’ll never get the guts to tell Dane how he really feels unless someone pushes him.

“Drew left right before Dane woke up from the induced coma. Dane woke up almost immediately after Drew went home; I don’t know if it’s just some freaky coincidence, but I should be over there right now, so go home.”

Coincidence? She thinks this is a coincidence? If there is one thing I believe, it’s that there are no such things as coincidences. And are these people stupid?
Fear clouds judgment and judgment clouds lucidity. That’s all this is about.
As soon as Drew leaves, Dane wakes up, as soon as Dane sees that Drew is not there, he goes back. How do these people not see this as a sign? Sometimes I wonder how these so called ‘doctors’ passed medical school. They should know better than that!

Et la! Que pouvez-vous faire?

I don’t know about you, but I sure as hell can do something.

I didn’t notice Ash pushing me all the way out of the door until I felt the cool breeze blow my curls into my face. There is something I can do and I’m not about to sit around and watch two idiots ruin their entire lives.

Dane and Drew will get together and I will make sure of it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Quickly locating my baby in the parking lot, I sped over to the house that I’ve only been to once. Okay, so “sped” isn’t really the right word. My black 1970 Chevelle, or my “baby”, couldn’t really go over 52 miles per hour. She might’ve been run down, but she was mine and I loved her. No making fun! >.<!!!

I’m really good friends with Echo, or Drew’s “girlfriend”, so I was forced over to his house one night.
Okay, I’m going to let you in on a little secret that you may or may not know. Drew and Echo are about as good together as peanut butter and a plastic flower! Sure, out in public (a.k.a.: school) they look like the perfect couple, but I have had the pleasure of seeing them in private; they barely even look at each other. If there is any kind of relationship between those two, it’s friendship, and not even a strong one. Drew’s reasons for dating her are still unknown to me, but I will find out. Whether it was the temptation of jealously or just cautiousness for his feelings of Dane, Drew does not want to be with Echo, no matter how much he might tell himself that he does.

I parked across the street from Drew’s house, just staring. This was a nice neighborhood, a little too rich for my liking, but nice nonetheless.

I waited and waited and when I was done, I waited some more. For what? I’m not quite sure, but was glad an opportunity to go in arose; when I saw a couple exiting the house, smiling. So that’s what Drew’s parents look like. Hm.

When I found no more reason to wait, I made my way across his neatly mowed lawn to the front door.

A little girl answered, no more than 12 or 13.

“Hello there.” I said, shit eating grin spread across my face.

She surveyed me, going from my black flat clad feet, to my regular jeans (not to tight, not to loose), to my comfy v-neck t-shirt. My usual.

“Are you Drew’s new girlfriend or something?” She spat, glaring at me. Well, this girl obviously does not have happy memories of Drew’s girlfriends. And why isn’t she British?

“Ew, no offense to Drew or anything, but he is not my type.” I replied, still grinning from ear to ear.

“So he’s still dating that Echo chick?” She asked, frowning slightly. “He really is the stupidest boy I’ve ever met.” She scoffed, moving out the way nonetheless, letting me see into their spacious home.

I didn’t have much time to see it all before she cornered me. What the...

“So is he still going out with that Echo girl or not?”

“Do you have a little crush on him or something because I don’t think it’ll work out.” One thing you should know about me; I don’t usually speak my mind, but when I do, I’m very straightforward.

“I don’t like my own brother, stupid, I just want to know if I should make a voodoo doll of this girl or not.”

“I’m only guessing you don’t really like Echo and Drew together.”

“You might not know what I’m talking about, but I know he loves Dane and they’d be perfect together and...” She pouted, looking on the verge of tears. “He thinks this is all his fault. He thinks that Dane...did what he did because of him and I know that’s not true, but he won’t believe me. He’s torturing himself staying with this girl just because he says he doesn’t want to hurt Dane, but he’s so stupid. He doesn’t see that what he’s doing is just hurting Dane even more.” This girl is a genius; she figured out what professionals can’t.

“And that is exactly what I am here to try to convince him to do. He needs to know what he’s really doing to Dane. Is he here?”

