Another day...(it's long cause 24 hours is a lot to cover).

Well the doctors are now saying that I can go home. Amber is going to keep an eye on me still. It

feels weird. Another human being likes me...I suppose it's because she doesn't know everything

about me. I don't quite believe that she loves me yet. There's got to be a catch. There always is.


Amber drove me home (since I can't legally drive do to medical complications). Just walking up

the stairs was tiring. I have never felt this weak since my father was alive. I entered my apartment

with a newfound surge of energy. It was strange. I wasn't tired anymore so I flicked on the TV and

went to the kitchen. I got a glass of water and told Amber to help herself to anything in the

refrigerator. She took me up on the offer and got a glass of milk. I sunk into the poorly stuffed

couch. I started thinking about stuff that I shouldn't think of...and then I was bursted out of it

when...

Amber asked, "Do you want to go out to eat?"

I was shocked that she made a move, but relieved that I didn't have too.

"Sure, where to?"

"I don't know. Where do you want to go?"

"Somewhere with good food."

"How about Pizza Hut?"

"I was thinking more on the line of skittles."

"How about we pick you up some skittles and then go to Pizza Hut?"

"Sounds good to me." I like how she solves problems while leaving me in the equation. I have met

a lot of people (2) who don't posses this wonderful quality.


So we left and headed for a gas station to fill the car up and get me some skittles. I never really

liked skittles or candy in general. But I think that concussion did something to me...it changed me.

People are looking less and less obscene I even laughed at a joke (which is shocking). I think I'm

going to feel some emotions soon. It feels like I am transforming into a different person.


She filled up the car and I bought myself some skittles.

I handed her some money to pay for the gas and she acted shocked....I don't know why.

"It's fine I'll pay."

"I am not taking no for in answer."

"Seriously it's fine."

"No it's not. I haven't done anything nice for you. Your driving me all around town I should at least

pay for it."

"Fine but I owe you."

"You don't owe me anything."

"Then keep it."

"Come on I am trying to do something nice, but you're making it extremely difficult. Just take it."

She grabbed the money and walked away in defeat. She paid for the gas while I waited in the car.

I could hear what was going on inside....

Cashier, "Looks like you got yourself a keeper."

Amber, "Yeah."

Cashier, "How long have you two been together...if you don't mind me asking."

Amber, "Two days, counting today."

Cashier, "You guys are a nice couple. It's hard to come by people like you guys these days."

Amber, "Yeah, have a nice day."

She came outside with a card hopped in the car signed it quick and handed it to me. I have never

been to a gas station that sells cards...strange.

Me, "What's this for?"

"Your birthday weirdo."

It read, Happy Birthday to someone special! Love, Amber.

"You didn't have to get me anything."

"No but I wanted to." She started the car and we drove off.

"Well thanks."

A couple minutes later we arrive at Pizza Hut.

I held my messenger bag close. It held my skittles, my iPad 2, sheet music, pencils, Legos, and a

camera.

I held the door for her of course. I felt like such a gentleman.

Amber, "So what are you getting?"

Me, "Water."

Amber, "Let me rephrase that, what are you getting for lunch?"

Me, "I don't know I've never been to Pizza Hut."

Amber, "You've got to be kidding me."

"Nope. I've never in my life been to a Pizza Hut."

"They have pizza, chicken wings, salad, breadsticks, pop, slushies, and lots of other stuff. Here

you can look at the menu while we wait."

"What the hell is a menu and why would I want to look at it?"

"You don't get out much do you?"

"Not really."

"It shows. This is a menu." She showed me a piece of paper with a protective coating over it and

lots of pictures of food.

"Oh I see you mean a carte."

"I guess so. You just look at what's on the menu and then tell the waiter what you want."

"I know. Did you think that I'm that stupid?" I said sarcastically.

"No. I just want to make sure you understand."

"I'll have whatever this is." I pointed to a long rectangular piece of what looked like bread.

"That's a breadstick."

"Ok I'll have two of those."

The waitress sneaks up behind me and startles me.

Waitress, "And what would you like to drink with that?"

"I'll have a water."

Waitress, "And what about you ma'am?"

Amber, "I'll have a salad, and a lemonade."

Waitress, "Pink lemonade or just regular?"

I thought about that for a minute...I wonder how they get the lemonade to turn pink? I thought it

was probably a chemical reaction or something and dismissed it.

Amber, "Pink."

Waitress, "Coming right up."

Me, "We go to Pizza Hut and we don't even get pizza."

A few minutes later we get our drinks.

"What makes pink lemonade pink?" I asked.

"I'm pretty sure it's food coloring."

"Oh." I didn't know what food coloring was but I wasn't about to make myself look even more

idiotic by asking. So instead we sat in silence.


I started thinking. I thought about what it must be like to feel emotions. To be able to say, "I am

sorry," and mean it. To feel happy when something good happens. It sounds like a dream but it's

going to happen to me. I will feel something...I have to.

Our food came...

Waitress, "Can I get you guys anything else?"

Me, "No it looks like you got everything right."

Waitress, "Ok just holler if you need anything."

Amber, "Have you ever had a breadstick before?"

"Nope, but it looks good," I said. "Here goes nothing." I took a huge bite and thought really hard

about the flavor and texture.

"How does it taste?"

"What did you say this was called again?"

"It's a breadstick."

"Well this breadstick is good."

"I am glad you like it."

She says everything with a smile...I like her smile. I wish I could smile for real.

"Do you have any relatives?" She asked.

I hate this conversation already.

