I went over and started to move the chairs that were thrown around and carefully picked up some pieces of glass from what I assumed was the glass Louie had been drinking from previously. Louie cleared his throat which made me jump. I turned around and looked at him looking rather miserable in the bed. “I-I’m really sorry for everything Corey.” He was starting to shake again, “I didn’t think Micah would come back. I was so scared. He really could have hurt you.”

I laughed wildly, almost forgetting how upset Louie was. I stopped abruptly and walked back over to him and sat on the side of the bed, “I’m sorry. I know what he said was awful and how he was acting was very scary. But if I am being honest with you, I could have laid him out. I do not know what he does for a living but I was a bouncer for 5 years at some high end clubs. I don’t think he could have stood a chance if I really felt the need to hit him.”

Louie looked up at me very concerned, “No don’t worry about it. I would only have hit him if he hit me first. I never throw the first punch. I wouldn’t want to go to jail for no reason.”

I patted his hand and stood back up and grabbed his now cold soup, “I got you this to eat but now it is probably ice cold." I frowned at the soup and let out a soft sigh, "Do you want me to go see if they can heat it up for you?”

He just shook his head. “After all that, I really have no appetite honestly. If I get hungry later, I can ask someone later to heat it up for me.” He thought for a second and looked at the still messy corner by the window and sighed, “There should be a fridge in the nurses lounge that you can put it in for me. If you tell Judy, the nurse that was in here earlier with us, that it is for me she will find a spot for it.”

I put the soup back down on the side table and knelt back down next to him and grabbed his blanket and covered him back up. “It will probably get cold in here so make sure you stay warm and get some sleep. I’m sure you don’t want to get sick on top of being in the hospital.”

He chuckled as he settled back into the bed and grabbed my hand, “Thank you Corey, for everything you have done. We were just strangers and you have done more for me than anyone in my family has done my whole life. It really does mean a lot.”

I patted his hand again, “Any time Louie. I will write my phone number down here for you. If you need anything, any time of the day, just give me a call and I can try and help you.” I took a notepad and pen off the table and jotted down my number and a little doodle for him and handed it over, “If you can’t get a ride when they let you outta here, please don't hesitate to call. I haven’t found a job here yet so I will be around.”

He looked down at the paper and chuckled at the doodle of what was supposed to be me standing triumphantly over Michas defeat. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I smiled at him and picked up his soup again and headed to the door. I stopped for a second but just shook my head and left his room. No Corey, now is not the time to be thinking weird things. He’s been through a lot in the last day and a half. 

I walked down to the lobby searching for a nurse. I spotted Judy coming out of a patients’ room and flagged her down. “Hey Judy, do you think you could do me a favor? I got Louie this soup but it got cold and he doesn't want it right now. He wants to know if yall could keep it in your fridge for him until he is ready to eat.”

She just smiled at me and motioned for me to hand over the soup, “Of course we can. The food we serve the patients is gross if you ask me. Lou will love this soup when he's ready. I’m sure he’s just super tired after a long day.” 

She went over to the nurses station and put it away. “Oh by the way, are you wanting to leave? I can get you that ride now if you would like. I get out of here at 5. If you could wait like ten minutes while I do the change over for the midday nurses I can take you home then.”

“Oh wow yeah I would greatly appreciate that. I would hate to have to try and walk home. It would probably take me like 4 hours to get back.” She snorted loudly at me and doubled over laughing hysterically at that thought, “Hey I could do it, I would just rather not after this past week I have had with the fire, and now this.”

She stopped laughing and cut me off, “Oh you live near where Abigale lives, eh? Or should I say used to. Yeah that was so scary. I don’t think she did that to herself. I don't care what the sheriff says. I say he's just saying that because he doesn't want to have to actually do any work. Like there is ever really any work for them to do anyway.” She shook her head and headed down the hallway, “I will be back soon. Just sit there in the lobby, I swear I won't be long.”

Thirty minutes had passed and she still hadn’t come back. Man what the hxll. I know she is doing me a favor but it has been well over ten minutes. As soon as I stood up she came around the corner. “I am so sorry Corey we had an emergency as I had to help out. I really didn’t mean to make you wait so long. I am sure you are tired and hungry.”

“Nahh s’all good. I was just sitting here watching this show where they remodel your house if you can answer all these history questions. It was rather weird. I wonder how many people actually pass or if they just give them half the answers so they can actually have a show.”

She scratched her head as she beckoned me to follow her, “yeah I dunno. Those shows all come across as super fake and staged if you ask me.”

I chucked and stopped as we reached her “car”. “Uhh.. Judy.” she looked up at me as she shoved a helmet in my hands, “You didn't tell me we were going to be taking a motorcycle back.”

She cackled as she got on the bike, “What? Have you never ridden?”

“Honestly, no. But you also dont scream someone who would ride motorcycles.” She shook her head as I put on my helmet. “Not saying anything wrong with it, they are really cool. I’ve just never known a nurse to ride one is all.”

“Man you should see what doctor Abergathy drives to work.”

“I think I’m too afraid to ask.” She just laughed at me as she started up the bike.

“Hold on tight Corey. Wouldn’t want you falling off and ending up being my patient.” I chuckled nervously and grabbed her waist as we thrust forward towards my house.

It was a long, cold windy ride back home. But I was just happy we got there in one piece. A drive that probably should have taken almost two hours only took us one. Judy may have been a nurse but she did not seem to know what a speed limit was. When I got off her bike, my legs were shaking so bad that I almost fell over. 

She laughed at me, “Yeah your legs might be a bit shaky for a little bit. From adrenaline and the actual bike itself, it makes it hard to stand. Be careful going up the stairs.”

I nodded and thanked her as I walked away, “I appreciate the ride Judy, get home safe.”

She just waved at me as she sped back off down my drive and back down the way we came, “I definitely don’t get the appeal of speeding like that. More power to her I guess. At least I got home at a decent time and can maybe get some work done around the house before it gets too dark.”