The Dead Kings

False Husbands and Adrenaline Junkie Doctors

"You took my heart
And you held it in your mouth,
And with a word
All the love came rushing out,"
Florence Welch

After a good few hours, that feel like days, a doctor comes in, white coat and all.
"I'm looking for Mr Blackwood? Cole Blackwood? Husband of Elizabeth Blackwood?"

"What do you mean, 'husband'" I ask the doctor as I stand up in indignation. Once again our group takes centre stage to the surrounding audience of the waiting room.

"I mean the person who is currently married to my patient, and for some reason I'm doubting that you are him. Which makes me ask who you are."

"I'm her sister, Nova Kitwell and I-"

"She's here to see her sister also. I'm Cole, her husband." interrupts Cole, giving me a meaningful glare for emphasis.

I decide to let the lie slide, in an attempt to show some small form of trust. He is probably just as desperate to see Elizabeth as I, after all.

No matter ho I feel about him, Elizabeth must want to see him, or else she wouldn't be marrying the guy.

"She's in a stable condition and is fully conscious. However, she is a little weak, both mentally and physically.

"There's also some concussion and she seems to be suffering some form of memory loss, but we're waiting for test results to tell us the full extent of the physical damage. If you'd like to follow me, I'll take you both to her now."

And without a single glance over his shoulder, the doctor walks away.

Cole immediately takes off behind him but I, still processing what was just said, take a few seconds to notice that they've already disappeared behind the still swinging doors and have to rush to catch up.

Gale remains in the waiting room, presumably because he is neither related nor 'married' to my sister, and maybe also because he has no emotional investment in her wellbeing.

We enter a ward filled with many curtained off beds; not even private rooms. I hate that about hospitals; everyone's pain and problems mix together and weigh you down. As selfish as it sounds, I hate having to deal with other people's grief.

The doctor walks up to and then straight through one of the curtained sections and we follow.

There, laid back on a hospital bed, eyes wide open and staring up, is Elizabeth. She doesn't move. She looks so peaceful, in fact, that I'm taken aback.

I take a step forwards, past Cole, past the doctor, and towards her in that small, confined space but still her glassy, unseeing eyes refuse to even glance my my way, her gaze either fixed upon the ceiling of the ward or suspended in the dust and air above her, who knows?

We stand there silently; the doctor's is respectful, mine is shocked, and Cole's is- well, who the hell knows?

There must be so much noise in the ward from all the wounded and suffering; from all the hopeful and faithful; and even from the machines and nurses, but in those few moments all I hear Is silence.

And then, suddenly, she flicks her eyes towards me ever so gently; they flutter like a butterfly with so much emotion that the rest of her face does not show: relief, happiness, fear, and anguish.

I can't help but take another step towards her. It's like the whole world is finally back in colour, where before it was only black and white.

The cacophony of human life crashes back down upon me: on my ears and on my heart, but I no longer care because among that sea of voices and sounds is my sister.

It's so soft and quiet that, even standing right next to her, you could miss it. But I don't.

"Nova? What am I doing here? I woke up and suddenly I was in this place. What's going on, Nova? Who are these men? Have you come to take me home?"

The fragility in her voice, which once belonged to the strong, nurturing, lioness of a sister, almost breaks me. My eyes water as I realize that our roles may reverse, now I may have to look after her, but no tears actually fall.

I will be strong enough to make sure she heals, and I will protect her until she is able to protect herself, the very same way she first protected me. I will build her back into the woman I know her to be.

"When can I sign out my wife, doctor?" Cole asks, forcing me into reality as he again takes the lead. "As you can see, she does not wish to stay here. What do I need to sign for you to discharge her?"

"Wait a second, why are you signing her out? I'm her sister. If anyone's taking her it's going to be me." I interject, before the devil can steal my sister away again.

"Technically. I am also allowed to sign her out as her husband, sister-in-law." At this he gives me a glare, "besides, where would you take her?" He mocks, catching me out.

I was, after all, supposed to be staying in a house owned by him for the wedding.

"Alright, 'brother-in-law', I'll let you do the honours. I'll wait here whilst you sort everything out." I respond as I sag down defeatedly on the chair next to Elizabeth's bed as Cole follows the speeding doctor back to wherever the reception is.

"I think that doctors a seriously unfulfilled adrenaline junkie.," Elizabeth whispered, adding "he almost crashed into one of the nurses earlier. I bet he runs with scissors just to feel something."

I can't help but laugh, partly shocked, but mostly amused. This is the Elizabeth I know best. I'm glad she's still gossipy and funny, at least.

"I'm glad you're alright, sis." I reply, moving around to get comfy in my unsupportive seat.

"That guy isn't really my husband, is he? I mean, sure he's good-looking, but he looks like the grinch decided to start wearing human skin instead of feeling love, ya know?." She says, and I can't help but grin with satisfaction.

"I'm glad somebody else finally thinks so, Liz. And to think I worried that I was too unfair."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry if the quality of the writing in this update was a bit patchy, I've been working on applications that require more 'professionalism' (haha, good memes).

But yeah, many words have started sounding funny from over-analysis. Anyway, I hope I still have some readers left, please feel free to leave a gosh darned comment.

Maybe ask me an overly personal question, because at this point I may just be desperate enough to respond to ANYTHING.

Totally not weird. I would love a vote too if you're feeling up to it.

Respect from your easily bought author,
Shrib. ✌

P.s. I finally found a photo for Gale. I quite like the idea of Wes Bentley. What do you think?