Zara
The hospital’s automatic doors slide open with a quiet whoosh and the familiar antiseptic smell hits me before I even fully step inside. Clean. Sharp. Sterile. A scent that had begun to feel like both a comfort and a warning over time.
Every time I come here, I feel like I am stepping into a version of my life that refuses to move forward. A version that stays stuck no matter how much I try to push it ahead. I adjust the strap of my bag on my shoulder and walk in.
At the reception desk, a nurse glances up from her paperwork and smiles when she sees me.
“Zara! It’s been a while. You haven’t been around lately.”
I return her smile, forcing warmth into my tone.
“Yeah…I’ve been busy. Held up by a few matters but, I’m here now.”
She nods knowingly with a kind smile.
“I understand and don’t worry, he’s been doing well. Though there have been no changes. But, go ahead, I’m sure he has missed you.”
I thank her and move towards the hallway, each step measured. The path to Maurice’s room feels etched into my memory, familiar in its length and turns, familiar in the echo of my footsteps on the polished floor.
I reach his room and there he is. The hum of machines surround him – a rhythmic reminder of fragility. Tubes snake from his arms and throat, his chest rising and falling mechanically.
The ventilator hisses gently, a quiet metronome of life I couldn’t control. His skin looks pale against the crisp white sheets of the hospital bed. I sit on a chair beside the bed and take his hand in mine. It is cold, unfeeling, unmoving. I smile at him, feeling lighter now that I’ve seen him.
I let my mind wander for just a moment, imagining the day that led him here.
Maurice had been hit by a car, almost a year ago. The accident was severe, the kind that leaves permanent marks even if the body survives. His spine had been gravely injured, and though the surgery saved his life, it left him in a vegetative state.
For nearly twelve months, I’d watched, worried, paid bills I could barely afford and fought to make sure he had the care he needed. I had no insurance cushion. No safety net – just the barest thread of hope and a job that demanded every ounce of me. Well, used to.
“Hey....” My voice is soft, tentative, almost reverent. “Sorry I took so long to come, I’ve been busy. But here I am now.” My throat tightens and I swallow hard.
“I really missed you, you know? I still miss you... because I have so little of you to hold onto. You’re all I have left... apart from Callie. But why aren’t you waking up? I need you, Maurice. I can’t do this without you.”
The tears threaten to spill, and I bite my lip, shaking my head. I was tired – so utterly exhausted. Always fighting. Always holding on. Fighting for him, fighting for me, fighting against the world that seemed determined to strip me of everything.
“I’ve been trying...trying to hold on. Trying to be strong. For you, for me, for everyone. But I’m tired. I’m so fucking tired. I feel like giving in... just letting it all go.”
I don’t notice the tears sliding down my cheeks until I try to blink them away. I let them spill, my body finally falling to the pressure from the past few days.
“Why? Why do all these things keep happening to me. You’d think this, everything I’ve been through, would be enough. But no, there’s always something else thrown in my path, something else to make me crumble.” I sniffle.
“And I’m tired of pretending. Tired of being okay when I’m not. I’m crashing, Maurice. I’m burning. I just want it to stop. All the thoughts, the fear, the worry – I just want it to stop.”
The machines beep around us, steady, indifferent. But in that moment, I feel like I could finally let go. Let the weight of everything pour out me, even just for a little while.
A gentle knock at the door pulls me from my spiral and I wipe my tears away. A doctor steps in, clipboard in hand.
“Zara,” he says softly, “I didn’t mean to interrupt, just wanted to check on Maurice.”
“It’s okay,” I say, my voice steadying as I let go of Maurice’s hand.
He steps closer and takes his hand in his, checking his pulse. He moves his gaze towards the monitors and jots down something.
“He’s stable,” he says. “No changes since the last report.”
“That’s good, right?” I ask.
He gives a small reassuring smile. “It means his condition hasn’t worsened. That’s important.”
I nod, my voice still trembling “I... I know you do your best, doctor. Thank you.”
“You’re his anchor,” the doctor continues, giving me a small reassuring smile. “You’re worth it to him. Keep believing, don’t give up hope. I believe he’ll wake up someday too.”
“You have been really supportive of him.” he adds. “He has you and that matters more than you think.”
I look at him and then at Maurice.
“I just hope it’s enough.”
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⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎
Time passes. I don’t notice how long I’ve stayed.
I rub my brother’s hands, wishfully thinking of how he will be once he finally wakes up. He’ll need physical therapy for a while, which means more money, but we’ll deal with it when we get there. For now, I just pray he wakes up.
