Her Purpose

Chapter Twenty-Four

I came to slowly, awareness seeping back bit by bit. The first thing I noticed was the pain. Everything hurt, but my throat felt particularly raw, as if I'd swallowed broken glass. I tried to swallow and immediately regretted it, wincing at the sharp ache.

For a moment, I wondered if I was dead. Surely, being dead wouldn't hurt this much? I forced my eyes open, blinking against the harsh fluorescent lights. No, definitely not dead. Just in hospital, which some might argue was worse.

As my vision cleared, I took in my surroundings. The room was small and sterile, filled with the soft beeping of machines. I was hooked up to several of them, wires and tubes snaking from my body. The sight made me feel queasy, so I looked away.

I was about to drift off again when I heard voices coming from the corner of the room. Soft murmurs at first, but as I focused, they became clearer. I cracked my eyes open just enough to see without giving myself away.

Nathan and Dad were there, huddled near the window. They both looked awful. Nathan's eyes were red and puffy, like he'd been crying for ages. His usually neat hair was a mess, sticking up in all directions like he'd been running his hands through it non-stop.

Dad... oh, Dad. He looked old. Really old, not just the kind of old I'd always thought of him as. His shoulders were slumped, his face lined with worry.

He looked as dead as I felt.

They hadn't noticed I was awake. Part of me wanted to let them know, to reassure them I was okay.

Well, as okay as I could be, given the circumstances.

But something held me back. Maybe it was the serious looks on their faces, or the way they were talking in hushed tones. Whatever it was, I stayed still and listened.

"I can't stop thinking about that night," Nathan was saying, his voice rough. "When I got your call, John... I thought... I thought she'd died."

Dad put a hand on Nathan's shoulder. "I know, son. It was touch and go for a while there."

Nathan shook his head, running a hand through his hair again. "I've never been so scared in my life. Seeing her like that, all pale and still... it made me realise how short life is, you know? How anything could happen at any moment."

I felt a pang in my chest that had nothing to do with my illness. Poor Nathan. I hated that I'd put him through that, put all of them through it. But it wasn't like I'd had much choice in the matter. Cancer doesn't exactly ask for permission before it ruins your life.

"She's a fighter, our Beth," Dad said, a hint of pride in his voice. "Always has been."

Nathan nodded, a small smile flickering across his face. "Yeah, she is." He paused, taking a deep breath. "John, I mean, Mr Reid, there's something I wanted to talk to you about."

Dad raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what's with the formality?"

"It's about Beth. And me. And... our future."