Cyber Mortality

Chapter 26:

My eyes roll awake and take in the sunlight streaming through my window and across my bed. For a moment I gaze at it in confusion as it looks almost fake against the bright sunny days I've had in CyberMortality. I know that outside the air will smell of petroleum and the factories two miles away.

"May? Are you home?" Mom's voice calls through the door.

I stumble out of bed and pull the wooden door open.

"God, you look worse than me. And I have cancer," she shakes her head and takes in my appearance. Her own green eyes look dimmer and more sunk in than normal and her auburn hair has lost its shimmer. "You need to take better care of yourself May. I won't always be around to look after you."

My eyes bead with water before I can blink it away. A sharp heavy feeling slides into my throat like a slug.

"Of course you will be here," I tell her and pull her into a hug. "We will get you that operation."

"Look, May, your father and I were talking the other night-"

"Oh? So that bastard decided to finally come home?" I snarl while pulling back and crossing my arms over my chest.

"Don't talk about your father like that. You know he hasn't handled my diagnosis well. We decided that we don't have the money for the operation and we will work together to accept that." Mom clasps my cheek and wipes a tear away that has slid down to bead on the edge of my lip. "It won't be easy, but I know that everything will be alright in the end."

"No," I shake my head. "I will get the money. I won't let you die."

"May..." Mom sighs and wraps her arms tightly around me. "The doctors said that even chemo therapy wouldn't have any effect. It's a brain tumor and the operation costs too much to have it removed, let alone the physical toll." Her fingers rub circles in my lower back.

"Mom, I will never stop fighting for you," I whisper into her blouse and clasp her skinny waist tighter. "Just don't give up on me. I love you."

After another moment I step out of her embrace and head to the kitchen to gather up some hard boiled eggs. I would need some protein for the tournament ahead. Last years tournament lasted three days. I suck each one into my mouth one at a time and chew them slowly.

Are you ready? A text flashes across the screen of my phone.

Are you? I quickly type back to Nyle.

Always :)

I'll be in in about five minutes. I reply and set my phone on its wireless charging station. My fingers clasp the electrode suction cups before pressing them to my back and neck. I slip the helmet over my head and gaze into the darkness inside it. With my hand finding the edge of the bed, I drop down onto it until I am comfortably on my back.

"Start," I command with a determined voice. 

Happy Halloween!