Inoculable

Awake

Cold. That's all I remember. Lying on that frigid concrete floor for more hours than I can count. My head's spinning. The aching in my body refuses to retreat. I try to move, but my body is frozen stiff. I'm weak from neglecting to eat. I try to scream for help, but my throat is dried up. How long has it been? Has anyone noticed I'm missing? Where have they all gone? Does anyone care about me at all? I try to open my eyes once more to see if I can find something, anything, I could use to get out of this horrid place. Yet, once again, I'm left helpless. When will this suffering end? I close my eyes, and for the last time, I drift back to sleep. Tonight, I will join my parents in Heaven.

••♣••

"Is she awake yet?"

"Hmmm, can't say. She has been in a coma for more than 5 months. No one knows when she'll wake."

"Ah, I see."

"Are you a family member of the patient?"

"No. No, I'm not. I found her near a cemetery in the woods. She was already comatose when I found her. Frail and parched, I could tell. Her lips were dried-up from the lack of liquid, and her bones were showing slightly."

"You mean to tell me you were saving a dead girl?"

"Haha...seems like it."

"Well, to be honest, you brought her in at the right time. Another minute later would have meant her death."

"I'm glad...for her sake at least. It looked like she was put there to die."

"No. Don't say something like that. What if THEY found out? You'd be a dead man for sure taking one of their offerings."

"I wouldn't quite say that. It wasn't THEM. I could tell. Even though I know it is a sick tradition of THEM, I know better than to disturb the already dead people."

"I'd hope so. If you weren't sure, I would chase you both out right now."

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience. I wouldn't have brought her here if it wasn't necessary."

"Hmmm. I'm still curious as to why you brought her here other than to save her life. Any other person would have left her to die right there."

"What can I say? I'm a generous guy trying to save a girl's life."

"OK, OK. Well, I'm going to leave now. I've checked all her vitals and she looks fine. I still have other patients to get to. You can stay here for a while. Let me know if anything happens."

"I will. Thanks."

I was listening to their whole conversation. I don't know who the man or the woman was, but from what I could tell the man saved my life and the woman was either a doctor or a nurse and I was in a hospital. I listened as the woman's footsteps fade into the background and the room becomes silent. The man was still in the room. He walked around until I could hear him sit down at the far end of the room. A heavy sigh was all I heard. Nothing more happened past that. Who was this guy? Why does he care so much about my well-being? Sure, he saved my life but why does he care so much? I'm curious though. I want to see how my saviour looks like. Who would be brave enough to save an already dead girl from that place I was in?

I struggle to open my eyes. They feel so heavy and my body feels too weak to correspond with what I want to do. I try to move my hands but the only thing I get is a twitch in my finger. It's useless! I can't do anything! I took a deep breath in. No. No. I can't give up this easily. One more time. Try just one more time. I scratched all my strength together and tried to open my eyes another time. I could feel them flutter, trying their best to open. Come one, Kathy! Almost there! Just a little bit more.