The Ties That Bind | A Curtis Cousin Story - The Outsiders

Chapter 37 - I Trust You

I watched the door click shut as Darry left for the home visit. My heart felt heavier with every second that passed. He'd been so sure, trying to reassure me before he left that everything would be fine. But I wasn't convinced. How could I be? None of this was supposed to happen. Everything about this whole situation had spiraled out of control. It wasn't just about my leg anymore or recovering from the gunshot. No, it was about whether or not I'd even get to go home. Or worse... whether or not I'd still have a home.

I sighed, leaning my head back against the stiff hospital pillow. The room was too quiet. Ponyboy sat in the chair next to my bed, flipping through a book absentmindedly, though I could tell he wasn't reading a word of it. Soda was pacing by the window, occasionally glancing at me with that look of worry he couldn't hide no matter how hard he tried.

"I hate this," I muttered.

Soda stopped pacing and looked over. "I know, kiddo, but it's gonna be alright."

"Darry's got it under control," Ponyboy added, though there was a slight tremble in his voice.

I wanted to believe them. Really, I did. But nothing felt certain anymore. What if the social worker didn't think Darry could take care of me? What if they tried to take me away? The thought alone made me wanna throw up. I couldn't imagine not living with them, not having my cousins there every day. They were all I had left.

Time passed slowly, every tick of the clock loud in the otherwise quiet room. Pony eventually fell back asleep in the chair. Soda had stopped pacing and now sat on the windowsill, staring out into the dull, overcast sky.

When the door creaked open again, all three of us jerked up, and Darry stepped inside. My heart raced, and I pushed myself up slightly in the bed, wincing as I shifted my leg.

"Well?" I asked, my voice more desperate than I intended.

Darry closed the door behind him and took a deep breath before walking over to us. He looked tired—too tired. The weight of the world seemed to rest on his shoulders, but there was something in his eyes that gave me hope.

"I think it went well," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "She asked a lot of questions, looked around the place real thorough. But I did everything to show her we've got it under control."

"Does that mean I can go home?" I asked, barely able to contain the anticipation.

He nodded, and for the first time in what felt like days, I let out a breath of relief. "She'll be here soon to talk to you. Said she wants to see how you're doing, but yeah, hun, you should be coming home."

Pony's hand found mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze, and Soda smiled faintly from the window.

Before I could even process the relief washing over me, there was another knock at the door, and Ms. Harris, the social worker, walked in. She carried a clipboard and had a neutral expression on her face, but there was something about her that made my pulse spike. This wasn't over yet.

"Good afternoon," she greeted us, her voice professional and polite. "Lillian, how are you feeling?"

I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady and hide the fear that was building inside me. "Better."

She smiled faintly but it didn't meet her eyes. "I've spoken with your cousin, Darrel, and visited the home today. From what I've seen, it's clear that the boys care about you deeply, and your living environment is sound."

I exhaled, a wave of relief passing through the room. But then she paused, her gaze settling on me with a seriousness that made the tension rise again.

"That said," she continued, "I do have some concerns about whether they're fully equipped to handle the responsibilities of your care, especially given the fact that you've recently been injured."