Colourless

Chapter Nineteen

Reinvigorated from my chat with Malik, I returned to the hospital wing the next morning; having my cut checked out, before returning to Holly's bedside. "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." Closing the book, I ran my hands over the faded cover. "The end."

"That was..." Holly trails off, instead gesturing a silent explosion with her arms. I chuckle, nodding along. "Oh, I know," I agree, my brows furrowing as I notice large beads of sweat on her forehead.

Wringing out the wet washcloth that had been soaking in a bowl of water, Holly hums at the coolness as I wipe away the sweat — the heat from her forehead instantly warming the towel. "I'll go get a nurse," I whisper, hurrying out of the room to notify someone of her fever.

***

"What's wrong with her?"

"Well, she has a fever reaching 40 degrees Celsius which is just below tissue and organ damagingly high. She also appears to be internally convulsing."

"Internally convulsing?"

"Usually you can see people convulsing when they do it, but her muscles are contracting yet keeping it all on the inside." The doctor sighs and I glance sideways through the door and into Holly's room, "Her body has been through so many things that it's just giving up on her in the most agonizing ways." I give the doctor a sad smile when her name is suddenly called, causing her to say a quick goodbye before sprinting off in the direction of the voice.

Checking my watch, I notice the hands nearing the time I had agreed to meet up with Malik. "I'll be back, okay?" I whisper to Holly, watching her smile grow as she nods silently in reply. "I'll try and find another book, too."

Exiting the room, I sigh — wielding The Great Gatsby like a lowered shield.