Keep A Promise or Die

Chapter 8

The hospital room was now empty, quiet and seemed very large. There was the constant beep of the medical equipment, but nothing else. Jet looked at his watch. Nearly 9 pm. His stomach was pinching him.

“Hey, I’m going to go down and get something” he said, warily.

“Okay” Ivy replied. Jet was unsure.

“Do you want anything?”

 Ivy unzipped her rucksack and showed Jet the contents. It was full of an endless supply of chocolate.

“Really...” Jet stopped, and gulped. This wasn’t the time to bicker on Ivy. Jet fell quiet; then he sighed and silently walked out.

Even though Ivy hadn’t nibbled anything all day, she had no appetite. She watched Chirp, who seemed untroubled by what was happening, breathing softly and deeply, like he was only taking a nap. Her train of thoughts moved onto the day when Chirp had been sleeping on the hill, leaning against that tree, the she cringed at the memory. Joy never lasted long, at least, not for Ivy.   

After Jet had returned to the room, he found it oddly still. Then he realised that Ivy was asleep, sitting on the chair, her head resting on the mattress. Jet tried to shake the memory of his savageness out of his head, and concentrated on Chirp. Chirp didn’t look like he was in a severe condition. The rotten doctor. He walked closer to the bed, and looked at Chirp. Just like he was sleeping, he thought. To be sure, he poked Chirps arm, pulled his eyelashes. He truly isn’t responding. Usually Chirp woke up with the slightest twinge. What happens now? Jet said to himself, sinking into the armchair.

Ivy woke up suddenly, trying to grasp her location. She sat up, her back aching from bending all night, and tried to make sense WHY Chirp was laying in front of her asleep. Oh that’s right; all of yesterday’s events came flooding back. She stood up, rubbing her eyes, and saw her hat fall to the floor – it was squashed-  as she bent down to pick it up, she saw someone sitting on the armchair- Jet.

“Did you sleep well?” he put his phone down.

“Nuh” she sighed, rubbing her back. Jet scanned Ivy, and tried not to laugh. Her eyes drooped, voice thick, hair like a bird’s nest and the dress; the weather had changed dramatically overnight, and now it was cold and rainy, the dress looking comical in the weather. Ivy’s arms and legs were covered in goose flesh.

“Let’s hope your mum is generous enough to bring you some extra clothes”    

Ivy went to the bathroom and while she was gone, Chirps mother and brother dropped in. Jet didn’t want to see Dr Hughes again, but he showed up anyway, acting all smart and important. “I’m sorry to say Mrs. Evendew, but there has been no change in his condition” Dr Hughes feigned a concerned look. Mrs. Evendew bit her lower lip.

Sure enough, by lunchtime, Mrs. Venom had come to visit Chirp, also bringing along a small knapsack. Ivy took it gratefully, and when she was about to walk away, Mrs. Venom caught onto to her and said, “Are you staying today as well?” Ivy nodded. “I want to be there when he gets better, because I have to apologize”.  Mrs. Venom took a deep breath, knowing she couldn’t let her daughter down now. “Then promise me, if anything happens to Chirp, you wouldn’t become a black-clad bloomy girl again”. Ivy laughed bitterly, “Mum, just to let you know, I had ENOUGH of promises for a lifetime, don’t expect anything” and she trudged away, her flip-flops making a ‘thwack’ noise in the silent corridor.

After Jet had returned from the cafeteria, he came into find Ivy sitting on her usual spot, next to Chirp. She had changed, and looked much more sensible in jeans and a big white jumper. Ivy was eating a chocolate bar from her supply. Jet couldn’t help feeling concerned.

“You can’t live off chocolate, you need to get food into your system” he remarked, falling into the armchair. “Watch me” she replied, without looking at him.

“No, I’m serious, this isn’t healthy…” He was cut short by a bar of chocolate flying towards him, smacking against his head.

“Relax” Ivy said, a ghost of a smile creeping onto her face, but not emerging. Jet grumbled, but unable to resist, took of the wrapper. He watched as Ivy prized apart Chirps fingers, and placed a bar in it. Jet felt awfully sad. She was so pathetic. But Chirp didn’t move, yet again unaware of the gift in his hand, nor of Ivy who sat wordlessly by him.

By evening, when the adults departed, Ivy’s method had changed. When the last nurse left, she began. She talked. Ivy started at her earliest memories, which were told so vividly, each word bursting with the happiness of her childhood years. Even though she was speaking to Chirp, who was still motionless, lingering between life and death, she was also showing Jet her covered life.

Jet was starting to understand what Ivy’s motives were. She was trying to convey how important and memorable life was, why Chirp couldn’t let go just yet. Ivy then moved on, telling Chirp about her dad’s death, how empty and hopeless it had left her, how much she gradually changed, what it was like to be present, but not noticed. She talked half the night, Jet listening intently, feeling every emotion, living each memory. Ivy then talked about the last few weeks, her voice worn out and a whisper.

“Chirp, when you talked to me, it was the first time in a long time I was recognized. I knew that I should have hated you; it’s only natural, when you went ahead and read private information, but, you ended up as a friend. I started liking your company, not having to spend another day moping around ignoring others’ joyful laughs and enthusiastic conversations” She continued, even though her breath was choked with tears.

“ I was looking forward to learning to play video games with you guys, I even made an effort to dress up different … I found it funny to watch you sleep, but not for this long” she mumbled before her head drooped onto the mattress, asleep like last night.

By the third day of Chirps unconsciousness, Ivy had lost her patience. Jet didn’t like seeing Ivy losing it, as he watched silently as she screamed at Chirp to “Stop the freaking acting and get up”. Then her ranting was mixed with sobs, so what she was saying was hard to understand. Jet couldn’t stand it anymore, so he decided to get some fresh air. However, when he came back, he wished he hadn’t left. Jet was shocked. Ivy was kneeling over Chirp, shaking him so vigorously that his head made a snapping sound each time it flicked back.

“Ivy, stop that! You stupid girl, let go!” he shouted as he ran up to the bed, and pulled Ivy back. Chirps head lolled to a side as Ivy let him go, but she still squirmed under Jet’s pincer grip and ice-cold glare.

“You could have done serious damage, what is your problem?” he asked softly, seeing that Ivy’s state was unstable, also remembering his inhumane act a few days ago. Ivy shook her head, her lips trembling, and buried her face in her hands.

“Don’t don’t again, ok?” Jet said before setting Chirps head carefully on the pillow, and fixing the tubes that jumbled from the shake.

Chirp’s parents had come on their now daily visit, Jet’s mother joining them to check on Jet. They were all disappointed, as the doctor told them that there was no progress, and his health was suffering because they couldn’t give him too much nutrients in case it got in the way of the ‘unknown sickness’. Dr Hughes still didn’t find what the reason for Chirps unrepaired consciousness was. He solemnly declared that there was a 90% that Chirp’s recovery would fail, but he would observe for a few days, just for the sake of it.