NOT ALONE

Days of Summer

External Point of view

Mairin was carrying a few light boxes from her residence to her car, parked in the parking lot at the back of the school. She kept looking back towards the main building and the one that led to the classrooms, the auditorium and the music rooms where she'd spent so much time. She never thought she'd complete the year and graduate, and yet here she was, packing the last of her things into her car for her trip away from Ann Arbor. She made room in the trunk and in the back for Meredith to pack her own things... She finally accepted her invitation to live with her and Denise, in Chicago. She'd be close to the hospital and the transplant building, she'd be under the care of several doctors and she'd only have to take a taxi to get there. Darren won't be far away, as he, Brian and Nick have found a flat just a few blocks from them. They'd only been together a short time, so there was no point in rushing things, especially as the future could hold some nasty surprises, especially in her case.

Darren was coming down the stairs with her last - and heaviest - boxes in his arms, and Meredith was adjusting some of them so that they could fit everything into her car. The weather was glorious, and the park that surrounded the Michigan School of Music, Dance and Theatre was revealing its most beautiful colours. They'll both miss this place deeply. They'd met some of the best people in the world there and they felt a twinge of sadness at having to leave it behind. 

Mairin didn't know if it was nostalgia or the anguish of leaving Ann Arbor, but she felt my chest contract slightly. She reflexively turned away from Darren to stop him worrying. These last few days were difficult, as far as her health was concerned. She felt Darren's hands grab her waist and put her head on her shoulder, coming close to her ear:

'Sad to leave?'

'A bit...'

She had said these words in a whisper, almost toneless, as if something had restrained her. Darren made her turn towards him slowly and added:

'Are you feeling all right?'

She nodded without really thinking. She'd been feeling weaker and weaker, the twice-daily oxygen treatments weren't enough and she was using the Ventolin like a sugar addict snacking. He noticed, obviously. He ran his hand over her cheek and stroked it, but she could tell he was worried, probably by the increasing pallor of her skin and her inability to make any effort for the last couple of days.

'I'm not sleeping well...' she murmured, trying to find another explanation. 'That must be it.'

Of course, he knew she was lying and grinned, before opening his mouth to retort, but it was Meredith's voice in the distance that stopped him.

'I'm going to lock up and give the keys back to the caretaker!'

'Go and check she hasn't forgotten anything, please,' Mairin whispered to Darren. 'You know how she is!'

'Are you sure?' he hesitated.

She nodded, pushing him back slightly to get him to go.

'I'll be right back...' he said, running towards the entrance to the residence.

As if her lungs had been waiting for him to leave, she felt the air suddenly clear and a searing pain strike her chest. No... not now... not today... she stepped back to grab hold of the side of the car body, holding on to something stable to stop her falling backwards. Everything was spinning around her and she felt almost nauseous. Eventually her legs gave out on her, along with her strength, and she collapsed onto her knees with her hand around her neck, trying to catch her breath but not being able to. She couldn't call anyone, she couldn't do it. At last she collapsed all the way down, and all she could hear were Darren and Meredith's terrified screams and their heavy footsteps on the pavement coming towards her, before she lost consciousness completely, convinced that death had finally taken her.