CandiceThis is it. Jared and Laynie are getting released today. I feel like a parent waving goodbye to their children on their first day of school. I don't expect to ever see them again, so today is bitter sweat. I spent most of my shift yesterday checking on them. Ben was not happy that I spoke with Jared, or that I assigned myself over to him and Laynie, but I know he was pleased I didn't take anything too far. I couldn't do that to them. Especially in their current state.Yesterday Jared woke up needing more pain medicine. I was able to talk with him a little and all he was worried about was Laynie. I am so happy for them, but at the same time jealousy roared its ugly head at me. I have never had a man care for me the way Jared does Laynie. "Here are your discharge papers. Jared's are in there as well. It reiterates everything Dr. Toring has explained to you. Phone number is at the bottom so if you feel any discomfort please don't hesitate to call." I say to Laynie as I handed

CandiceI get home a few hours later from the repair shop. Mom is in the kitchen making some kind of pasta and has the whole house smelling incredible. I stand at the archway in between the kitchen and living room just staring at her in her element. She is humming a little tune and it's moments like this that she reminds me of her former self and not the shell of a woman that has lost everything.I step closer and make my presence known. Mom stops her hum and turns to me while maintaining her perfect speed of stirring. I walk up to the stove top that the Ziti is boiling in and take a big whiff of the homemade sauce she is making to go along with it. I know I will have to make a mental note to go jogging tomorrow morning. I'm going to need it after tonight's dinner. Memories of my mother making this for me when I was little come rushing to me. I smile at the fond memory and get ready to ask her if she needs help when I notice she has her head down, a look of grief crosses her flawless

CandiceI look around the room I am in. It's a bit on the small side, with just a queen size bed, a nightstand, a dresser, and a television mounted on the wall above the dresser. The girl, the one Austin addresses as Abby, scoots her chair closer to the bed I'm on. She has a small little nurse's kit hanging from her forearm. I close my eyes at the irony that I'm on the bed while a nurse is getting ready to evaluate me."Abby, was it?" I ask."That's right. Slice tells me that Austin said you were a nurse. Which hospital do you work at?" She asks."Treepointe." I say with a small smile. The small movement to my cheek causes me to flinch.Abby is by my side instantly checking my face out and going back to her bag to pull out a cold compress and some arnica cream. She starts rubbing the cream on my cheek softly and when her eyes meet mine I see a glimpse of compassion. She seems to be a very soft-hearted girl. She also seems to be a bit on the young side. She has long blonde curly ha

CandiceI look around at the women of the club. Austin told me that the club was on lockdown so I know not all of them are here but there are a few, and I feel completely out of place. When Austin asked me to help with the women I wasn't sure what to expect but now I think he was just trying to include me. It is clear by the faces these women are wearing they need no help."Who is watching from outside?" A woman with huge knockers, and blonde streaked hair asks."Dale is out there, along with Mipps and Evans." Another says coming in from the kitchen.They all look powerful and fierce. I envy that from them. Abby walks in with a little bandage around her ankle. She gives me a reassuring smile and sits next to me, I am just about to ask her a question when the men storm out. Most of them walk around and collect their women while Austin, Max and two other men head over to Abby and me. One of the men I recognize from the hospital the other day. He has dark hair with even darker eyes. T

CandiceWith a few "turn here" and "turn there's" to Austin, we arrive at my house in about twenty minutes. It's interesting to know that I live so close to the clubhouse and Austin's home, yet I have never run into him. Just goes to show that my boring life only consists of my route to and from work. Austin pulls over right before my house, I'm guessing so we can have a quick chat about what happened before we left. He hurt my feelings yet again, but I have learned how to hide away all my sadness, my fears, everything. When I was younger I didn't want to be a burden on my mother with anything. I saw how hard she worked and just didn't want to worry her. I always got straight A's, I never did any sports or anything because she couldn't afford it. When I was eight years old my grandmother won the lottery. Yes, unlikely, I know, but it did happen. She won three hundred thousand dollars. By the time she paid off all her debt and gave my grandfather's home a makeover it desperately needed