Together

Chapter 4~Caspian

When the anxiety hit me, I couldn't sit still. I got up and decided to pace the small waiting room. Bella was lucky, she fell asleep in the early hours of waiting. Apparently, the doctors had other things to do then talk to a dying patient's family. I sighed, chewing on my nails as I quickened my pacing speed.

"Caspian," said a small voice from behind me. I turned on my heel, suddenly excited.

"Dr. Jasper! Oh, thank goodness," I ran up to her, putting on a fake smile. I was too tired, hurt and hungry to do anything. I silenced myself as I realized Bella was still asleep. I put my finger to my lip and gestured to her slumped-up form.

"Ah, yes," followed me, she waved her hand before walking away. I followed sheepishly after her.

The lights of the hospitals hallways were extremely bright, and they were even brighter due to the time of night. I let out a groan as we passed the nurses desk, several of them casting me sympathetic looks.

My heart began to beat faster as I realized the doctor was leading me toward one of the ICU rooms. She paused outside of room 201. She gestured for me to go inside. But I wasn't ready. I nodded and she walked away.

I stared at the pair of glass doors in panic. I couldn't see inside, there was a light pink curtain blocking my view. I took in a shaky breath and let my hand wrap around the cold iron of the door handle. I pulled it open slowly.

I wasn't ready to see my fathers dying form, lying motionlessly on the soft white sheets of the hospital bed. I pulled it open and practically ran through the curtain. I stopped dead in my tracks, the color draining from my face.

My father lay in the bed, tubes exceeding from his body like tentacles. His soft white brown hair was shaved clean, leaving a scared, exposed skull. I took a step closer, letting the bleep of the machines sooth my nerves.

"Dad," I fell down in the chair next to his bed, trying to hold back the tears for his sake. "If you could hear me, d-dad. Listen. If you want to go," I paused while I gained my strength to finish the sentence, "Then go." I whispered, leaning in closer. His skin was as pale as the bed sheets.

"Daddy!" I heard a wail from behind me, quickly getting closer. Bella appeared at his side as if she flew there. There were bags under her soft green eyes, and her braid was no longer in one piece.

"Bella," I whispered, lying my arm across her back. She was kneeling by the bed, her head buried in his knees. "Oh, Bella," I murmured and leaned in to comfort my sister, even though I needed some of my own.

---

I open my eyes to find myself slumped in a chair, still in the hospital room. I glance over at my dad. Bella is curled up against him, her head rested gently on his chest. I smile and stand up. I give them both a spell kiss on the temple.

I make my way out of the room and into the hallway. It's quiet; morning probably. I yawn as I drag myself down the hallway. Several nurses say good morning. I just wave and smile. I decide it would be best to stop by my mom's room.

She had a stroke, two months after my dad entered the hospital. Several parts of her brain shut off, making her immobile, unable to speak and not able to live and think like normal people. The doctors don't know what wrong with her.

I shove my hands in my pockets and I make my way slowly to the other end of the ICU. I glance at all the other near-death patients, half in pity and half in anger.

A man, with several tubes coming from his torso; a woman with a ventilator and her eyes taped shut. Then a kid, who appears to be in a coma.

I slow my pace as I near her room. Room 225. Who knew there were so many ICU patients. I pull open the door and stroll inside. My mom is lying in bed, her feet slightly raised. There are tubes snaking there way mostly around her head, chest and nostrils.