I open my eyes. I take in my surroundings. A bright light fills the room, the walls are plain and white, flowers sit on a table next to me and a strong smell of disinfectant lingers. On each side of me a desperate looking mum and dad stare at me. Mum tries to bombard me with questions but Dad silences her. Surprisingly, it works. I sit up with some help and stare at the door.
Why am I not dead? Why?
I should be dead.
A nurse comes in to perform check ups to see how I'm recovering. I turn to look at Mum and frown at the tears in her face. She smiles encouragingly at me and squeezes my hand. I stare at our hands. I can see her searching for words but again Dad silences her and helps me sip some water. When I look at him, I know he's been here before. His eyes give it away. Again, my eyes study Mum's face, her bloodshot eyes, dark circles, tear stained cheeks and quivering chin.
"Get out." I state quietly. The words are croaky but firm. Her face crumples up in confusion and pools form in her eyes. "Get out." I repeat. Mum starts to speak. Again Dad gives her a look that stops the words on her lips. I feel the anger boil up in me, angry floods rush down my cheeks.
"GET OUT! GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT, GET Out, get out!" I scream and sob, thrashing me arms and legs. Repeatedly, I hit my head against the wall behind me. Mum leaves. A nurse runs in. Dad holds me against him. For a long time, he says nothing, he just lets me cry. I feel regret for making his life so hard.
"This keeps happening to you and do you know what means?" He whispers slowly. "It means that you make it to tomorrow."
"Who told you that?" I ask him.
"A kind, elderly stranger in Peru."
"I know when you're fibbing."
"I read it in a book."
"How many more tomorrow's do you think I'll get?"
"As many as you need... You read the book too..."
"It was a good book."
"Yes, yes it was. The ending was a bit ambiguous though."
"I liked it. She got as many tomorrow's as she needed." I whisper. "We sound like we're in a book."
Dad smiles a little.
"I hate it. I hate this book. It's full of cliché speeches and lies."
"See it till the end, just see it till the end." Dad says.
I look hard at him. He's telling me not to die. He's pleading me. I say nothing; I won't make false hopes.
YOU ARE READING
Forgiveness and Sacrifice (Sherlock's Daughter)
FanfictionKayla Holmes is moving on with her life, picking up the pieces. She's living as much of an ordinary life as she can - solving cases, studying, babysitting... Until she discovers a secret, that threatens to tear her down again. Can she hold herself...
