ET-chapter nine

Here's the final chapter of Eternally Yours. I hoped you enjoyed reading it.

Chapter Nine:l

Eames entered the hospital eager to pick up her best friend. She walked through the double doors and past a nurses' station. She found room 279 and tapped on the door, before opening it.

Bobby was sitting on the bed while a nurse attended to his blood pressure. Benji sat on a chair next to the bed and observed the nurse. He looked at Eames as she walked over to him.

"How are you feeling, Goren?" Eames asked him. He was unconscious for nearly two weeks.

Goren mouthed the words, 'it hurts.' His neck was bandaged with white gauze. The fishing line had cut into his skin as he tried to fight his attacker. The doctor's had to cut his skin to get the line out.

"The doctor says he needs to stay quiet for a few weeks to heal his throat." Benji explained.

"Yea, right, as if hee can do that." Alex laughed. "I do not see that happening."

Benji giggled with Eames and Goren glared at both of them. He took his fist and slammed it into the palm of his hand, but it only made them laugh harder, causing him to put up both hands in mock surrender.

After the laughter stopped, Bobby motioned for his notebook and Benji got it for him. He wrote something on a piece of paper and then handed it to Eames.

"What about Randy?" Eames read it out loud. She looked at him. "Randy's dead. I shot him."

Goren looked sad, but he understood. Randy used to be his best friend in the service. If anyone could have made something of himself, it would have been Randy, but he chose to walk on the dark side.

Bobby looked at Benji and wrote again. He handed her the paper. "I'm sorry." It read. "For what?" She asked. Bobby wrote some more. Benji read the paper to herself and then looked at him. "This wasn't your fault." Tears welled up in her eyes, "I don't blame you, Bobby, and you shouldn't either." She took the paper and threw it away. "You didn't rape me, he did! You aren't responsible for another's actions." She turned away from him.

Bobby looked to the floor, before glancing at eames. She looked back at him and smiled slightly. So many thoughts were going through Goren's mind. He wanted to tell Benji that even if it wasn't his fault, he still felt responsible and will always feel that way. He enjoyed her friendship and was afraid that what happened would change things. He could tell she ahd already changed and it frightened him.

Benji turned around to face him and went to hug him. She had tears in ehr eyes as he hugged her back. As if reading his thoughts, she said, "We will always be friends-always."

Smiling, Benji pulled away. "Are you ready to go, Alex?"

"Whenever you are." Alex pulled out her keys.

Benji nodded and smiled at Goren. "Please get better soon."

Goren smiled back and waved goodbye to both girls as they walked out of the room. He laid back in his hospital bed and sighed softly. The nightmare was over, but Goren felt cheated. he wanted Randy to pay, not get the easy way out. Hell, he even wanted him to suffer, just like Ariana and Benji suffered. Goren slammed his fist into his pillow as he rolled over.

He looked out the window and saw the blue sky. A small bird sat on the window sill looking back at him. The bird was tiny and it wouldn't move. It seemed intent on sitting where it was and watching Bobby. Goren watched its little beak opened and he knew it was singing a song just for him. It made him smile as thoughts of Ariana filled his mind.

The bird sat there for nearly ten minutes before opening its wings and flying away. Goren had the feeling it was Ariana checking up on him one last time before leaving him forever. He closed his eyes, happy again, and soon fell asleep, something his old body needed for a such along time.