Forget Me Not (Book 3 of Acceptance Series)

I sat on the ground after my shower and put on my clothes with my legs splayed out in front of me, and my breathing was labored. My whole body ached and was sore, and all I wanted to do was get to my bed so that I could rest, but I couldn't move.

I had no energy left to give for me to complete my task...

My eyes were closed, and a small grimace was on my face while I rested to get some energy back, but I did not ask for help, even though a part of me knew that they were willing to help me get back to bed so that I could rest comfortably.

Someone knocked on the bathroom door, and I turned to look that way while I opened my eyes but didn't say a word. "TJ?" someone asked, my sister, her voice barely above a whisper and filled with hesitance and fear. "Are you ok? Are you hurt?"

I bit back a tired sigh and moved a shaking hand through my hair and across my face, pursing my lips in annoyance. "No," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, even though I had a feeling that my sister had heard it. "I am not, but I am not hurt."

"Is the door locked?" my sister asked, speaking normally while she knocked on the door a second time. "Do you need help getting a shower, or are you done and need help getting dressed?"

"The door isn't locked," I replied and shook my head. "I am done with all of that and just need help getting back to bed." I leaned my head against the tub, biting back a small groan of annoyance. "I don't know if I will be able to stand and get back to bed by myself."

My sister hesitated, and I could tell that she was nervous about whatever it was she was about to ask, as if she was afraid of what I would say. "Do you want Dad?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't mind getting him in here for you."

Oh, thank Goddess...

"Is he still waiting by the door?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question, even though I knew that she wouldn't be able to see it.

"Yes," she said and nodded in confirmation. "He is still sitting beside the door and waiting for you to ask him for help if you need it." She cleared her throat and shifted on her feet. "Mom is there, too," she added, hesitating some more.

I bit back a tired sigh and slowly nodded. "Ok," I said and moved a hand through my hair and across my face. "If she wants to come in, too, then she can come in." I paused and licked my lips, biting back a small smirk when a thought occurred to me. "You know that I can ask them myself, right?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question.

My sister opened the bathroom door and shrugged. "Eh," she said. "I'd rather be helping you b-"

"I am going to smack you if you keep that up, Melody Rose," I said and bared my teeth in warning just as my parents walked into my room. "I swear to Goddess, you are driving me insane with all of this."

"With all of what?" Mom asked and raised an eyebrow in question. "And do not smack your sister. I have raised you better than that, Thomas Junior. Just kick her ass in the ring the next time that you fight." She flashed me a small smirk and a wink, and I held back an eye roll, biting my lip to keep myself from smiling.

My sister sighed and shook her head while she rubbed the back of her neck, feeling sheepish. "I might have pissed him off by babying him a little too much, Mom," she said and bit back a small smile while she tucked her head closer to her chest.

"A little?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question while I studied her, cocking my head to the side. "Are you sure that it is a little?"

"Are you sure that you should have been released from the hospital so soon?" Melody asked and raised an eyebrow in question while she studied me, and I pursed my lips in annoyance, tucking my head closer to my chest.