(Aelita's POV)
"Mommy?"
"I'm here, Lita."
"Mommy, why does it hurt?"
"I don't know, darling."
"Will it get better?"
"I don't know."
"Make it go away, Mommy."
"I wish I could, Aelita."
"Where am I? It's too dark, I can't see anything."
"You're just sleeping."
"But then why can't I wake up?"
"Because you aren't ready to be awake yet."
"Okay, Mommy."
Codelyokocodelyokocodelyoko
"Mommy?"
"Yes."
"I've been asleep for a long time. Can I wake up yet?"
"Not yet."
"Why not? I miss my friends. I want to see them."
"You'll wake up soon. I promise."
"Where's Daddy?"
"He's not here yet."
"Oh…are we dead, Mommy?"
"Almost."
Codelyokocodelyokocodelyoko
"It doesn't hurt as much, Mommy."
"I know, Aelita."
"Will you tell me a story?"
"Maybe later. It's almost time for you to wake up."
"I don't want to wake up though. I like it here."
"You have to wake up, darling."
"But it hurts when I'm awake."
"It will be better."
"Please, don't leave me, Mommy."
"I won't, Aelita. I'll be right here."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Codelyokocodelyokocodelyoko
I opened my eyes, blinking against the bright light of the room. Everything started coming into focus, and I grew scared. My body felt heavy and weak, almost as if someone was sitting on me. I wanted to talk, but something was in my mouth. More tubes, more wires, more needles and more machines.
"Well, hello there!" Dr. Schroeder greeted cheerfully, shining a light in my eyes. "You've been asleep for about four days now. How are you feeling?"
Since I lacked the ability to talk, the most I could do was glare at him. He apparently found it amusing, laughing a little. I attempted to move my arm, but it hurt too much. I hated that I couldn't move, and Dr. Schroeder must have noticed.
"You'll be feeling much better in a few days. Your heart stopped for a while there." I tried to think back, but my mind wouldn't go any further than waking up in the bright room. "Do you want me to take the tube out?" he asked. "Looks like you'll be fine without it."
I managed a small nod and closed my eyes, not wanting to watch. Within seconds he had the tube out, and I tried not to gag. "Where are my friends?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
"School, I suppose. It's Friday."
"They aren't here?"
"Sorry, kiddo. No visitors in the ICU anyways."
ICU? I looked around the room again, noticing how full of machines it was. There was a glass wall that revealed the rest of the ICU floor, which was packed with medical staff rushing around. "When can I leave?" I asked, growing terrified of the thought of being in the ICU.
"We'll keep you here for another night and put you back in your old room tomorrow. You're really going to have to take it easy though," he warned. "We don't need a repeat of this. You might not pull out of it next time."
Codelyokocodelyokocodelyoko
My night in the ICU was rough. It seemed almost as if all the people did was scream, when I just wanted to sleep. "Will you guys all just shut up?" I grumbled into my pillow, growing irritated.
"Aelita?"
I jerked up at the sound of the voice. "Mommy?"
"Aelita, come here."
"No, Mommy, I can't." The idea of moving seemed impossible. My arms and legs were far too heavy to lift, and I was connected to so many machines that I was sure if I even thought of getting out of bed the nurses would come running.
"Aelita, you have to."
"Why?" I answered, looking around. It bothered me that she was trying to get me to leave the one place that was keeping me safe.
"Because it's time to go."
What? I closed my eyes, trying to block out her voice. My own mother, telling me it was time to die? I wasn't going to listen anymore. She wasn't my real mother after all. Was she? Of course not. My real mother wouldn't suggest such a thing.
"Aelita!"
"Go away!" I shouted into the darkness, my hands covering my eyes. "Go away! You aren't my mommy."
"Aelita?"
I looked up. Standing in the doorway was Dr. Schroeder, and odd look on his face. He looked almost as if he was just about to leave work, no longer wearing his hospital robe. I tried to calm down, not wanting to look weak or crazy in front of him. He walked over to my bed, sitting down on the edge. "What's going on?" he asked, genuine care in his voice.
"Nothing," I sniffed, wiping the freshly formed tears from my face.
"I don't have to be a doctor to know that's not true." He looked at me, studying my face. "Is something hurting?"
"No t really."
"Are you…seeing things?"
"No." I shook my head.
"Hearing them?"
I nodded, not wanting to look at him. "I'm not crazy."
"Of course not. It's probably the chemo. There's been reports of hallucinations before, it's not uncommon."
I shook my head, still trying to stop the tears from flowing. "They've been going on for a few weeks. Since I got to the hospital."
"I see." He bit his lower lip, deep in thought. "Have you eaten? Food would help. And plenty of water."
"I'm not hungry," I grumbled. The thought of food right now made my stomach turn.
"Alright, but you need some rest. I'll have a nurse give you a sedative."
I didn't care anymore. As long as I wouldn't hear that voice again.