A Girl Called Nothing

6

"Emily, I need you the listen to me. Your mother had no idea that you would be in a freak accident. No idea you'd end up here. Emily?" 

"My name is Nothing."

"Okay, but still. We need to discuss your situation. Why aren't you living with your parents? Why did you leave? Who exactly are you?" 

"Doctor, she's hyperventilating. We need to get some oxygen into her quickly. Now!" 

A young female's voice rang out by my bedside. A cold pair of hands placed an oxygen mask of my face as the sterile room was filled with black spots.

***

"Daddy! Leave the light on. The dark is a scary place." She wailed, before snuggling down in her bed, to a lit bedroom for some sleep. The dark had never appealed to her, Emily.

***

I woke up, a mask assisting my breathing, Alex by my bedside. I looked him dead in his eyes, my hazelnut irises reflected in the sky pools. 

He didn't say anything, there was really no need to. They must've let him into my "room" because he was family. But really, I have no family. I haven't had one for three years. 

"Em- I mean Nothing, are you okay? I just want to know." 

Deep in my bones, I know that he really cares about me. All those years ago, he was the only thing that kept me standing. Shielded me. But no shield is invincible. I wish I could tell I'm okay. I'm fine. But wouldn't believe a word. 

"They want you to speak to mum. To help them piece together your story. Mum wants to speak to you too. She wants to make things right, really. 

Even when you left, she never stopped looking. Everyday, even when the police suspected you dead. Until the cancer got her, right in the lungs. Been ill for over two years now." 

I looked at the floor, not wanting him to see the small pricks forming in the back of my eyes. I had no idea she was ill. Or for how long. Who knew how much time she had left? Could there be a solution to everything? 

This is how it all began: