Suffocation.

The weekend had come and gone and life for the Abrams family resumed as normal. Both my dad and Denise took Toby to Melanie's school to enroll him. They'd pick Daphne up when school was over and enroll me but I couldn't go because I had my entire day planned out at the hospital. Frankie had already volunteered to take me there and she was dragging Bobby along with us so she had someone to talk to in the waiting rooms.

I liked Frankie the most; she was the only one that didn't treat me like a disable. She didn't treat me like I watched my mom get shot, or see my life flash before my eyes in slow motion as my helpless brother saves me. No, she just treats me as the girl who was forced to go live with her estranged father and his new and better family.

This was the only time I really had to myself. Toby still hasn't slept in his own bed but I suspect that he'll be forced to soon enough. I stared back at myself in my vanity mirror in nothing but underwear. The bruises around the bullet holes were turning a sick shade of yellow but the new doctor here told me that it meant I was in the process of recovery.

To tell you the truth I don't know if I'll ever really recover.

In my eyes I didn't look the same. No matter how hard I tried my smile never reached my eyes. My cheeks were too pale. I still winced when I take deep breaths, which my therapist says is a good way to relieve stress. I also no longer had any of my piercings in. I guessed that the doctors had taken my nose ring out as well as my first and second lobe piercing, my tragus, conch, and cartilage piercing.

Fed up, I turned away from the mirror, grabbed my cane and made my way slowly to the other side of my bedroom to my closet. I pulled black leggings up over my hips then gently put on a baggy pink sweater, making sure I didn't lift my right shoulder too high. Just putting on two articles of clothing made me want to forget about everything and go back to bed.

At that thought there was a knock at the door and Frankie's large hair followed by her small head popped into view. "Hey, we need to get going soon."

"Yeah okay, just give me a few more minutes," I tell her taking a seat on my bed.

Frankie crossed my room in only a few long strides before kneeling in front of me to put on one of my socks.

I didn't pull my foot away but I started to protest. "I can do that you know. I'm not helpless."

"I know you're not helpless but sometimes it's nice to have things done for you," she said taking the boots that I had set out and sliding them onto my feet and up over my leggings.

"Thanks," I mutter as I take the hand that Frankie extended to help me off the bed.

She followed behind me patiently as I made my way down the long hallway and out to the kitchen where Bobby was sitting at the breakfast bar talking on his phone. "I'll be with Frankie and my sister but I'll ask," I hear him say as he brings the phone from his ear and looks up at us.

"You're session with Doctor Fuller is over at like noon right? Then you have a meeting with Doctor Childers at like two?" He asked me.

"It'll be over at like eleven thirty at the latest, but yeah I meet with Doctor Childers at two. Why?"

Bobby ignored my question and went back to his phone call. "So then we'll see you at like noon at Grinders? Cool, see you then." Bobby hung up and stood from the stool while putting his phone into his coat pocket.

Bobby led the way to the multiple car garage and helped me down the steps. I looked out of the open garage; the ground was covered in a thin blanket of sludge and snow.

"Have you ever seen snow Lennon?" He asked.

"I was about ten when we got this freak cold front and it snowed a lot. Chris and I spent the whole snow day making a snow man, but it melted the next day," I said recalling the memory, calling my dad by his name.

"Yeah he never did that with us growing up, he was glued to the desk in his office but I saw him and Toby out here this morning before they went to school. Seemed like he was trying to make up for lost time," Bobby shrugged holding open the door to a large, dark grey Range Rover for me.

"Nice car."

"Thanks it was a present from the parents for getting my shit together and graduating college without too much of a record," he laughed.

*

Doctor Fuller's office is on the fifth floor and is white and cold. It's definitely what you would think a shrink's office would look like. Doctor Fuller is a larger man that wears Crocs around his depressing office. He has a box of those Little Debbie brownies with the colorful sprinkles on top hidden in the bottom drawer of his desk.

We stare at each other for a long time. His chubby fingers gripping a pen, ready to write whatever I say on his clipboard.

"How are you feeling today, Lennon?" He asks with little to no emotion.

"Fine," I answer with the same lack of care.

"Your father and step mother are paying me a large amount of money and I don't think they want you to just say fine."

"He's not my father and she's not my step mother. How's that?" I ask irritated.

"Fine," he mutters.

An hour and a half later, with no progress made I am dismissed. The hospital has supplied me a wheel chair so the nurse that was at the nurses’ station outside of Doctor Fuller's office came in and wheeled me back to the waiting room.

"How was it?" Frankie asked, taking the handles of the wheelchair from the nurse and thanked her.

"I've had more interesting conversations with inanimate objects than that quack," I tell them as I am wheeled into the elevator and we descend to the main floor.

*

We got to park in the handicap spot so the journey to the car wasn't long. And the car ride to Grinder's was short as well. Grinder's was somewhat of a sports bar, like Roosters or even Applebee's. Bobby claims that they have the best burgers in the world that is if you liked getting your hands dirty with grease and condiments. Bobby also said that he and his best friend Graham went here so much that they have their very own burger named after them. That's who Bobby was on the phone with this morning, and that's who we were going to meet.

By the time we made it to the door I was out of breath and exhausted, clinging onto Frankie so I wouldn't flip on the slick floor. Bobby quickly found an easy but an embarrassing solution to my troubles.

The hostess lead us to a booth that was towards the back while Bobby carried me bridal style through the entire restaurant with Frankie close behind us, holding me cane.

Frankie slid into the booth first then Bobby deposited me beside her with only a little pain. Bobby sat across from us, sitting beside who I assumed was Graham.

"Graham this is my sister Lennon. Lennon this is my best friend and worst half, Graham Rhodes," Bobby said introducing us.

"We're not really related, I say quickly.

"Yeah but Mom and Dad don't like the whole your kid, my kid thing."

"Well he gave up his right to be my dad when he knocked up your mom and abandoned mine," I snip.

"Dang, she's a thug!" Graham laughs. "Getting shot at and shit then putting your ass in line. I like you, Lennon. You're a cool girl."

"Graham," Bobby said harshly under his breath.

"What? Was it supposed to be some big secret that she got shot? I'm sorry did you not know?" Graham joked.

I laughed loudly, immediately clutching my side in protest. "Broken ribs," I explain as the three of them look at me with concerned expressions on their faces.

"What a trooper. So tell me what was it like, getting shot?" Graham continues.

"Graham!" Frankie scolded.

"It's fine, really," I tell her. "It was hot, like someone branding me with those iron things they use to brand cows. Then I felt sort of numb as I started to lose conscious. I'd take getting shot again over the recovery," I explain to Graham who was leaning forward to make sure he got every bit of information.

After Graham and Bobby pointed out their burger we got to order and because I still had physical therapy today I ordered off the kids menu.

"When you're all healed up, I'll take you here so you can eat a man burger," Graham smiled before taking a large bite of patty, bun and whatever condiments had been placed on top.

*

I was right to eat a light lunch. Half way through my physical therapy I was in pain and felt like throwing up.

"You are healing better than what was originally predicted. I'd say that you'll definitely be using crutches by the time the holidays are over and you start school. Where will you be going?" Doctor Childers' asked me. She is much more personable than Doctor Fuller.

"Um, Saint Joseph's? I think that's what it's called."

"That’s a very good school. Have you had enough for today?"

I nod and she helps me back into the wheelchair. She personally wheeled me back into the waiting room and talked to Bobby for a moment before bidding us goodbye and heading back to where we came from.

I didn't stop to talk to Denise as she called my name from the living room. Instead I gritted my teeth and got to my bedroom as fast as I could and shut the door.

I sunk into bed and let exhaustion consume me.