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"Ella! Ella!" A teary voice whispered her name. Her eyes fluttered weakly when she heard her mother's voice, but she kept them shut. "Sweetie, can you hear me?"
Ella squeezed her eyes tight, her head numb from the throbbing headache, which could've been worse without the strong drugs she was on. She was in the hospital again. She could tell. She could smell the scent of sanitizers she'd grown familiar with. She could hear the rhythmical beeping of the heart monitor, assuring her she was still alive.
Eyes still shut, Ella asked, her voice raspy. "Mom! Is Eric here?"
"Right here, love," Eric said softly. She heard a faint squeak of stretched leather and his deep, tender voice caressing her right ear. "I'm here."
Ella inhaled and stayed still when she felt his warm presence inches from her hospital bed. She didn't turn her face. No need to remind herself she wasn't going to see him again.
A big comforting hand slid to embrace hers. Invisible fingers gently caressed her forehead. "How do you feel?"
" I feel... drained." She pressed his hand and smiled tightly. "How did I do?"
"Perfect as always." His thumb circled slowly, soothing the back of her right hand. "The audience was hooked by your performance."
"I don't remember what happened next," Ella whispered, biting her bottom lip, afraid to move her head an inch and provoke the headache and dizziness.
"You had a seizure on stage, sweetie." Mom's voice came small and trembling from her left. "The doctor said it's normal after your surgery. You'll be fine."
"No, mom! You know I'm not fine. Don't try to sugarcoat it." Ella raised her voice a notch, which made her headache increase. The rhythm of the heart monitor sped up. It was ridiculous how everyone seemed to treat her like a baby. Like she couldn't handle the truth. She was done for. A useless shell.
"Ella, please, don't start this argument." Eric pleaded. "Nothing is bad as long as you're still here with us."
"No, Eric! It is bad! I'm not really here. This damn radiation therapy took away my eyesight. I'm having seizures doing the only thing I love. I can barely see you, mom, my favorite piano, or even a simple music sheet. How's that not bad?" Her voice broke and she inhaled sharply, her heart beating faster, the beeping sound giving her away.
Mom sobbed in the background.
"Mom. I'm sorry. Could you give us a minute?" Ella gulped, her mouth dry, a twinge of guilt consuming her for sounding so harsh with her.
"Alright, sweetie," mom murmured. A chair scraped the floor and her footsteps faded out.
Ella pulled her hand from Eric's and carefully brought her left hand over her chest, trying not to pull out the needle inserted under her skin. She fumbled with her third finger and tugged at it.
