"Olive?" Kenny asked, slowly stepping into the room he was directed to. She was hooked up to a heart monitor, a big IV machine and wearing a breathing mask.
"Shh, don't wake her up," Butters said, pointing to her. "She just fell asleep."
"What happened?"
"The doctors don't know. They think it was an asthma attack," Butters replied. "But the CT scan looked kind of funny, so we have to stay until they figure it out."
Kenny walked over to her. She was snoring lightly. She wasn't waking up any time soon. He exited the room and sighed as he went on his way home.
Several days passed. She did not open her eyes. Every time he visited, she was the same. Pale and unmoving. She rarely opened her eyes, and when she did, she wouldn't speak and would go right back to sleep. The doctors just didn't know what was wrong with her. All she did was sleep, and her coughs and fevers never went away.
But after two weeks, Kenny decided to visit once more. If she woke up this time, he could break up with her as planned. He felt kind of bad for her, but he had no reason to stay with her. He no longer despised her though, and could actually admit that she was "Ok."
"Olive," he said, shaking her. "It's me, Kenny. I need to tell you something."
Slowly, she opened her blue eyes. Her freckled face lit up. She looked very limp and lethargic, but she smiled for the first time in days.
"Hello," she giggled as she grabbed his hand, her voice muffled almost as much as his from the mask. Kenny could tell they had given her all kinds of drugs and narcotic painkillers. She stopped talking and caught her breath "What's going on?"
"You're in the hospital," he responded. She sat up and her heart monitor began to beep much faster.
"The hospital? What happened?" she looked around frantically. "Mom! Mom where are you?"
"Olive, calm down," Kenny said. "I'm sure your aunt and uncle are around."
"No, I need to see my Mom and my brother. You don't understand!" she cried. "Dad! Mom!"
"Olive, you need to get some sleep," Butters said, laying her down and tucking her in. "You're just a little confused from the medicine."
"A little?" Kenny scoffed. "I don't think she even knows who we are."
"No," Olive replied. "I saw them a minute ago. They were here. Right before I fell asleep."
"If this is a bad time, I can-"
"No!" Olive cried. "Don't leave me again, Kenny...Just stay until my Mom comes back."
"That's going to be a long time," Kenny snickered. She folded her arms.
"You have to believe me."
"You're high as a kite. Of course I don't believe you," he responded. "Get some rest and I'll come back before visiting hours are over."
"If you leave me, I can't get better."
"Oh? Why?"
"Because after you left, I got sick. But now I'm better. If you leave again, I might get even sicker."
"Olive..."
"Oh, I'm so glad to see you doing better," Linda said as she entered the room beside her husband. "You gave us quite a scare."
"I'm sorry, Aunt Linda," Olive sighed. "But my friend Kenny came to visit. See?"
"That's very...nice of him. So long as he doesn't try anything funny," Stephen said, glaring at Kenny. "I was once your age too you know..."
"Uncle Stephen," Olive said with a smile. She turned to Kenny. "Now, what did you want to tell me, Ken?"
Just then, a male doctor with black hair and short stubble walked in. He held a chart in his hands. He looked down with a sigh, scratching the back of his head.
"Mr. and Mrs. Stotch, may I...have a word with you?"
"Sure...of course."
The three entered the hallway and began to talk. The children could see them, but could not hear a word. The doctor showed them the scans he had taken and they watched as Linda immediately buried her face into her arms and began to cry. She quickly walked away, her shoes clicking against the ground.
"You can't be sure!" they could hear Mr. Stotch exclaim. "Just take it over again! It's a mistake!"
Stephen rushed into Olive's room with his arms folded.
"What's going on? What did he-"
"Come on, we're leaving. These people have no idea what they're doing!"
"D-Dad," Butters said. "What happened? What did he say?"
"Nothing important. We're going home."
"Sir!" the doctor cried. "If you take her off of those machines, she will die!"
"I'm gonna die?" Olive asked, tears streaming down her face. "Uncle, I don't want to die!"
"No...no," Stephen said, rubbing his hands through her curly blonde hair. "These people...they're crazy..."
"What...what's wrong with her?" Kenny asked, turning to the doctor.
"It's a rare...potentially fatal disorder. She can't leave. She can't. We need to do all that we can to make sure she stays alive."
"I need to go home! My birthday's tomorrow!" Olive cried. "Kenny, tell him!"
"Olive, you need to stay here. You'll get better, okay?" Kenny assured her. He wasn't so fond of the kid but he surely didn't want her to die. She wasn't immortal like he was.
"Kenny..."
"Just hang in there. You'll be fine."
"Kenny, you needed to tell me something. What do you want to tell me?"
"I..." Kenny looked down. He didn't want to break up with her at a time like this."Nothing. It was nothing."
"Kenny, I'm so glad you came," Olive smiled, holding his hand. "I'm going to be okay because you're here."
Olive lifted her mask and coughed into her arm, which became covered in blood. The doctor began to back away.
"Oh god...stay away from me!" he shrieked, running out of the room.
"Oh hamburgers!" Butters cried. He patted Olive on the head. "It's alright, little cousin, he's probably just squeamish. I'm going to be by your side no matter what, Olive. I gotta be strong for you."
"Right," Olive sighed. She forced a smile."I'm going to get better and go home for my birthday. You'll see. I just need some rest is all."
She continued to hold Kenny's hand as she closed her eyes. Maybe the doctors were just wrong.
No way. Such hospital. Wow. Much sick. OMG. Wow.
(Guys, you gotta review. I must ask every time as if you don't see that big box down there.)
I use my hair to express myself
(That sounds really boring.)
I USE MY HAIR TO EXPRESS MYSELF.
3am. Wow. What is my life?
