My Hometown Love

Chapter 36 – PTSD

Lexie’s P.O.V

So, my dear brother Jake has just claimed that he has an idea of where Kevin should stay until he fully recovers. Curious, I move from my standing spot in the kitchen doorway to sit on the couch armrest next to Mom.

“Since Lexie’s not working and is at home most of the time, Kevin should stay here with you guys.”, Jake blurted out to my surprise.

“That sounds feasible. We can’t let Kevin stay alone and manage everything alone with one good arm. We can take him in till he gets better. If that’s okay with Lexie of course, since she’ll be the one mostly around?”, Dad replied as they all turned to look at me expectantly.

“Oh no. I can’t do that. I don’t want to impose on all of you. I can handle myself.”, Kevin suddenly chimed in.

“Oh shush you poor thing. Sweetie, what do you think?”, Mom said to him before turning to ask my response.

I watched everyone’s expectant eyes on me except Kevin’s, who was looking away. I suddenly wondered why I was taking so long to answer them when I knew exactly what I wanted to say.

“It’s okay with me. It’s a great idea, Jakey”, I replied, much to Kevin’s surprise as he suddenly looked up to look at me.

“Then, that’s settled. Kevin will stay in my old room till his arm heals fully.”, Jake says as he takes a seat on the armrest next to Kevin.

Kevin shifts uncomfortably in his seat as he smiles weakly. I know this must be very uncomfortable for him but I’m worried about him being in his house all alone.

Looks like we’re going to be stuck together for a while, Kevin.

*************

Kevin’s P.O.V.

I sat in Jake’s old room as I tried to unpack some stuff. Jake was kind enough to take me back home and help me grab some stuff before dropping me off back here. Honestly, I was a little uncomfortable with burdening the Coopers with my presence but I couldn’t say no to their hospitality.

I awkwardly but politely ate dinner with the Coopers before retiring to my room. I laid on the bed but I was distracted by a bright light coming through the window. I got up to inspect the source of the light and looked up to see the moon shining brightly down at me.

Suddenly, I felt a feeling of peace wash over me and I lifted myself on the windowsill with my right arm. I leaned on the wall as I looked at the moon, letting it shine straight into my soul. I pulled out the new phone that I bought at the airport. I dialed my mom’s number and stared at the screen, hesitant to press the ‘call’ button.

I sighed deeply before pressing the button and waiting for her to pick up the call.

“Hello?”, I heard her warm voice say.

“Hi, Mom. It’s me.”, I replied.

And so, I told her everything, assuring her that I am doing okay and that the Coopers’ were taking good care of me. I had to keep comforting her or else she’s going to come down here herself. After plenty of scolding, lectures, and tears, I hung up the phone and stared out the window again.

I kept reassuring myself that I was fine, but I still felt that deep inside me, I haven’t come to terms with what I did. Like always, I brushed it aside and got into the bed, ready to sleep it off.  

My eyelids started getting heavy as I stared at the ceiling, slowly dozing off.

********

I was walking in a lonely white walkway, confused about where I was. There were doors on my right and left as the sound of beeping monitors echoed through the walls.

“AHHHHHHHH! DR. WALKER, HELP!”, I heard a voice scream loudly.

I turn around abruptly as I follow the direction the voice was coming from. I open one of the room doors and suddenly I was in the medical camp in Salem, with little Ashley screaming.

“HELP ME, PLEASE!”, she screamed as she kept glancing above her.

Above her, the big cement chunk was tearing through the tent and making its way down.

I run towards Ashley but I find myself not moving. It’s as if something was pulling me back, stopping me from reaching her.

“Dr. Walker, please help me.”, Ashley cries out, sobbing loudly.

“I’m coming, Ashley!”, I reply as I keep on pushing myself forward, running.

I turn around to see if anyone was holding me back or if my shoes were stuck to something.

Nothing.

Frustrated and afraid, I scream out frustratingly as I close my eyes and desperately try to reach her before it was too late.

I open my eyes to see the boulder making its way straight down.

“No! Ashley, run!”, I scream as tears pour down my face.

But Ashley remains still and looks directly at me.

As the boulder reaches her, I slump down on my knees in defeat.

“I’m sorry…. I’m sorry Ashley…. I’m sorry…I’m sorry.”, I keep repeating as I cradle my head in my hands and lament.

********

“Kevin! Kevin, wake up!”, I hear a voice call out as I feel my body shake.

I look down at my hands and see them covered with blood. My blood runs cold at this sight and I suddenly jerk awake.

“Kevin, it’s okay. You’re having a bad dream.”, I open my eyes to see Lexie standing beside the bed next to me as she gently strokes my hair.