I adjust the sheets lightly, brushing his hair back. I hold his hand again, even if just for a moment. I talk to him some more in small pieces.
About nothing.
About everything.
About things that didn’t matter.
About things that mattered too much.
When I finally stand up, my body feels heavier than when I arrived.
I lean over and press my lips on the top of his head, feeling the fine strands of his hair between my fingers. I let my lips linger for a while longer to memorize the quiet, to store the image of him alive and breathing in my memory.
“I’ll come back,” I whisper. “I always will.”
The setting sun reflects off the hospital’s pavements, casting a beautiful glow outside. I slide into my car, closing the door with a soft click. I let my head rest briefly against the seat, taking the first, deep, controlled breath I’d managed in hours.
My phone buzzes.
Callie. I hesitate, then answer.
“Hey, how are you? How’s everything at the hotel?” her cheerful voice greets me, almost making me smile.
“Not good,” I say keeping my voice even. “I got indefinitely suspended.”
“What? You got what?” her disbelief is immediate.
“Yeah,” I reply, controlled. “Apparently, the man claims I seduced him. No one’s saying he attacked me.”
There is a pause on the other end before Callie’s voice rises, sharp and angry. “That’s bullshit! That’s... it’s not fair!”
“I know,” I say quietly. “It’s just how it is with people like him. Money over truth. I can’t fight it now.”
“Are you okay? Where are you right now?”
“The hospital’s parking lot. I dropped by to see Mau.”
She pauses for a moment. “Still nothing?” she asks quietly.
“Yeah. He’s still the same.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“I think I’ll go to Rosalia’s,” I say after a brief pause. “Help her out a bit. I can’t stay home, thinking won’t help.”
Callie’s voice softens, more measured now. “Until we find something stable. It’s okay. We’ve done this once; we can do it again. I’ll keep an eye out for some nice, lucrative positions.”
“Thank you,” I say, finally allowing myself a small exhale. “You’re the best.”
I end the call and place the phone on the passenger seat. The sun dips lower in the sky, the streets reflecting my quiet determination. I start the engine and pull out of the parking lot, the weight of the day pressing on me.
One step at a time, I think. One step at a time.
Zara
The hospital’s automatic doors slide open with a quiet whoosh and the familiar antiseptic smell hits me before I even fully step inside. Clean. Sharp. Sterile. A scent that had begun to feel like both a comfort and a warning over time.
Every time I come here, I feel like I am stepping into a version of my life that refuses to move forward. A version that stays stuck no matter how much I try to push it ahead. I adjust the strap of my bag on my shoulder and walk in.
At the reception desk, a nurse glances up from her paperwork and smiles when she sees me.
“Zara! It’s been a while. You haven’t been around lately.”
I return her smile, forcing warmth into my tone.
“Yeah…I’ve been busy. Held up by a few matters but, I’m here now.”
She nods knowingly with a kind smile.
“I understand and don’t worry, he’s been doing well. Though there have been no changes. But, go ahead, I’m sure he has missed you.”
I thank her and move towards the hallway, each step measured. The path to Maurice’s room feels etched into my memory, familiar in its length and turns, familiar in the echo of my footsteps on the polished floor.
I reach his room and there he is. The hum of machines surround him – a rhythmic reminder of fragility. Tubes snake from his arms and throat, his chest rising and falling mechanically.
The ventilator hisses gently, a quiet metronome of life I couldn’t control. His skin looks pale against the crisp white sheets of the hospital bed. I sit on a chair beside the bed and take his hand in mine. It is cold, unfeeling, unmoving. I smile at him, feeling lighter now that I’ve seen him.
I let my mind wander for just a moment, imagining the day that led him here.
Maurice had been hit by a car, almost a year ago. The accident was severe, the kind that leaves permanent marks even if the body survives. His spine had been gravely injured, and though the surgery saved his life, it left him in a vegetative state.
For nearly twelve months, I’d watched, worried, paid bills I could barely afford and fought to make sure he had the care he needed. I had no insurance cushion. No safety net – just the barest thread of hope and a job that demanded every ounce of me. Well, used to.
“Hey....” My voice is soft, tentative, almost reverent. “Sorry I took so long to come, I’ve been busy. But here I am now.” My throat tightens and I swallow hard.
“I really missed you, you know? I still miss you... because I have so little of you to hold onto. You’re all I have left... apart from Callie. But why aren’t you waking up? I need you, Maurice. I can’t do this without you.”
The tears threaten to spill, and I bite my lip, shaking my head. I was tired – so utterly exhausted. Always fighting. Always holding on. Fighting for him, fighting for me, fighting against the world that seemed determined to strip me of everything.
