Send me ‘coma’ for my muse’s response to yours being in a coma.
It was her fault. It was her fault that this had happened. She couldn’t stop him. The sickly fluorescent lighting beamed down upon the two Gallagher gingers. One was lying comatose in a hospital bed with a knocked up skull and broken back. The other was Debbie, sitting in the furthest corner of the room, not trusting herself to be any closer to Ian, afraid that she’d somehow cause him even more pain. Her eyes were bloodshot and fixated upon her brother in the bed and of course, Mickey was asleep beside him in the bed, despite the Doctor’s protests. Ever since he arrived he hadn’t left Ian’s side just as Debbie hadn’t left her designated seat of shame. She couldn’t sleep. She couldn’t eat. She couldn’t think about anything except about what had happened just the day before.
She should have noticed that he wasn’t taking his medication. There was something slightly off about him but Debbie couldn’t always decipher. Too many times she was paranoid about him acting out due to his not taking his medication and was instead met with an insulted glare, which caused her to shut her mouth. Still she should have known. After the time she let him flush his pills she should have learnt from her past mistakes regarding the matter.
The morning started off with a pleasant surprise when she was shook awoke by her older brother who had a towel wrapped around his neck and swim trousers on. She didn’t hesitate before beaming at her brother and changing into her bikini as the two made their way toward the Mansion’s outdoor pool, whipping one another with their towels randomly along the way. It was the perfect day. Just Debbie and Ian spending quality time as they had cannon bomb competitions and splashed one another relentlessly. It felt just like home. And not the bad association she had with home. The good one. It’s funny how just one perfect day can transform into the absolute worst day in just the blink of an eye. Debbie emerged from the water, wiping her face off with water, “How long was I under that time, Ian?” She squinted, the pool coming into focus as she whipped around, “Ian?”
“Up here, Debs!” Immediately she tilted her head up to find Ian standing on the edge of the roof. Horror filled her eyes as she pushed herself out of the pool, “IAN! What are you doing?” Panic started to bubble within her, making it harder to breathe, “Ian! Get down from there!” But he wasn’t listening. He was smiling…and not in a good way. “I know I can do it.” Ian said in a sort of sing song voice as Debbie looked around, trying to figure out what to do, “Ian, just….stay there! Don’t do anything!” She ran as fast as she could into the mansion as she barreled herself up the daunting steps, slipping a couple of times from the pool water but not slowing down as she made her way up to the roof. This place was a maze but luckily Ian had left behind a water trail as well.
“IAN!” Debbie shouted as she pushed with all of her weight up against the door, bright sunlight filling the dark staircase as she ran into the light…literally. A faint sigh of relief escaped from her lips when she saw that Ian was still there and unharmed, though when he turned to look at her he wobbled which caused Debbie’s heart to stop as she lunged forward but he balanced himself out. “Ian, please. Please come down from there.” She pleaded desperately, slowly stepping closer afraid that if she moved to suddenly he’d launch.
“Monica was right. Us, Gallaghers, we can fly.” He said with a laugh as he motioned to the sky above them, Debbie shook her head this wasn’t good. “No, we can’t, Ian. Please, come down. Let’s go play Marco Polo again, okay?” Debbie said desperately, still inching toward him ever so slightly. For a moment, he looked at her and she thought he was going to listen to her but just like that the moment was gone and he turned around to face the cloudy sky, muttering something about how beautiful it was before thrusting himself off the edge. A scream erupted from Debbie’s mouth as she ran to the edge of the roof to find Ian’s body lying at the bottom of the pool, unmoving, blood mixing with the blue water. Luckily Mickey had heard her screaming and was there to jump in to save Ian. Everything after that was all a blur to Debbie.
A scream woke her up and she hadn’t realized it was her screaming until her eyes opened to find Mickey shaking her awake as she let out a gasp. “Jesus, kid. You tryin’ to give me a fuckin heart attack or something?” He shakes his head before letting out a sigh and walking out the door.
“Where are you going?” She asked, rising in her chair as she looked at him with frightened eyes.
“Christ, to take a fucking piss. Relax.”
When the door shut behind him Debbie gulped as she looked over at the bed. This was the first time she had been left alone with Ian since the accident. Slowly, she pushes herself out of her chair as she drags herself heavily toward the side of Ian’s bed. She does a sharp intake when she sees him up close, every scratch and bruise more visible even through the bandages. Her face scrunches and soon she can’t control the loud sobs that escape from her, causing her to double over Ian. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She scrambles up into his bed as she lies beside him, her hand gently caressing his face as she takes a deep breath in, “Please wake up.” Her eyes look at his resting expression before pressing her lips against his forehead, “I love you, Ian.” She rests her head upon his chest and soon her eyes flutter close to the sound of his heartbeat.
