Run Poppy Run

The Visit

Poppy

I sat in the passenger seat of Jess’s car as Damian sat in the back seat, glaring at me through the mirror. Jess looked uncomfortable as she pulled into the hospital parking lot. I don’t blame her; the intensity of Damian’s glare was sending my brain into overdrive.

Jess got out first, closing the door.

“Mic rosu, I’m sorry...” He reached a hand forward, placing it on my shoulder. “I’m... not very good with the ladies.” He chuckled as I felt a slight ease run over me. He exited the vehicle, opening my door for me. I climbed out, thanking him.

As we walked toward the entrance, my vision landed on a medium-built blonde... boy? He was dressed in all emo rave attire. What an odd-looking person...

“Raz!” Damian waved at him. He pushed off the wall giddily as he... hopped over to us? What in the world? The two exchanged a conversation in a different language, as Raz looked at me. He waved way too happily as he patted Damian on the shoulder, turning and heading off. Jess grabbed me, pulling me through the entrance doors.

“Girl, what in the world happened?!” she whispered as she held me close.

“Um-I... Don’t know?” I responded, not sure if she was asking what happened between me and Damian or how my mom ended up in the hospital.

“What do you mean you don’t know? Your mom said some guy was assaulting you!” She hissed as we rounded a corner, heading toward an elevator. I sighed as we stood there waiting for it to open for us.

“J-Jake assaulted me. Mom got him off me and then...” I paused, chewing on my lip as the door opened. We climbed into the elevator, Damian closing in behind us. I quickly hit the close buttons, cutting him off as I mouthed sorry to him. I saw his brow raise as the door closed.

Once it rose a level, I hit the red stop button.

“W-what in the world...” Jess started to say.

“I don’t have much time, so please believe me, Jess...” I took in a deep breath so I could say what I needed to in as quickly as possible. As the words left my mouth, I felt like she was going to tell the doctors to 51/50 me. Her expression was blank as I finished. Without a word, she reached out, hitting the button to continue our climb.

“Sooooo... you must have hit your head Pop’s,” she looked at me concerningly as the door opened on the fourth floor. Damian was already there, grinning as we exited the elevator. Jess avoided him as we walked by him.

“Most people will deny the supernatural by downplaying it...” He chuckled as he strode next to me. I folded my arms, huffing, as we entered my mother’s room.

“Poppy!” my mother shouted as she sat upright in her bed. I felt tears start to well up as I reached out to hug her. She wrapped her arms around me as I broke down.

“Oh-mom...” I sobbed into her neck as she stroked my back.

“Shh, Poppy, shh...We’re alright...” she whispered as her voice cracked. I felt Jess wrap her arms around us in a hug as we all held each other in silence. When I pulled away, I noticed Damian was gone. Unhinged but not a monster kept playing through my head.

“I still can’t believe that was Jake...” I wrapped my arms around myself as my mom looked at me curiously.

“Jake? That wasn’t Jake, that was just some psycho!” My mom’s response had me wide-eyed. What in the hell!?

“Mom, th-that was Jake!” I choked out as Jess and she looked at me worryingly.

“Poppy, you need to get your head checked.” My mom reached out toward me as I took a step backward. Damian poked his head around the corner, whistling at me to come over. I shook my head, still shocked by what my mother said, as I turned to head toward him.

“I’m sorry Poppy, but your mother was persuaded to forget that it was Jake.” He said lowly as he leaned against the door frame.

“W-What are you talking about?” I forced my question out through my dry throat. He sighed as he reached out, stroking my cheek.

“Not now, mic rosu...” He leaned forward, placing a peck on my forehead. “Go and spend the day with your mother. I’ll explain later... promise.” He grinned as he went back to leaning against the door frame.

Sighing, I went back to my mom, taking a seat at her bedside. We talked and watched soap operas most of the day. Jess went and got us food from the cafeteria. The doctors checked on my mom, stating that she had a broken wrist and a mild concussion. They said she would stay one more day for observation but could go home tomorrow.

“See! Good news.” My mother beamed as I still struggled to wrap my brain around everything.

“Poppy, why don’t you and Jess stay here and watch the New Year ball drop with me?” She patted my hand as Jess giggled.

“Mrs. McNair, we can’t. Visiting hours are up at 6:00 p.m.” Jess stood up, stretching.

“Jess is right, besides- I need rest after my...” I pursed my lips together as I looked at the floor. My mother placed her hand on my cheek, stroking me as she sighed.

“That’s alright dear, go home...” Her gaze flicked to the door. “Spend New Year’s Eve with that handsome man.” She winked as a grin swept over her face. I rolled my eyes. It’s nice to know my mother’s still the same. Jess signaled to me it was time to leave. I stood up, giving my mother a kiss on her cheek before we left.

As we exited the hospital, that same blonde boy strolled up. He was wearing different clothing, the same atheistic. Damian and he exchanged words, then a nod as he waved at me again, taking a seat on the wall next to the entrance. I almost broke my neck as I kept staring at him as we walked by.

“Keep your nose up mic rosu...” Damian whispered next to me, causing me to jump. He chuckled as he opened the car door for me.

We arrived back home; Jess went in before us as I climbed out of the car. Damian was checking the perimeter as I followed inside behind her.

“Hey, I’m going to spend time inside the main house, so you and... Mr. Handyman...” She overly exaggerated a wink at me. “Can spend time together.” I was about to protest, but she lifted a finger, hushing me.

“I have to do laundry and call my folks anyway, so take the leap Pop’s!” She bent over, grabbed her laundry, and winked at me. Ha! Take the leap. You would have lost your s**t if you just listened to me in the elevator. She left, closing the door behind her, leaving me in silence.

I plopped down on the couch, putting my head between my knees. My whole life has been flipped upside down in the span of what? A week? I sighed as I ran my hand up my neck, feeling the fresh scars on my body. I felt a tug in my chest as I was missing Damian.

Ever since he made me drink... his blood... I’ve felt like a string was attached to him, like a line. I can’t see it, but I can feel it, guiding me to him. It let me know when he’s nearby. It was oddly comforting. I laid down on the couch, my eyes catching on the hoodie he left that I neatly folded and placed on the edge of the counter. I chewed the inside of my lip, sitting up.

I pushed off the couch, heading to the counter. I grabbed the hoodie, holding it close to me as I decided to slip into it. It was overly baggy on me, making me feel warm as it wrapped his smell around me. I flipped the hood up and waddled my way back to the couch, lying down as I waited for him to come back.