DIAMOND KEYS

SIXTEEN

I was surprised to see Marc come out of Claire's room.

"Marc, what are you doing here so early?"

He smiled "I slept here."

And I thought I was the one worrying the most.
"I will be on my way now; she woke up around two this morning."

"Okay bye." We hugged and he left. I took a deep breath then I opened the door. I walked inside and what I saw made my breath seize. I quickly turned so that Claire wouldn't see my tears. She looked like a skeleton; her hair looked as white as her skin. I regained my composure and turned to face her.

"Hello darling, how are you?" She greeted. I was about to say that I was not fine but I let it pass.

"How are you doing Claire?" I asked.

She smiled that her radiant smile that didn't look so radiant anymore. "I'm okay Michele."

"But you don't look okay."

"I'm alive, ain't I? I'm fine."

"Okay, if you say so."

I walked over to her bed and bent to give her a kiss on the forehead; but I paused when I felt the heat protruding from her body.
"Claire!"

She jerked at my sudden exclamation. "What?"

"You are hot!"

She sighed. "I know I've been like that since yesterday."

I shook my head and placed my palm on her neck. I removed it immediately. It was like touching a pot that was cooking on the fire.

"Claire, you are boiling hot, this is not normal." Before she could say anything, I pressed the emergency button.

"Michele, this is what I don't like. Stop treating me like I'm a baby!" She cried out.

"I'm so sorry Claire. I'm doing this because I care."

Nurse Amy came running inside then with a bucket and small towel.

"Not again." Claire whispered. The nurse propped her up and she was in a sitting position. She dipped the towel in the water, squeezed it and started pressing Claire body with it.

"This is the sixteenth time we are doing this since the operation." Nurse Amy announced.

I sat down immediately and started crying. Claire looked so vulnerable; she looked like a doll that was being controlled by someone else.

The nurse was through and she walked towards me. "Please, if she gets like that again, don't hesitate to call us."

"Okay."

"I guess you are not the only one treating me like a baby." I heard Claire say and I ran to hug her.

"Okay, enough." She pulled herself away. "Tell me something I don't know. I mean, one doesn't get to know much here."

"Okay, I had this dream yesterday..." I told her about the dream I had the night before and she laughed.

"That's a nice dream Michele. I actually drew something like that, it's on my laptop. You know, they say that dreams are recollections of our thoughts or something like that."

I smiled. "What do you mean?"

"I mean the part about your dad, you must have been thinking of forgiving him that was why you dreamt of you calling him dad."

I laughed out then, "Shut up."

"Oh Michele, you cannot lie to me, I'm your best friend. The other day when you were telling us about him cooking for you and you refusing, I saw regret and guilt in your eyes."

"Shut up Claire, you're talking nonsense!"

She reached out for my hand and I placed it in hers.

"You see Michele you can't hate him forever. He is your dad." she said slowly.

"Logan told me the same thing... Yesterday I talked to him."

"Really!" She exclaimed "What did you say?"