Abigail paced about nervously, her body covered in bandages and a headache pounding through her skull. She couldn't sleep since hearing the news. It had now been twelve hours since her husband had gone missing. Abigail's sister Jenna knocked gently on the door before cracking it open.
"Hey, you alright?"
Abigail just stood silent, her hands quaking against her lips.
"They can't find him…"
Jenna came in and shut the door behind her, taking her sister in her arms.
"Everything is going to be alright, I'm sure they'll find him."
Abigail wept bitterly, holding tight onto her sister as she inwardly fought for strength.
Out in the living area, Tristan sat still and silent, staring out the window into the dull night. Across the street the neighbor's house was dim, the streetlight above flickering lazily as if to shoo away the moths that surrounded it. Tristan was equally as worried about his father, but his thoughts kept running back to his sister. He had heard the doctor's talking. They had claimed not to know what caused the illness when Thomas had asked them, but they all knew what it was. The injuries Marissa had suffered as a child, the broken bones and infected skin, had taken their toll on her body. Her body was destroying itself. If she did live, she would be paralyzed at the very least. Tristan sat there in a silent pool of fear, his mind racing. If he lost his sister, he would lose a part of himself. He knew he shouldn't have left her, but he had no choice. Now, he sat alone on the couch, staring through the glass at the stars.
The phone rang. Jenna disentangled herself gently and went to go answer it.
"Abby!" Jenna called excitedly. "Abby! It's the hospital! Marissa woke up!"
Though he couldn't hear what his aunt said, Tristan sat up at the excitement, cocking his head curiously. Abigail came running out of her room, grabbing the phone and asking the doctors what was going on.
"Does she have a fever?"
"No ma'am, she –"
"Are her palms still sweaty?"
"No ma'am, uh –"
"Has she eaten anything? Has she been drinking enough water?"
"Yes, ma'am, the doctors are seeing to it. She is going well for her condition."
"Condition? What condition? Did the doctors find what caused it?"
There was a nervous pause before the voice continued.
"Yes… it's Hypophosphatasia, it's a rare bone disorder. Your daughter's leg, it was broken when she was young. Our investigation of the old fracture confirmed our diagnosis, it has not healed correctly."
"What, I… I don't understand. How did this just pop up suddenly? How did it go unnoticed?!"
"Hypophosphatasia is notorious for eluding the attention of even the most skilled doctors, it can be easily confused with simple, curable illnesses."
"Then… it isn't curable?"
"No, ma'am. The symptoms are controllable, but the disease itself, it cannot be cured."
Abigail swallowed and took a few deep breaths.
"Is it fatal?"
There was another pause on the other end of the line.
"It is such a rare disease that hardly any doctors ever come in contact with, so the care provided –"
"Is it fatal or not?! Answer me!"
"Most often, yes."
Abigail let the phone slip out of her hand, clasping her hands over her face and wailing.
The phone cracked hard on the ground, splitting apart sending the battery skidding across the hardwood floor. Static rang cold through the powerless phone, shrieking as if to laugh at the poor woman.
"I have to go see her." Abigail whispered between sobs. "I have to see her!"
Without waiting for a response from either Jenna or Tristan, Abigail ran to her room and grabbed her jacket, snatching it and her keys off her bed before heading for the front door. Jessica stood in silent shock, not sure how to cope with the news.
Tristan watched the chaos ensue. He had watched Abigail as she conversed on the phone, and he knew the news wasn't good. A part of him inside told him he needed to stop Abigail. He couldn't allow her to leave. Beyond the safe, warm walls of this house lurked the cold reality. The possibility that some evil being loomed over the threshold of the house, just waiting for the first fool to set a foot outside.
Tristan stood quiet in front of the door and waited. Abigail came barreling down the hall, stopping short not a foot away from him at the front door, staring at him. He quietly shook his head, his eyes pleading, and he signed.
'Please, don't leave.'
Abigail stared at his hands, tears welling up in her eyes. She hadn't learned nearly enough of the silent language to make out what he now said.
"I can't, I don't know what you're saying I'm sorry."
With that she pushed past him and opened the door, racing to the car and unlocking it.
"I'll be back, I promise. Marissa will be with me."
Tristan cocked his head in silent pain, neither knowing of her apology or her promise. He stood on the porch for some time after the glowing red taillights grew dim in the darkness. Completely unaware that the car was just out of sight, engine running, lights blazing, with Abigail dead inside.
Author's Note: Sorry about my sudden silence. Real life, what can I say? And, yes. Just because this poor family's life wasn't horrible enough, Abigial is dead. X3