The girl pointed me up the stairs and told me his door was the blue one. The house is nice, I’ve got to admit that, but I’m in official business mode.

I knocked on his door, hearing some type of heavy metal screamo thing blaring in the background. That type of music hurts my ears; I don’t know how people can listen to it on high volume.

Drew obviously didn’t hear me, so I just walked in; if he was changing, he can run and hide. I have five brothers; I’ve seen things that will scar you for life.

He was sitting on the floor, in front of his bed, staring at the wall, a blank expression on his face. I would’ve said he was thinking, but he just looked...empty. Ten bucks if you can guess why. =_=... Poor guy looked absolutely miserable.

The song changed to one I’m very familiar with, Northern Downpour by Panic! At the disco. It definitely did not set the mood for a cheery talk.

Drew’s usual slightly straight black hair (which he’d gotten to a Mohawk once) was a disheveled mess on the top of his head, clearly losing its sheen. Tear tracks ran races down his pale cheeks. Why is this poor boy doing this to himself?

Slowly making my way over to where the obviously depressed Andrew Connelly was sitting, I quietly sat down next to him; he didn’t even see me. That was until I lightly put my hand on his shoulder, he jumped about ten feet into the air.

“Genna? What are you doing here?”

Yes, everyone knows me; I’m the person everyone at school goes to when they want advice. Who cares about the guidance counselors anymore? And the fact that my mother’s an actual therapist probably gives more knowledge than they do.

“Drew, is there anything you want to talk about?” That’s it, start slow, we’ll build up to the rest.

Drew turned his head and looked out the window, away from me. It was almost as if he was weighing the pros and cons of whether he should tell me or not, but he should know that I follow the same rules as my mother does; I won’t tell another soul for as long as I live.

He seemed to have made up his mind.

“There’s nothing wrong with me.” He said in complete monotone, going back to staring straight at the wall.

“Look, Drew, I may not know you and I may not know Dane, but I can see what you two have, no matter how well you think you’re hiding it, someone’s always there to see.”
He didn’t bother looking at me, but I could see the tears building up in his eyes.

“Look, I don’t know if you two were ever anything and I’ve never seen you two hang out, but I am at the hospital everyday and I can see that you really care about him.”

His stony features never softened, not once, just that one loner tear that slid down his cheek.

“He woke up, if you want to know.”

That seemed to get him moving. Drew’s head snapped up to stare at me, his eyes glazed over. Maybe I should’ve moved straight to the point that Dane went back. Oh well, might as well let him have his minute of happiness.

“Is he okay?” He asked.

Oy, I was never one to like giving out bad news.

“Um...no, actually, he went back into the coma. He’s slipped into a self meditated coma.” I bowed my head, not ready to look into his eyes. “Can’t you see that he needs you?” I looked back up; Drew’s head was faced the other way, obviously trying to hide his tears. “If you were there by his side, this wouldn’t have happened. He needs you Drew and you’re not there for him. If you don’t want to hurt him anymore, then why aren’t you over there? By being away from him, you’re just hurting him even more.”

Drew head bent down to where he was just staring at his lap. It was painfully obvious that he didn’t believe me. He still had his mind set that Dane was doing so much better without him. Did he not see where Dane was right now? He really is oblivious, but like I said, fear clouds judgment and judgment clouds lucidity.

“W-was he awake last night?” He asked, looking up at me with a look of realization set on his face.

“Um, I’m not sure, maybe...most likely.”

Well, Ash said that Dane woke up just after Drew left, which I guess was yesterday evening or something like that, so he was probably awake some time last night.

“Why? What happened last night?” I’m so confused and I don’t like being confused.

Drew didn’t answer; he just jumped up from the ground, scaring me a little at the sudden movement. He ran to the other side of his room where he pulled out two mismatched shoes and shoved them both on. He tried making his hair look a little less...bad, but couldn’t really get much. After a while he just gave up, grabbed his sweater and keys and bolted out of the door. What the hell?

Hopefully he’s out to do something about this.