[ WP ] They say you find love where you least expect it .

My neighbour had always had a habit of being annoying. When I tried to climb the big tree out back, she did nothing but whine the whole time, telling me to stop being so stupid before I hurt myself. Same thing with my first real bike, getting me in trouble for riding all the way to my friend's house. Pestered me about my homework. Acted all smug when she did better in tests than me. 
 
 I often wondered if she devoted her life to getting between me and having fun. For some reason, even my choice of friends mattered to her, and, if I thought I could ignore her, she chattered at me until I gave in. It made me look forward to graduating high school, getting rid of her a better prize than grades. She did n't get any less annoying over the years, but I got used to it. Would have gone mad otherwise. 
 
 But, I forgot about all that in a moment. 
 
 Never liked hospitals. Too many broken bones and fractures over the years. Just sitting in the waiting area made me antsy. Never any good at doing nothing. But, as reality sank in, I got a lot better at sitting still, and felt the blood drain from me. 
 
 My dad looked lost, just an empty stare. Broken. Sister not much better, hiding red eyes in her hands, saving the tears for trips to the bathroom with the friend who'd driven her down from university. 
 
 Me, I just, could n't. I could n't break down. Did n't know how. Bent out of shape, but did n't snap. Felt heavy, and everything looked so far away, sounded so far away. I… felt so far away, and alone. So alone. 
 
 A squeeze of my hand brought me back. Everything became so loud all of a sudden, I could n't think. Looked at my hand, and saw a hand entwined, and I swallowed that loneliness, squeezing that hand back. Squeezed my eyes shut as the tears flowed.
