Life is the Long Game

Chapter 30

Maya's POV:

When we arrive at the hospital, Amelie begins to scream. It's as if she senses that something is wrong. We hurry to find Lucas and Riley.
"Lucas!" I call as I spot him. "Where is she?"
"In there." He points to a private room, with lots of complicated medical equipment wired up. I nod and rush in, shutting the door behind me. I can still hear Amelie crying.
"Riley? I think you can hear me. Please, you've gotta wake up now, can you hear that crying? It's your daughter, Amelie, I think she knows something is up. She sounds heartbroken. Please wake up." I beg, holding her hand tightly.
"Maya?" I hear a weak whisper, about an hour after I entered the room.
"Riley. It's me."
"Could you just get Amelie? I need to see her."
"Of course."
I go put into the corridor, get Amelie from her stroller and go back to Riley without saying a word. I pass her to Riley.
"Hi babygirl. I love you very much. Now listen to me, I'm not gonna be around anymore, I have to go on holiday for a very long time. Please look after your daddy when you are old enough, and make sure that all our family lives long, happy lives." She says to her oblivious daughter, I know what she is doing, she thinks she is going to die. She isn't though, she can't, she won't.
"Mama. Mama." She whimpers sweetly. Riley hugs her tightly.
"Aww baby, I love you. Maya, please take her?" I take her from Riley.
"Take good care of everyone Maya. I have been very lucky to know you."
"Riley don't do this."
"Maya, I smell peaches..." She fades out deliriously.
"RILEY!" I yell as her eyelids flutter starting to shut, she tries to open her mouth. Then the doors swing open, Lucas is stood there, he can't even make out any words, he winces, and clutches his chest, I told him to go to a doctor. He collapses onto the floor. He's gone. Riley tries to open her mouth to talk again, all that comes out is blood as she reaches out her hand and slowly closes her eyes. Then the alarms around us begin to sound.
I scream her name over and over again until no sound comes out, everything around me is a blur.
"Maya? Maya!"