I try to control my heavy vigorous breathing and slowly look at my surroundings, convincing myself that it was all a bad dream.

I look down at my hands in horror, to check if there was blood over them as I try to scrub them together to remove the imaginary blood.

Lexie’s hand in my hair calms me down as I turn to look at her gratefully.

*************

Lexie’s P.O.V.

I was just about to get into bed when I heard a voice through the walls, shouting.

That’s odd? Is Kevin on the phone?

I put my ears to the wall and hear him shouting and screaming. Alarmed, I put on my robe and gently sneak out of my room to make my way to Kevin’s room. It’s a good thing that Mom and Dad’s room is on the other side of the house, so they couldn’t hear him.

I knocked lightly on the door.

“Kevin? You okay?”, I asked softly.

There was no answer to my question only the sound of Kevin’s voice screaming that he’s sorry. I open the unlocked door and peeped inside to see Kevin in bed, vigorously shaking his head. I approach the bed carefully and see Kevin’s face drenched in tears and sweat.

He was crying out ‘I’m sorry’ repeatedly as he sobbed. My heart ached at this sight as I bit my lip to stop myself from crying as well.

I walked to the side of the bed next to his head and lightly shook his shoulder. When he didn’t respond to this, I started using two hands to shake him harder while I asked him to wake up.

Kevin suddenly jolted awake and sat up straight as he looked around the room and at his hands. I started stroking his hair to help him calm down, like how Mom used to do for me when I had a bad dream.

I watched his breathing regulate normal again as he calmed down. He looked up at me with those wet eyes and fear all over his face.

Suddenly, I felt his right arm wrap around my waist pulling me closer as he buried his face in my abdominal area, hugging me tightly as he sobbed uncontrollably. Despite being completely dumbstruck, I continued stroking his hair until his sobs started dying down.

The minute his grip loosened and he started pulling away, I immediately sat down on the bed next to him.

“Hey, you okay?”, I asked.

He just responded by nodding solemnly as he wiped off his tears with his t-shirt.

“I have an idea. Follow me.”, I said as I took his hand and guided him out of bed.

Kevin just followed me like a zombie as we snuck down the staircase quietly and towards the backyard. I stopped to grab two bottles of cold water from the fridge before leading him to sit on the deck.

“Now, sit down here and drink this.”, I said as I passed him the bottle.

He reluctantly took it and gulped down the whole bottle in seconds.

“Now, look up.”, I said as I pointed towards the night sky.

We looked up to the dark night sky illuminated with the moon and shining stars. I looked over and saw Kevin’s tensed shoulder slowly loosen and a smile creep across his face. His hand reached over towards me and he gently placed it over mine as he gave it a light squeeze. I responded by flipping my hand around and interlacing my fingers with his. I saw his smile grow bigger as his gaze didn’t peel away from the sky.

After a couple of minutes of sitting there in silence, hand-in-hand, we silently returned to our rooms, and based on the quiet room next door, I can say that we both slept peacefully.

**************

Kevin’s P.O.V

I look up from the bathroom sink and faced the mirror in front of me. My mind started to drift away to my faded nightmare yesterday. I shut my eyes hard to destroy the memories of the dream and started thinking of what happened after that instead.

I opened my eyes and smiled at myself at the interesting events of last night.

Maybe, it was a good idea that I’m staying here after all.

I wiped my face and hung up the towel neatly before making my way downstairs. I was about to open the door of my room when I saw a piece of paper slide under my door. I quickly bent down to pick it up and read it.

Let the bad memories of yesterday be forgotten and let the good memories of today be reminisced. Smile, it’s a great morning. ~ L.

I quickly open the door to catch the sender, only to see her standing right in front of my door, smiling brightly. She was wearing that yellow summer dress that brought out her eyes with her hair up in a messy ponytail.

I lifted the paper, showing it to her, arching my curious eyebrows at her. 

“Good morning.”, she says, smiling sheepishly before turning her heels away, running down the stairs and far from my reach.

*************

Lexie’s P.O.V

I run down the stairs and towards the living room, only to find Jake and Maria sitting on the couch.

“Jake? Maria? What are you guys doing here so early?”, I asked.

“Where’s Kevin?”, he asked, changing the subject.

“I’m here! What’s up?”, Kevin replied.

“Sit down you two.”, Maria says as she fishes out two paper bags from behind the couch.

I and Kevin awkwardly sit down on the couch, exchanging curious looks with one another.  Jake hands one bag to Kevin, while Maria hands me the other.

They take a step back and stand together, hand-in-hand before instructing us to open the bags.

“Open it.”