"Nope it's just me."

"Oh, I am sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry about. My mom was a hooker. My father tortured and raped me until I

had enough and put a bullet in him. My grandpa thought I was possessed. My grandma thought I

was the devil. And my aunt and uncle tried to kill me seven times. My real father now he was a

good guy he was a doctor and a great dad."

"What happened to him?"

"He took the place of a little girl in a robbery."

"That must be where you got your bravery."

"Yeah, I guess so." I tried to force a smile but failed miserably.

"I am sorry about your dad."

"Yeah me too. What about you do you got any family?"

"Yep. I've got a dad and a mom."

"That's nice."

"You should meet them sometime my mom would love to meet you."

"That would be nice."

"Good it's settled then. When we finish eating we can go to my parents house."

"Okay."

Me, "Man you're a slow eater."

"Well some of us eat a real lunch."

I thought about it for awhile and figured she was referring to the portions of food.

"Well some of us have shrunken stomachs due to starvation and dehydration," I retorted.

There was a long and awkward silence.

Me, "Is there anything I should know about your parents?"

"My mom will probably be analyzing your every move. And my dad is probably at work."

I was taking this so seriously. Like I had one shot for approval.

Amber had just finished eating so I waited a minute.

Me, "Are you ready to leave?"

"Yeah."

I left a tip and paid the bill.

"To your mother's house." I said with determination.

"Yep."

When we got in the car I had one reoccurring thought... What if her mom doesn't like me?

In 6 minutes and fifty seven seconds we arrived. I kept track of time....meaning I am nervous...I have never been nervous in my life until now.

"What should I say?" I asked nervously.

"Just be yourself."

I had a feeling that her mom wouldn't like me for who I was, but I would be myself nonetheless.

The house was huge it wouldn't surprise me if they had servants. It was two stories tall that's

huge. I can't imagine living in a house this big. We walked through the huge doors I held the door.

I once again felt like a gentleman.


I feel like a peasant. There's glass chandlers and a fancy staircase. And what do I look like? A

beggar who just came off the streets.


"Mom?" Amber shouts through the hallways. We go through a glass door back outside. Oh

goodness they have a swimming pool...who the hell are these people?


"I am back here sweety!" She replies.

"There's someone I'd like you to meet."

Her, "Is he cute?"

"Mommmm...just come out here please."

"Ok, fine you win."

Her mom came over to the pool by us. It feels awkward yet again.

"Mom, this is Gabriel. Gabriel, this is my mom."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," I said rather smoothly.

"It's nice to meet you too," she said.

I can't quite understand how to meet new people.

"Gabriel is an artist." Amber said to break the awkward silence.

"What's your medium?" She asked.

"Excuse me? I don't understand to what medium you are referring too."

"It's like a type like pencil, pen, paint, ETC." Amber said.

"Well I do all sorts of art mostly pencil, I paint as well. I am also starting to do Lego art."

"Do you have any with you?"

"Yeah but I left it in the car. Would you like me to go get it?"

"That would be nice."

Amber tossed me the keys and gave me a weird look.

I ran to the car grabbed my messenger bag and ran back as quickly as I could.

"I like this one," she said to Amber.

That's good to hear...don't mess this up.

"And I am back," I said with a smile.

I walked over to the table and laid out all the artwork I had with me.

"Which one do you like the most?" I inquired.


"This one." She pointed to the one of me trapped in the soundproof room my father used to lock

me in...I was scraggly, weak, dirty, covered in blood, scars all over my face, and you could see my

ribs.


"Nice choice. You can have it."

"No this must have taken you ages to draw I'll pay for it."

"No it's fine really. I couldn't let you pay for it."

"No I insist."

"No one else wants it. It's just a self portrait I did in the eighth grade."

"This is you?"

"Yeah, who did you think it was?"

"What happened to you?"

"I really don't wish to talk about it, but I figure it'll have to come up sooner or later. So here goes

nothing...I was 7 when my mom died and then I was handed off to my dad. My dad would take me

to church every Sunday and after church he'd take me home and say, "God says to obey your

parents," then he'd tell me to take my clothes off, and then he'd rape me. He would sometimes

beat me unconscious and then when I'd come to he'd beat me again. He would lock me in a

soundproof room until I memorized a book of the bible. I stayed in there for weeks without food or

water. He would hold me under in the bathtub until I lost consciousness. One day I found a gun in

his closet...and let's just say when he got home he got a little surprise...and he now resides in a

cemetery. I'm glad I got that out of my system."


"So you can keep the picture it's just a pitiful reminder of my past." I said.

She took the picture which made me feel better.


Amber was crying... I wasn't sure what to do so I went over to her and hugged her. I kept saying I

was fine but she kept crying. I started to cry too...I haven't cried since I was a baby. I am amazed

at my empathy it feels so good to be able to feel emotions again.


Her mom just stared at us until she started crying too. The afternoon had turned into a big group

hug. When we all stopped crying I said I was going for a walk. Amber came with me.

"Why didn't didn't you just tell me?" She asked.

"Because I was afraid I'd lose you."

"You aren't getting rid of me that easily."

"I couldn't risk it. I...I...love you." I managed to stutter before having a asthma attack.

I died. Apparently Ambers mom ran to get her inhaler but I had already stopped breathing. So

Amber gave me CPR. She saved my life. I really love her. I meant it. This feels extremely weird.

Almost like I'm another person. I have died six times in my life...I've never felt so alive.

We went back to my apartment and had a good time for the rest of the night.