Marigold

6.

"Conner, pack your bags. We're going to Alabama."

Conner's mom had barged into Conner's room while he was asleep and announced that they would be going to Alabama all of a sudden. It was 1 AM in the morning, and his mom never previously talked about going to Alabama, so Conner had no idea where this idea even came from.

Why would Conner listen to her if he had no information of what was happening?

Conner had just been harshly awaken from his beauty sleep, and he couldn't take orders from such monster who would dare to barge in without even a single knock.

Before Conner had any chance to respond and complain, Conner's mom was gone, running across her room to pack her luggage.

Conner sat in his room, dumbfounded. Was this some kind of surprise trip to Alabama? For what?

Conner didn't think it'd be that bad, so, unknowing of what was going on, he grabbed his needed necessities for the surprise trip.

**

"Conner, quickly. We're going to miss our flight if you don't hurry your ass down here~!"

Conner stared at the orange marigold that lay atop his countertop next to his bed.

"Conner! Cooonner!" Conner heard his mom yell out his name. It was followed by footsteps heading upstairs towards his room.

  "I'm coming now!"

Conner quickly grabbed the small marigold and tucked it neatly into his school backpack that he kept his clothes in.

**

Conner got off the car, small marigold in hand as he stared at the grand building in front of him. Why was he at a large building in Alabama at 5 AM in the morning?

The flight from Kansas to Alabama had been three hours long, and Conner couldn't sleep the whole time. His mind was racing with positive possibilities as to why he was in Alabama. Conner wasn't even a bit drowsy.

  Alabama was where Albany was born. It's also their parents inspiration for her name.

Conner stared at the big H on the big building that loomed over him. Conner heard a crying kid that was being carried into the building by their mother.

  "Mom, why are we in a sickness curing tower?"

Conner's mom ignored Conner's question. Instead, Conner's mom grabbed ahold of Conner's wrist, and started dragging him into the hospital. Conner's mom was speed walking. Conner's short legs weren't anything compared to hers, and he had to run to be able to catch up with her pace.

The building's door screamed grand, delicate and fragile. Conner's mom paid no mind to the fragile part, and gripped the handle tight and swung it open harshly.

**

Conner's heart was being out of his chest. His heart had felt like it skipped multiple beats, and thoughts were racing in his head. Room 216. Room 216. He ran as fast as his little legs could take him, eyes quickly scanning over the numbers for each room. He ignored the "stop running" from the doctors walking in the hallways. He didn't care about that right now. Not now. Especially not now.