“I’ve been trying...trying to hold on. Trying to be strong. For you, for me, for everyone. But I’m tired. I’m so fucking tired. I feel like giving in... just letting it all go.”
I don’t notice the tears sliding down my cheeks until I try to blink them away. I let them spill, my body finally falling to the pressure from the past few days.
“Why? Why do all these things keep happening to me. You’d think this, everything I’ve been through, would be enough. But no, there’s always something else thrown in my path, something else to make me crumble.” I sniffle.
“And I’m tired of pretending. Tired of being okay when I’m not. I’m crashing, Maurice. I’m burning. I just want it to stop. All the thoughts, the fear, the worry – I just want it to stop.”
The machines beep around us, steady, indifferent. But in that moment, I feel like I could finally let go. Let the weight of everything pour out me, even just for a little while.
A gentle knock at the door pulls me from my spiral and I wipe my tears away. A doctor steps in, clipboard in hand.
“Zara,” he says softly, “I didn’t mean to interrupt, just wanted to check on Maurice.”
“It’s okay,” I say, my voice steadying as I let go of Maurice’s hand.
He steps closer and takes his hand in his, checking his pulse. He moves his gaze towards the monitors and jots down something.
“He’s stable,” he says. “No changes since the last report.”
“That’s good, right?” I ask.
He gives a small reassuring smile. “It means his condition hasn’t worsened. That’s important.”
I nod, my voice still trembling “I... I know you do your best, doctor. Thank you.”
“You’re his anchor,” the doctor continues, giving me a small reassuring smile. “You’re worth it to him. Keep believing, don’t give up hope. I believe he’ll wake up someday too.”
“You have been really supportive of him.” he adds. “He has you and that matters more than you think.”
I look at him and then at Maurice.
“I just hope it’s enough.”
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMzVLeZNae
⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎⁎
Time passes. I don’t notice how long I’ve stayed.
I rub my brother’s hands, wishfully thinking of how he will be once he finally wakes up. He’ll need physical therapy for a while, which means more money, but we’ll deal with it when we get there. For now, I just pray he wakes up.
I adjust the sheets lightly, brushing his hair back. I hold his hand again, even if just for a moment. I talk to him some more in small pieces.
About nothing.
About everything.
About things that didn’t matter.
About things that mattered too much.
When I finally stand up, my body feels heavier than when I arrived.
I lean over and press my lips on the top of his head, feeling the fine strands of his hair between my fingers. I let my lips linger for a while longer to memorize the quiet, to store the image of him alive and breathing in my memory.
“I’ll come back,” I whisper. “I always will.”
The setting sun reflects off the hospital’s pavements, casting a beautiful glow outside. I slide into my car, closing the door with a soft click. I let my head rest briefly against the seat, taking the first, deep, controlled breath I’d managed in hours.
My phone buzzes.
Callie. I hesitate, then answer.
“Hey, how are you? How’s everything at the hotel?” her cheerful voice greets me, almost making me smile.
“Not good,” I say keeping my voice even. “I got indefinitely suspended.”
“What? You got what?” her disbelief is immediate.
“Yeah,” I reply, controlled. “Apparently, the man claims I seduced him. No one’s saying he attacked me.”
There is a pause on the other end before Callie’s voice rises, sharp and angry. “That’s bullshit! That’s... it’s not fair!”
“I know,” I say quietly. “It’s just how it is with people like him. Money over truth. I can’t fight it now.”
“Are you okay? Where are you right now?”
“The hospital’s parking lot. I dropped by to see Mau.”
She pauses for a moment. “Still nothing?” she asks quietly.
“Yeah. He’s still the same.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“I think I’ll go to Rosalia’s,” I say after a brief pause. “Help her out a bit. I can’t stay home, thinking won’t help.”
Callie’s voice softens, more measured now. “Until we find something stable. It’s okay. We’ve done this once; we can do it again. I’ll keep an eye out for some nice, lucrative positions.”
“Thank you,” I say, finally allowing myself a small exhale. “You’re the best.”
I end the call and place the phone on the passenger seat. The sun dips lower in the sky, the streets reflecting my quiet determination. I start the engine and pull out of the parking lot, the weight of the day pressing on me.
One step at a time, I think. One step at a time.
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtHmiBoaQd
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXeEsRoyzC
A/N:
Got myself one tough crowd😭😭😭 No feedback, no likes, no follows. Don't be stingy y'all🤧🤧60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr8ymhomV4
Anyways, there's chapter five. I hope you enjoy;)
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