Prologue: Changes
Fauna
Fauna stared at the window. Her vision blurring, everything around her and everything the view from the hospital's third floor. Which, she decided earlier, was not much considering all the billboards, lights and large, rusty AC units littering the second-floor roof. The only thing her eyes could bring in to focus were the rain drops sliding down the muggy glass and then pooling at the bottom.
How fitting, thought Fauna. The rain was perfect for such a sad day.
The thought of dealing with rays of sun shine beaming down turned her stomach and made her want to vomit. It didn't seem right for the world to be happy when others suffered. And right now, Fauna wanted the entire city to feel just as sad as her. She didn't want to imagine the citizens of Hell's Kitchen busying themselves with life's every day activities. She didn't want to think about the street traffic crowding at each corner with people moving in all direction. Or the shops and offices carrying on with their business. She didn't want to think about life moving on when hers very recently came to a screeching halt.
The sound of shoes quietly pattering up to her mother's bed brought Fauna's mind back to the hospital room. Her neck muscles complained at the sudden movement as she turned to greet the nurse. For a brief moment she wondered how long she had been sitting in that chair, not moving. Out of shock or exhaustion, she didn't know. In truth, she didn't care. There was no comparison between a sore neck and what her mother was experiencing. She felt stupid for having such a thought.
The nurse pressed a few buttons on the large, upright machine standing adjacent to the bed. Some red lights turned to green and the screen lite back up revealing several pairs of numbers that Fauna was clueless about. She took an extra minute checking her mother's IV and blood pressure for the umpteenth time that day. There was no change in her mother's condition.
What was the point? Fauna wondered. But quickly realized that was another stupid thought and pushed it out of her mind.
"Need anything?" she asked, finally acknowledging Fauna in the corner, her small frame curled up in the chair. Fauna shook her head no in response.
She tried to offer the nurse a smile as a thank you, but she couldn't muster up the strength.
Satisfied the nurse turned on her heel and was back out of the room. Sound and commotion flooded the room as she opened the large, heavy door. And as she shut it the room was quiet, and Fauna was left with just the beeping and buzzing of machines once again.
How could this have happened? Fauna let her head fall back against the chair.
This time yesterday Louisa was so lively, watching her daughter perform on stage at the Lee Lord Theater. Afterward, the celebration consisted of just the two of them and a handful of close friends. Three hours later Fauna's life was forever changed with a panicked 911 call and her mother literally coughing up her lung. Fauna squeezed her eyes shut to try to block out the memory of all the blood. It spilled from her mother's mouth covering her chin, neck and chest.
Fortunately, Fauna had been right there. Helping her mother as best she could until the ambulance arrived. It was by far the most terrifying moment of her life. Even more terrifying than the day she realized who her father truly was. Later on, at the hospital, Fauna learned the secret her mother has been keeping from her for several years.
It made sense, in retrospect, Fauna thought she understood her mother's absence. Louisa had not been there for every audition, recital, or performance like she had been in the past. Her absence didn't go unnoticed. Fauna just thought perhaps her mother was giving her the space she needed to live her own life. To be young with her friends. After all, it wasn't too cool for a nineteen-year-old girl to have her mother hanging around Julliard.
As the Doctor's explained her mother's prognosis, every known emotion flooded Fauna system. As they over whelmed her, she fell to the floor. She could only remember bits of information after that moment. The details Dr. Holeman offered were not important. Only three words was all that mattered. Three words that told Fauna everything she needed to know. Three words that, now, changed her life forever: Stage Four. Cancer.
Some people could live for three, four, even five years. However, Louisa's cancer made a turn for the worse. Now it was aggressively attacking her system.
"Hospice?!" In the doctor's office chair Fauna sat up straighter. Shocked to attention. Before her sat a large, dark wooden desk. It was oversized. Everything on top of it just looked odd. Each item seemed too small and they were spaced too far from each other. Directly behind the desk sat an oversized plush leather chair. The small man that occupied the chair seemed misplaced as well.
