riley's pov:
it's about a forty five minute drive to the clinic and maya had already fallen asleep within the first five minutes. the nurse had decided to come with us in the end and we sat side by side facing the bed maya was curl up in.
"she looks so normal. so peaceful." i say, tilting me head as i watch her sleep.
"life can be cruel sometimes." the nurse says and she takes hold of my hand. i look up at her to see her smiling down at me.
"no not to maya it can't, she's had bad enough in her life. it's not fair." i say, trying to explain without giving away any of maya's living situation. "everything from the cancer to the…" i look over to maya, "to the pathetic nose bleeds." and i look down to the floor.
"what?" the nurse asks and her tone tightens.
"i just mean its not fair." i continue not noticing the nurses panicked look.
"no no, the nose bleeds." she says.
"i know there small but it still…" i say still oblivious.
"no, when did she get them?" she asks.
"when 'does' she get them." i say, weakly pointing over to maya's face and the blood rolling to her mouth from her right nostril.
the nurse unbuckles her seat belt, jumps up and cups her hand under maya's nose. maya wakes with a start.
"maya stay still and keep your mouth shut, theirs nothing to worry about. todd, can you come her please." she says to the 2 men in the front, her voice is noticeably wobbling, "riley can you hand me a tissue please."
i turn and reach for a box of tissues on the shelf behind me, "i wouldn't panic" i say, "they've been worst."
"she's had these before?" the nurse asks as i hand her the box of tissues and she looks back at maya's eyes. maya lays there as she's told, not moving, completely silent, fear in her eyes as she looks back at the nurse.
"yeah, they started about a…" and then i stop, "about a month ago." i sit starring into nothing. the reason she was so panicky was because it was serious, because it was a problem. i sit starring into nothing feeling like i'm about vomit.
"yes marge?" a head says popping round the side of the ambulance wall from the passengers seat.
"drive faster." the nurse replies looking over her shoulder at me and my now white face her hands and the tissue still pressed against maya's face.