Jason left for about an hour after Lily woke from her blank dreams. She hadn’t had amazing dreams ever since that one horrible day when her aunt was murdered. All of her dreams were either nightmares, her mother talking to her, Lucifer’s memories that usually were nightmares. And if none of those happen, then her dreams are blank. Empty.
She sighed in boredom as the door to her room opened. “Hey there,” a nurse said. Lily turned her head to see a black nurse with dark brown hair tied into a ponytail peak her head in. When she saw that Lily was awake, she opened the door fully and stepped into the room. “It’s time for you to go home!”
Lily’s eyes widened, “Really?” She asked hopefully, “I’m getting discharged?”
The nurse nodded, “Yes, you can walk now. Just don’t push it. Get lots of rest.”
“What about Jason? Where is he?” Lily’s tone became sharper. She was worried. How was she supposed to get places if he wasn’t there?
The nurse smiled, “He’s waiting for you in the lobby.”
Lily slipped her legs off the bed as the nurse handed her a pair of sandals. Really expensive looking ones. They were made of solid tan colored leather. Lily lightly grasped a hold of the sandals and stared down at them with her eyes squinting. She didn’t remember buying those sandals. She didn’t even think she saw them until that day.
“He bought them for you,” the nurse said.
Lily looked up. “Jason?”
The nurse nodded slightly, then smiled. “Sorry, my job is to know patient names, not their boyfriends.” She looked down at the sandals, “Just make sure you strap them loose, but not too loose.”
“I know, thank you.” Lily said as she pushed her gauze wrapped feet into the sandals and gently strapped them.
*****
Lily took the elevator to the lobby and stood there next to a really old person. They were both awkwardly silent. The elevator played it’s usual music… wait… was it Christmas music? She shook her head as the doors opened and Lily let the old lady get out before she did.
Lily walked down the halls of the hospital to the lobby, feeling like a tiny speck of dust compared to the forty foot high ceilings. When she entered the lobby, she saw that Jason stood at a desk, signing paperwork.
When she made it up to him, he finished scratching his signature and he looked up at her. “Hey,” he smiled sweetly, “how are you feeling?”
“I’m okay.” Lily said, her mind preoccupied.
“Are you still wondering what day it is?” He asked, smirking.
She looked up at him, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Yes.”
Jason raised an eyebrow, “Seriously?”
She looked down and nodded. What the hell? What day was it? She didn’t have her phone to look at the calendar. Jason wouldn’t tell her and she started feeling irritation climbing up her skin.
He pushed his hand out from his side, “Come on, lets go.”
She laced her fingers through his, feeling his normal body heat. Her skin still burned, but he made sure that he didn’t press down on any scorching hot blisters. Why wouldn’t he tell her what day it was? Why was he enjoying torturing her with confusion.
He muttered a small “thank you” to the person at the desk and started walking, pulling Lily along with him. He half-dragged her out of the door, pulling her to the car. Why was he in such a hurry? He stood by his old, used sedan and grasped the door handle of the passenger seat.
He paused before opening the door and looked up at her, “You seriously didn’t see all of the decorations?”
Lily shook her head, “What decorations?” She wondered. Confusion surged through her stomach, causing her to feel lightheaded. Was it someone’s birthday?
Jason chuckled, “Lily,” he looked at her, “it’s Christmas day.”
Lily’s eyes grew. Oh god… It was Christmas already? Why the heck did she not know that? So, that’s what he meant by decorations. She wasn’t paying attention to the music or anything else. All she noticed was the Christmas themed songs in the elevator.
“Lily,” Jason snapped her out of her thought process. He grinned softly, “I got something for you.”
“You did?” She questioned. Oh no… She didn’t get him anything!
His happy eyes gazed into hers, “You don’t have to get me anything. I’m happy with the things I have now.” He gripped the door handle tighter in excitement, “Now, are you ready?”
She nodded and he opened the door. She expected him to grab something or just give her a card. But, no. Instead he patted his leg and clicked his tongue, softly saying, “come on.” Her heart pounded with confusion. Was he talking to her? What was going on? She was panicking, but she didn’t know why.
