Short Stories and Poems

Drops of Rain

She stared at the wall blankly. Rain pounded against the window next to her. She heard voices around her, but none meant for her to listen to. The air seemed to be closing into a box around her body. She turned her head to watch droplets of rain race down the window. She traced her finger along the water stained glass. She then saw a familiar reflection. Dr. Onterio was walking up to her. Her head turned towards him along with her body. She took a small amount of time to study his features. He had dark hair that ended in little gray lines. His eyes were a clouded blue. The lips he had were pale and tucked into a serious frown. Freckles were sprinkled on his face just about everywhere. And finally he had a small button-ish nose. 

 As he got closer, she became more nervous. What was he going to say? He stopped in front of her frowning. His eyes held sadness and apologies. She knew what this meant. He was gone. What would she do without him? Why him? It couldn't have been her?

"I'm sorry Kody. The tumor was too big and it claimed his brain. There was nothing we could do." Her eyes started to water. She stood up and was greeted by a hug from Dr. Onterio.

"Can I see him?" She choked on her words. The doctor nodded and led her to him. She passed lots of people hugging and being reunited with family. If only she could do that. At the end of the hall, in room 143, his pale body laid in the bed. She felt her legs get heavy. She wanted to just fall to the ground, but she was stuck in place. She pried her legs off the floor and slowly walked over to him. He was so pale and lifeless. What was she to do? She grabbed his right hand and held it to her mouth. She kissed it and then did the same to his forehead.

"Alex..." She tried to talk but couldn't. It was too hard. It was as if her mouth was filled with glue. She wiped away the tears from her eyes and stood up over his body in the small hospital bed.

"I love you..." She let out silently to his corpse. Her voice trembled as her body shook helplessly. She turned her head away and walked. She stopped at the door and turned back around for a final goodbye. Would she really leave her younger brother? Could she do this? They had been so close. She let out a small, rugged breathe. She then forced her body to turn away. As she went to walk out of the room she heard a small voice.

"I love you too." Her eyes widened. It must be part of her imagination. Right? Her brother is dead. She had to accept it. She took two steps forward. But she was again stopped by the same voice.

"Where are you going? Please don't leave me here. It's scary." Tears streamed down her face once again as she turned around. There, right in front of her, was her brother sitting up in the bed. She gasped and ran over to him, embracing him in a hug.

"ALEX!" She yelled. She was crying so much that she couldn't see. How did this happen? She closed her eyes and sniffled. 

She then jolted awake. She looked around the familiar darkness. She exhaled lightly and pulled her hair back as tears fell down her cheeks. They glided down gracefully before dripping onto her night dress. She got up and looked herself in the mirror. Her husband then stood up next to her.

"What is it Kody?" She told him about the same nightmare that she explained every night.
"I hate that dream. It's been twenty years since he died and yet it still haunts me."