Bloodl.u.s.t

Mother?" I call out to the lady lying peacefully on the hospital bed beside me. Of course she doesn't respond. The stage of cancer and also the state she currently is in doesn't let her. She looks wan and pale, her face is unusually wrinkled and for the first time the expression on her face doesn't make me want to bang my head on the wall. She's too quiet… like she's d-

 But I know she's still alive- the oxygen mask is still on and her c.h.e.s.t is gently heaving as she breathes. But how is that possible? I remember when the doctors told me… the funeral and…

I look around; the room is familiar only it's a little… foggy. The curtains are closed yet the room looks brightly lit. I turn my gaze back to her. There's silence except for the continuous beeping of a machine which annoyed me a lot initially but now I'm just used to it.

Usually I would avoid all chances of having a conversation with her but right now all I want is to hear her voice. For her to say anything… even if it's a regular confession of how much she despises me. I feel the moisture prickle in the corner of my eyes.

How did I end up here? All the times we talk, it terminates with her admitting that all she feels for me is hatred and me replying that I feel the same. Yet today when I'm so close to getting what I always wanted, I feel… upset? Maybe I just don't want to be left alone. Yes, that is what it is.

My fingers reach up to wipe a solitary tear running down my cheeks just when Dr. Will enters and completely ignoring my presence walks to the other side of the bed. He observes her and then slowly raising his hand removes the oxygen mask.

"What are you doing, Dr. Will?!" My voice sounds more panicked than I intended on making it. He ignores me again like I don't exist or maybe it's his ears which have finally stopped working completely. He's balding- whatever specks of hair remain on his head are now as white as snow and his hands shiver continuously no matter what they're doing.

He brings his right hand closer to her face and something drips on the white blanket covering her which forms a red stain. I-Is that… blood?