TFIL // Colby Brock

Travelling

I was woken up by a nudge.

"Hey" Colby said quietly, I looked at him as a response, "I got bored so I thought I'd wake you up"

"Thanks" I said sarcastically but with a smile. "How long has it been?"

"About three hours"

"Let me guess, your phone battery died"

"Yup"

"We only have an hour and a bit left to go so what do you wanna do?"

"Not sure actually, just talk?"

"Yeah, OK"

"You can start with what happened to your mom"

"Well, on my birthday, I got a call from the hospital saying that she was quite weak and that my father couldn't visit because he was very busy with work. I was asked to go, which I was planning on anyway, so we ended the call then today I get a call asking me to go again, saying my mom hadn't had any visitors then all of a sudden she was having a seizure so I said I'd be as soon as possible and that's all I know"

"There was nothing else?"

"No" I lied, thinking about the genetically carried disease my mom has that I probably have too.

"Have we got a hotel booked?"

"No but I know of a good one near the airport so we'll get our rooms and then go to the hospital"

"Sounds like a plan"

"Yes it does" I smiled at him and leaned back a little in my seat. "Sorry I dragged you over here but we will be here for more than a night so we couldn't be separate from each other"

"No, I get it. I'm glad you told me - I could do with getting out of LA for a little while"

"That reminds me, we are going on a trip soon"

"Ooo where to?"

"Australia"

"Woah, for real?"

"Yup"

"Cool"

"Yup"

"Have you restricted your language to 'yup' now?"

"Yup"

"Do you love me?"

"Yup"

"Do you hate me?" I paused.

"No, how could I hate you"

"At least you expanded your vocabulary"

"Yup" we continued a normal conversation to keep my mind from worrying. Eventually, a voice told us to put our seat belts on and prepare for landing. It took a while but we were allowed to get off, being the only people without luggage, we were off first. I walked ahead of Colby, rushing out of the airport. Once I finally got to the cabs, Colby caught up to me. After a quiet ride to a hotel, we got out of the cab and held hands as we walked into the building.

"Hi, miss. Can I help you?" the lady at the front desk asked.

"Yes, I'd like to book a room"

"I'm assuming double bed?" she asked glancing from me to Colby.

"Yes" I smiled as she typed something in before nodding and handing me a card.

"How long do you plan on staying?"

"Two nights" Colby answered before I could say anything.

"Ok, that is your room key, elevators need a code to access guest floors. Your room is on floor five which means your code is 581 - your floor number and room number put together. Breakfast is available and a bar is open at all times. Please hand me your card" I did so as she finished charging me and handed the card back with a smile. I nodded and we walked out of the hotel, over to a cab that was sitting on the sidewalk.

"Hiya, could you take us to the hospital?" I asked. The man nodded so we climbed in - sitting in silence for the 8 minute drive. After paying, I rushed out of the cab and ran into the hospital.

"Hi, how could I help you?" a man behind the desk asked.

"I'm here to see my mother, Mrs Rose?"

"Ahh yes, the doctor would like to speak with you first, this way" as Colby went to follow me, the man stopped. "Sorry, only Chloe Rose is allowed to see her mother right now"

"Oh, OK" Colby stepped back and sat down so I followed the man to a room. Just as I was about to enter, a familiar voice spoke from behind me.

"Miss Rose, I'm assuming?" the doctor asked.

"Yes,"

"I have good news, your mother is absolutely fine right now however, she has an illness which was passed down by her mother"

"Is there any way to cure it?"

"No, this is one of the few cases of it so no one has come across it before in this hospital"

"Can you explain it to me?"

"Basically, your mother was told twenty years ago that if she had a baby, it would slowly, very slowly, shut down her organs. She had a seizure because of the little blood going into her brain because her heart isn't doing so good"

"D-do I have it?"

"That's what we are unsure of, you see sometimes the generation beneath does not have the illness but the generation after would. We are not sure if you have the illness or if you will pass it down onto any female children you have"

"How can you tell?"

"Well, some symptoms might come up so after you've seen your mother, please let me know of anything that's unusual"

"Ok, I will. Thanks for telling me the truth"

"That's my job, Miss Rose"

"I already said to call me Chloe"

"Once again, a duty of my job. Now, you may go in. Thanks for talking"

"Thank you too, can you send my boyfriend in please?"

"Of course, goodbye"

"Bye" I waited outside the room until Colby walked up to me. "I don't think I can go in"

"What are you talking about? It's your mother and based on the fact she's weak and has had a seizure, I'd say she needs some company"

"It's not that, it's that I haven't seen her for so long so there is so much catching up to do that I'm afraid I won't be able to finish telling her everything before she passes"

"Listen" he grabbed my hands, "if you don't speak to her you'll regret it more than you'll regret anything else in your entire life"

"But..."

"No buts, we are both going into that room and you are going to chat your ass off" I opened my mouth to say something but stopped as I knew it was no use "Now come on" he smiled and gave me a short kiss before opening the door. I stepped inside and took a deep breath in, stepping forward.

"Hey mom"...