Why did he need such large furniture? Thought Fauna as she entered the room. Perhaps he was trying to compensate for something.
"Yes," he brought his hands together at his chest, interlaced his fingers and propped his elbows on the arm rests. "The hospital can do nothing more for your mother." He said in an accent that must have been Asian Indian.
His dark skin and hair also indicated his ethnicity. Photos of his family littered the book shelf on the back wall. Their wardrobe of fine linen with detailed patterns and ornate embroidery offered the only splash of color in the stark office of beige walls.
"It just seems like there's something more." Fauna shrugged and turned her attention back to the double paned window that was similar to her mother's hospital room's. "This can't be it" tears beginning to sting her eyes. She pushed them back down as hard as she could. She wouldn't cry not here, not now.
"Louisa has understood her situation for quite some time now."
Fauna refused to look him in the eye, it just felt to final.
"I'm sorry she chose to put the two of us in this situation." He shrugged unwinding his fingers and sitting up. "I did encourage her to tell you. In the end it was her decision."
He's sorry? thought Fauna. What a cruel thing to say. Was he complaining about being the one to break the news to Fauna about her dying mother? Leaving him to deal with the awkward and uncomfortable situation.
"It just seems too final." She suggested. Pushing back more tears.
He just looked at her.
"Look," began Fauna. "I understand. This is it. She doesn't have much more time before…" she paused. Not willing to say the word. It wasn't time, not yet. "There has to be something like… I don't know." She threw up her hands. "Therapy… or something."
The doctor's eyebrows went up. He must be thinking she's stupid. Therapy for lung cancer? Even Fauna laughed at the idea. She leaned forward in the worn chair, it squeaked in complaint as she moved. Fauna looked back to him and tried to give her best serious face, though all she wanted to do is put her head down and cry. Instead she put her hands out on the desk, it seemed to help stabilize her emotions for the time being.
"Dr. Holeman…" She paused trying to choose her words carefully. "I know there's no cure… but is there anything we can do to keep her…" another paused to consider her words. "With us as long as possible?"
He sat back in his chair, narrowing his eyes. This gave Fauna a spark of hope. He didn't immediately say, no, sorry. He opened his mouth to say something. Fauna heart skipped a beat but faltered when he shut his mouth.
What? She thought.
He shook his head, "Sorry—"
"Dr. Holeman!" Fauna interrupted. "Please. I…I'll do anything." Her eyes began to sting once more.
He sat back up. Fauna could tell he was holding something back. She just wanted to hang on to her mother for as long as possible. Every day she could gain with her would be worth sacrificing anything… everything! Fauna was not going to let her go without a fight. Right then and there, Fauna decided her mother would not just go home and… well, you know. She was everything to her. She wasn't about to let go.
He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a small, white rectangular paper. He looked up at Fauna, then his eyes darted around the room as if he was about to tell a secret he wasn't supposed to. He stretched out his arm to her. Fauna hesitated. There was something about the look on his faced. It was a flash of warning, it settled in the pit of Fauna's stomach. As she reached for the paper, his face paled slightly.
She took the paper, it was a business card. It only had a name and address:
DraxCorp
12th & 58th
meanwhile…
Matthew
Matthew Murdock sat on the edge of the bed. Every muscle moaned at him to lay back down. It wasn't the fact that his opponents would get in some good hits as they fought, it was more the fact that morning came too early. His nightlife only allowed for a few hours of sleep. It didn't phase him in those first weeks. His adrenaline compensated for the lack of sleep. It would be pumping through his veins long after his alarm clock sounded. Now, he felt the beginnings of exhaustion creeping more and more with each passing morning. It may be wishful thinking but, he had high hopes his body would start to adjust. A sense of normalcy would settle in.
He stood, stretching his muscles. He debated against himself for half a second but forced himself down to plank position and began his push-ups. He only had about 30 mins before he was to meet up with Foggy and the realtor. He was appreciative of some extra energy thanks to the excitement of today's agenda. Their law practice was newly budding, and they needed some legitimacy. Having actual office space would help with that.