In His Shadow

Blue

Why was it so cold!?

"Maya, love, you need to wake up and take some medication"

Please, leave me alone I need to sleep.

"Sorry Sunshine, I know you don't want to"

Stop shaking me!

"Maya!?"

Jesus Christ, stop shouting my poor head.

"Amaya Kavanagh!!"

With great effort, I forced my eyelids open peering blearily at my mother who was standing over me baring some form of pill and a bottle of water. Mindlessly I followed her instructions because it was the only way I was going to get any peace.

"Good lass yourself, now I need you to be honest Maya, what hurts?"

Everything.

"My head, my rib, I ache, I'm so cold...Think its just a cold. Just need to sleep" My words emerged garbled and sleep coated but this was my Ma so I knew she would understand my poor attempt at communication.

"You get some rest, lovely, I'll pop up and check on you in a bit"

Grateful that those words meant she was going to exit, I let my eyelids slam down surrendering to unconsciousness once more.

Why was it so hot!? Had Ma turned the heating on when I said I was cold!?

"How is she?"

Was that Joey!? Why was my whole family staring at me while I slept!?

"Burning up, doesn't even wake up when that awful cough shakes her, poor little mite"

Jesus Ma, I am not Sean.

It was so hot so damn hot! No matter which way I twisted there were no cool spots left on the pillow, the sheets were all knotted around my feet. It was all so uncomfortable. I wanted to peel off my skin. But forcing myself into consciousness was too much effort. Even breathing was a tremendous effort.

"Ma!!!"

JJ I already told you about making so much noise.

"Call a Doctor now!"

What was that whistling noise!? It was so fucking annoying. Is it the cough Ma was on about!?

"It's okay Sunshine, it's all going to be alright, just breathe for me sweetheart"

I was breathing, what sort of stupid instruction was that. Jesus Christ! Someone stop that whistling noise.

"Maya, come on, you are scaring me! You don't want to scare your big brother right!?"

The whistling noise had been joined by a disjointed squelching noise; it was the most irritating orchestration I had ever heard.

"Screw the fucking Doctor! Put her in the car we are going to the hospital"

Joey, if you get me out of this bed I don't care how much effort it takes me I will end you.

"Fucking Hell, you are on fire!! Why didn't you tell us sooner you headstrong eejit"

Never mind, I don't want to fight back JJ's skin was wonderfully cool it was delicious. The breeze when he opened the front door was even better. Just put me down JJ I will sleep on the porch.

"Listen Kid, you are triggering me something fucking terrible right now! So I am going to need you to focus that stubborn nature on breathing"

Joey's voice sounded distant and distorted as though I was twenty thousand leagues under the sea. I wanted to apologise for upsetting him but my brain felt like treacle, try as I might I could not work out how I had triggered my guarded adoptive brother.