The Disconsolate Maiden

Chapter Five

Awakened by a bright light, Homura sat up in an uncomfortable bed, a wet cloth falling off of her head onto her lap.

A tight knot in her stomach, Homura looked around, blinking sleepily, finding that she was in the nurse's office.

Looking across the room at the boring clock on the wall, she saw that the time read, "10:30".

"What even happened..." Homura thought, letting out a deep sigh, breathing slowly. "Why did I start feeling so sick...?"

"Miss Kanojo?" the nurse asked, peeping from behind a wall that separated the "recovery" beds from the nurse's area. "Are you feeling any better now? I was going to call your father if you didn't wake up by eleven."

Homura nodded her head, still confused.

"I don't even know what happened, ma'am," Homura said politely, bowing her head a little. "I-I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

"Oh?" the nurse said, waking more into the room, holding a bottle of water, smiling sweetly. "I don't mind. I know it's not often that I get to see you here."

The nurse twisted the cap off of the bottle and handed it over to Homura.

"You look like you're burning up still," the nurse sighed, shaking her head. "Make sure you stay hydrated today. We don't need one of our main pianists to be getting ill right before the upcoming performance."

"R-Right..." Homura said, her voice shaking as she lifted the ice cold water bottle to her chapped lips, taking a sip.

The coolness of the water soothed her dry throat as it flowed down like a waterfall. Homura took a big sip, and then another, finding that the water was helping her feel less dizzy.

Homura exhaled loudly, feeling quite refreshed after her drink. The color began to come back to her pale lips, showing that she was feeling a bit more like herself.

"Do you feel well enough to attend your afternoon classes?" the nurse asked as Homura handed her back the now empty water bottle.

"Y-You mean I can't go to the rest of my morning classes?" Homura stuttered anxiously.

The nurse shook her head, tossing the water bottle into the trash can from across the room.

"I think it's best if you rest here until the cafeteria is open," the nurse replied, smiling. "Like I already said, we don't need our best pianist to be ill before the big performance."

Homura looked down, her brown eyes growing slightly cloudy with sadness.

"Hey," the nurse said, gently patting Homura on the back. "What's the matter? How is your mom doing?"

"My parents won't be able to attend again this year," Homura said softly, then forced a smile on her face, squinting her eyes shut as well so the nurse couldn't see how she actually felt about the whole situation. "B-But that's okay! They've never been able to attend my things for school! I'm used to it, really. Father is always so busy with work. I should be thankful that he works hard to provide for my mother and me. Then, of course, Mother is always very ill. She hasn't been allowed to drive a car since the day my sister was killed."

"I see..." the nurse said, now gently rubbing Homura's back to comfort her. "It upsets you a little, doesn't it?"

Homura shook her head no.

"I'm used to it," she said again, coughing a little by accident.

"Are you really alright though?" the nurse asked again.

"Yes, I'm fine, ma'am. Thank you for taking care of me this morning," Homura replied, bowing her head to the nurse.

"For someone who doesn't have much parental influence in their life, you're one of the kindest girls I've ever met, Miss Homura. Never do anything rash to yourself, okay? Just keep being the kind girl you are," the nurse said randomly before walking away.

Laying back down, Homura sighed, not quite understanding what the nurse could mean.

"Never do anything rash to myself...? What is that supposed to mean...?" Homura thought, staring up at the pure white ceiling, watching the ceiling fan above her bed go around and around. "Whatever she means, I know she doesn't mean to offend."

And just like that, Homura's eyes fell shut as if someone had yanked them closed. Only for a moment was she able to sleep, but somehow, the sleep she received was the best she had sleep in weeks.