Imperial Coffee

Empty: Part Six

The moment Cinder stepped into the hallway, Iko's arms were around her. She took in the feeling of her sister's warmth, something she hadn't felt in months.

"Obrigado por vir," Iko said, stepping back. Thank you for coming. Her braids were falling out of their bun, and Cinder pushed one of them back from her face.

"Claro que eu vim." Of course I came.

Kai coughed. "I'll just...go find a hotel now. Call or text me when you need to be picked up."

Cinder nodded and turned back to Iko. Iko didn't ask why he was there, if he'd been the one to drive her down. Iko didn't have the energy; her heavy eyebags were only evidence. Iko never had eyebags, or at least visible ones.

"How's Peony doing?" Cinder asked. The momentary excitement of seeing her sister was gone, leaving behind the cool dread she'd been pushing back for hours.

"She's stable right now, but asleep," Iko said, shaking her head. "She's been stable for a while, but they still don't know what it is and it's not improving. We haven't seen her awake since they admitted her."

"Can I see her?"

Peony's curls were spread against the pillow like rivers running over clouds. Her eyes were closed but fluttering, and her chest moved up and down gently under the covers.

Only her face was mottled red and purple.

Cinder walked closer. Her eyes stung—it was much different seeing Peony this way than hearing about it. These were not simple rashes; they were a mask.

"Peony," she whispered. She moved to reach for Peony's hand, but it was also covered in rashes. This was Peony; this was her sister. But how much of her was there, if she was asleep, if what made her herself was hard to grasp?

Cinder stroked her hand and pushed a lock of hair to the side. She tried to connect the form in the bed with the one she grew up with, the one who squealed to her about celebrities and dramas and crushes. The one who remained optimistic, yet still aware, innocent yet not ignorant. The one who never failed to give her hope, a reason to hold on.

"Eu queria que ela acordasse," Iko said from behind. "Eu nunca pensei..." I wish she would wake up. I never thought...

"Eu também não." I didn't either.

The two of them stood there, gazing at Peony's sleeping form, willing her to open her eyes, to sit up. For the rashes to wash away, for the light to come back to her eyes.

Peony didn't move. She simply continued breathing, up and down.

For all they knew, this would never change.

The only time Cinder saw Adri cry was the day after her husband's death, and even then she was more angry than sad. Adri was angry he left her, angry she had two more children than she could handle. She'd have to raise them, marry them off when they got older, all on her own. She'd never worked a day in her life.

So Cinder was surprised to find Adri with red eyes when she stormed into the hospital room.

Cinder opened her mouth, already anticipating an argument. Instead, Adri walked past her and sat down next to Peony as if Cinder and Iko weren't there. She knelt over the side of the bed, grasping her daughter's hand. Her back shook. They could not see her face.

Iko lead Cinder out of the hospital room. Pearl was standing outside, leaning against the wall, face hollow. She didn't say anything either, just stared at the floor.