***
Again, Momo was alone, walking down an empty hallway in her high-heeled school shoes.
"Kashiwagi… that's it." She walked up to the door and turned the handle, juggling the snack, school books and notes all brought for Sae.
"I'm sorry. Who is this?" A tall and buff woman wearing a long, white doctor's coat stood in the doorway, blocking Momo's way.
"Oh! I'm sorry. Should I have knocked? See, I--"
"Look kid, I didn't ask for the story of your life which would probably bore me to tears if I heard it. I asked you a simple question: What do you think you're doing here??"
"Oh. I, well, I came to see ms. Sae Kashiwagi, she's here, it says so on the door." Momo was quite nervous of this tall brunette. She had this feeling that at any second, she would start barking at Momo again.
But instead, the woman had a look of… pity on her face! "I see. Are you a friend of hers?" Momo started to nod, but then remembered her place in Sae's life. Instead of asking questions, the tall doctor put her long arm around Momo's broad shoulders. She sighed deeply. "I'm afraid that overnight, Kashiwagi had some difficulty breathing. Her parents freaked out…when we told tem how much it would cost to put Sae on stronger medication. They don't think they can afford it. Sae is on her regular medicine right now, but it's unlikely it will hold her up for very long."
Momo hadn't felt so bad since… well since a lot of things Sae had done.
"Come to think of it, Sae is always causing me pain. Even now, when she's not even awake!"
"H..how lo…ng?" She managed to mutter.
"Will Sae last? Without the medication, most likely three days or so. Would you like to talk to her? She's slightly conscience, but probably sleeping. I can tell you now, she won't be needing any of that." She took all of the things Momo had brought and said, "Don't forget to pick these up at the counter. I'm going to have a talk with the clerks. Why would they have sent you down here? Knowing Kashiwagi's condition and everything…" She walked away shaking her head, leaving Momo in front of the doorway.
She peeked inside the crack of the slightly open door…
***