“Oh, of course! Oh, my God. Is she okay?”
“I’m not sure, but I’ll find out.”
“Okay. Don’t you worry about the fluffballs. I’ll take care of them. I think they like me better than you, anyway.” Her teasing tone to try and lift my spirits is welcome, even if it doesn’t have the desired effect.
“Thank you. I’ll call you later.”
Later doesn’t come because halfway through the night, Auriela takes a turn for the worse.
Her doctor informs me that she’s caught a bad case of Bacterial pneumonia, painfully common at this time of year, and the first round of antibiotics had no effect.
Given her age and frailty, everything about Auriela works against her, and my hands ache with the need to help her.
Not that I’m allowed.
When she falls unconscious and her doctors hook her up to several more machines, it’s like no time at all has passed.
It might as well be Claire lying in that bed while I’m once again on the sidelines unable to do anything but pace the room and watch as the frail body before me fights something it might not win.
Is this my punishment?
Did I do something in a past life where I’m destined to just watch the people I care about fall victim to something I can’t fight?
That I’m to stand here brimming with medical knowledge and skill, yet unable to lay a finger on them to help?
It’s a cruel punishment.
I must have done something awful in a past life to deserve this.
Snow texts, but I can’t find my voice to speak to her, not that it seems to bother her.
She sends me pictures of Rustle attacking the snowflakes on the wall, an unopened box containing a Christmas tree with Willow perched on top, and Tiger spread out on his belly between two cat food bowls like some kind of furry snake.
To help cheer Auriela up, her text says.
My heart beats painfully in my chest and I sag against the wall, only able to send back the heart emoji.
Morning dawns and I trudge down to the cafeteria for some terrible coffee, only to run into Snow in the lower corridor.
“Xander!” Her brows lift. Two cups of coffee rest in her hands and she beams at me, then seems to remember where we are and quickly gathers herself. “I brought you some coffee.”
The warmth of her smile, the soothing lilt of her voice, and the sparkle in her eyes are everything I crave.
Suddenly, the weight of Auriela’s failing health becomes crushing and I want nothing more than to sink into Snow’s arms for a lick of comfort.
Can I even ask that of her?
“Thank you,” I reply quietly, accepting one cup. “You’ve no idea how much I need this.” Our eyes meet and I hope she knows I’m not talking about the coffee.
“How is she? Auriela?”
My throat burns as I swallow. “She took a turn in the night. Bacterial pneumonia at her age is…” I shake my head, unable to continue.
“I’m so, so sorry, Xander.” Snow half reaches for me, then thinks better of it and instead tucks some of her hair behind her ear. “I really hope she will be okay.”
“Me too.” I glance down at the cup of coffee and catch the slight pink shimmer of lip gloss around the rim.
My lips twitch. “It’s a special kind of cruelty to be a doctor and watch people you care about sicken.”