She heard a quiet bell ring in the air and something landed on the floor. She was too baffled to understand what was going on. So she stared at the ground where two shadows appeared.
“Go on.” Jason said, “Go to her.” Who the hell was he talking to?
She heard the bell ring multiple times and a beautiful brown and orange spotted cream colored puppy came running toward Lily. Lily’s eyes widened at the sight of the gorgeous short haired dog. She covered her mouth with her hands and collapsed onto the ground. Her burnt knees stung as she hit the floor, but she didn’t care because Jason just got her something she thought she would’ve never had. Her heart pounded in her chest, making her feel like her ribcage would shatter.
Lily held out her hands and the puppy padded up to her and jumped onto her lap, settling down onto her cushioned, teal dress.
Jason smiled and kneeled down, “Lily, meet Jules.”
Lily’s heart sank in her chest. She looked up at Jason, “You… named her after my mother…?” He continued smiling, not saying anything, but grinning softly at Lily’s watery gaze.
“She’s trained in Emotional Support, and she is also service trained.” Jason said, “She can find your shoes, keys. She can turn on the lights, she can basically do anything.”
Lily’s shock filled her lungs and she gasped for air as Jules rested her head on Lily’s lap. “She’s… beautiful…” Lily breathed.
“Go on.” Jason suggested, nodding his head toward Jules, “Pet her.”
Lily hesitated, then lightly placed her hand on top of Jules’ head. She stroked Jules’ fur softly, and her eyes grew even larger than before, “She’s so SOFT!”
“Yes.” Jason chuckled softly.
“I didn’t know dogs could be soft…” Lily murmured. She continued petting Jules’ head. The puppy just relaxed in Lily’s lap and let Lily pet her. Lily looked up at Jason, her eyes watery from shock, “Thank you.” She said, “Thank you, thank you, thank you…”
Jason continued grinning, reached out, and brushed his fingers through Lily’s hair. “Now you have someone to help you other than me or yourself. Please, know that you’re not alone, and I care about you so much.” He looked down at Jules, “And look at that, she loves you too.” He softly petted Jules’ head and stood up. “Come on, let's get going. We have some shopping to do.” Jason gazed at Lily who stared down in her lap at Jules who was breathing softly. He held out his hand, “Can you stand?” Lily shook her head softly. Jason patted his leg, “Jules, come on.” He said excitedly.
Jules’ head perked up and she stood from Lily’s lap, walking over to Jason. He lightly grasped Jules’ armpits and lifted her, placing her into the car.
Once Jules was in the car, he gazed down at Lily who stared off into the distance. “How do you want me to help you up?” Jason asked kindly. “Do you want me to help you up by hand? Or maybe lift you like I always do? Although I wouldn’t recommend it with your burns.”
“Hand is fine…” Lily said softly. She looked up at him as he offered his assistance. She placed her hand on his and he held it firmly as she struggled to stand. Her legs wobbled a little, but she was able to steady herself.
He still held her hand as she walked to the door of the car, settling on the passenger seat. Jason softly buckled Lily. She winced as her burns stung from the seat belt rubbing against her gauze. When he finally buckled her, he gave her an apologetic smile. A smile that said, “I’m sorry that hurt, but it’s better to be safe”.
She smiled back. Jules walked into the front of the car from the back seat and settled down on Lily’s lap.
“See?” Jason said, “She knows you need comfort.” He cupped Lily’s cheek so softly that Lily barely felt his hand touch her face. She assumed he didn’t want to irritate the burns. He stepped back and almost closed the door when he realized something and opened it again. He leaned forward and shuffled through a grocery bag at Lily’s feet that she just noticed. He pulled out a harness that said “Service dog” and “do not pet”. “Can you put this on her?” He asked politely, “I have to drive.”
Lily nodded as Jason handed her the harness and closed her door. He walked over to his side, opened the door, and rested onto his seat. Lily pulled Jules’ feet though the harness and buckled it as he pulled the gear shift into reverse. Then they drove off, leaving the hospital behind.
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