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- >It's been a week and Lulu is still in the hospital
- >the doctors said that she's not healing as quickly as she should due to her poor eating habits
- >namely that she doesn't eat at all if she doesn't see you
- >regardless you visit her every day
- >she's looking better, she can sit up and she doesn't need a machine to help her breathe anymore
- >the bullet that hit her pierced one of her lungs, the doctors say that she would have died on the street if you didn't help her
- >that's a small comfort
- >as soon as she's well enough to leave she'll just end up back on the street
- >next time she'll likely end up in the morgue instead of the hospital
- >that just makes you angry
- >you want to do something for her, but you don't know what
- >you walk in to Lulu's room
- >she looks at you and smiles
- "Hey. How are you feeling?"
- "Better"
- >you sit down next to her bed and think
- >you've never felt this way about anyone before
- >you want to do everything you can to make her happy and keep her safe
- >when you saw her hit the ground it was like someone tore out your heart
- >is this what love feels like?
- >as you stew in your thoughts it finally hits you
- >you have no idea why you didn't do this in the first place
- "Lulu?"
- "Yeah"
- "When you get out of the hospital, do you want to come live with me?"
- >the silence lasts only a few seconds, but it feels like an eternity
- >her eyes widen and glisten with tears
- >she wipes her eyes
- "Do you really want me to?"
- >you don't hesitate to answer
- "I love you. I have since the day I met you. All I want is for you to be happy. I don't have much, but I promise I'll do everything I can to give you the life you deserve."
- >this time she doesn't try to stop her tears
- "Okay"
- >you hug her tighter than you ever have
- "I've got to get some things ready, but I'll be back. I promise."
- >you leave her room in a state of elation
- >now that this is happening, you have some people to call
- >it's not a call you're looking forward to
- --
- >you haven't spoken to your parents in years
- >the last time you saw them they made it clear they didn't want to see you again
- >if not for the present circumstances you'd never even think of calling them
- >no better time to tear off this band-aid
- >an older sounding man picks up on the other end
- "Hello?"
- "Hey dad, it's Anon."
- >there's a short pause
- "Hello?"
- "I don't want to talk to you"
- "I know. I wouldn't call if it wasn't important."
- "Let me guess, you need two thousand dollars or they're going to break your legs. I'm not giving you any more money just so it can go up your nose."
- >you groan. It's not surprising at all that he still holds that against you
- "I don't do that anymore. Look, I need money for my kid."
- >you hear something break over the phone
- "What?"
- >you explain to him everything that's happened so far
- "I see. that certainly is an interesting story."
- "So will you wire me some money?"
- "I'll send you the money, if only to ensure that child turns out better than you did."
- >your father wasn't one to mince words
- >but money is money
- "Thanks"
- >that's one hurdle cleared
- >now you need to take care of something else
- >you haven't shown up for work in three days, so you've almost certainly been fired
- >which means you need to find a new job
- >putting that in the back of your mind you decide to head home
- >you crawl into bed, the day's events still replaying in your head
- >when you wake up, you'll be a father
- >you still can't wrap your head around that
- --
- >you spend the entire day getting things ready
- >you buy clothes, food, toys, a bed, anything you think she would need
- >once you've got it all in your apartment you go back to the hospital
- >Lulu is finally well enough to leave
- >she runs up to you and hugs you
- "Let's go home"
- >once you're back home you cook dinner
- >it's the first time in a while you've cooked with something other than a microwave
- >still, it turns out better than expected
- "How is it?"
- >she takes a bite, her face lights up
- "So good. This is the best meal I've ever had."
- >even though that isn't a high bar to clear you still feel proud
- "Alright. It's about time for bed."
- >you take her to her room
- >she flops down on the bed
- "It's so soft."
- "Glad you like it. Goodnight."
- >you go to your room and go to bed
- >a few hours later you're woken up by someone walking your room
- >Lulu silently crawls into your bed
- "Bad dream?"
- >she nods
- "Don't worry, I'm right here."
- >she falls asleep, the whole time she doesn't stop shaking
- >you're not surprised, most grown adults were never the same after something like that happened to them
- >you couldn't imagine what she must be going through
- >you pull her close and hold her
- >she stops shaking and sleeps peacefully
- "Don't worry, I've got you"
- >that was the first night, the night you two became a family
- >what started as a chance encounter between two strangers ended with their lives bound to one another
- >all the hardships the two of you endured were all worth it in the end
- >neither of you would ever be alone again
- --
- >you can't believe this day has come
- >so much time passed without you noticing
- >this might be the happiest day of your life
- "Okay Lulu, smile"
- >Lulu looks incredibly embarrassed
- "Come on, can't you be cool?"
- "Nope. This is one of two times where I get to be as uncool as I want, you're just gonna have to deal with it."
- >you snap picture after picture
- >once you're done she groans and goes off to join her friends
- >she only acts like this around them, but that doesn't bother you
- >nothing could possibly bring you down today
- >today's the day you get to see your little girl graduate high school
- >it's amazing how she went from a low C student to graduating high school with honors
- >she's already gotten a scholarship to a good college so you don't have to worry about tuition
- >you take your seat in the stands, you're the only human attending
- >after multiple speeches from the students and staff it was finally time to hand out the diplomas
- >you wait for your chance
- >finally it comes
- >the principal calls out her name
- "Lucille Mayberry"
- >you jump up
- "WOOOOOOO. THAT'S MY BABY!"
- >you shout at the top of your lungs
- >Lulu grabs her diploma and rushes off the stage
- >the other parents are glaring at you, but you don't care
- >once the ceremony is over you find Lulu outside and run to her
- >ignoring her protests you wrap your arms around her and spin her around
- "Lulu?"
- "What is it?
- "I'm so proud of you."
- "Thanks, dad."
- --
- >it's been years now
- >you're old and retired
- >the city tore down the project years ago, but with the money you had saved up you were able to move to a nice, quiet suburb
- >you're glad you're not in the ghetto anymore, but you find yourself aching for something to do
- >you hear a knock at the door
- >when you open it you see a group of dogs, a woman, a man, and two young boys
- >you haven't seen them in years, but it feels like only yesterday
- "Hello, it's good to see you all again"
- >Lulu smiles at you
- "Hi dad. Can we come in"
- >you laugh
- "My door's always open for you."
- >the last time you saw her was the day she got married
- >you've been keeping in contact with her, but this is the first time she's ever come to visit
- >her two kids run to the backyard and play while Lulu and her husband join you in the living room
- "So, how have you two been?"
- "It's been wonderful. The new trauma center has already saved so many people."
- >Lulu and her husband Ron were both doctors, they met in college
- >things in the city never got any better, but at least with the new trauma center there's a chance more people can be saved
- >Lulu's ears perk up and she gets an angry look on her face
- "Those two better not be fighting again"
- >she storms off to the backyard
- >after she's gone Ron looks at you
- "Can I ask you something?"
- "What?"
- "A human raising an anthro, how does that happen? I tried asking Lucille but she won't tell me anything."
- >you sigh
- "It's a long story, but what the hell?"
- >you tell him the long, sad story
- >about the man who had given up on his future
- >about the girl who had given up on living
- >how they ended up coming together
- >and how they saved each other
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