Prompt 047: Voodoo

Character: Max

Max sat beside the bed, content in the silence as he read his book. It was calm in the hospital room, or maybe he'd just grown so used to the beeping of machines and the hum of monitors that he could have been sitting in the quiet of his home and would have felt the same. His gaze drifted from the text to the sleeping face of the woman on the bed. She looked so peaceful, but he knew the reality was far from that. He had more than enough experience with the sick and the dying to know that such a peaceful appearance was just an illusion.

The door to the room opened and Max turned to see his mother walking in. "Hey, Honey." She moved over and placed a kiss on Max's temple. "Any change?" She moved to the chair beside Max and sat down.

"Doctors didn't say anything new. They're still testing her reaction to the medication." Max had heard all the familiar words from the doctors, and he knew it wasn't good. No change meant no improvement, and there had been no change for days. It didn't mean the fight was over, but it had been long enough it did mean things weren't getting better.

Max felt his mother's hand grip his and squeeze lightly. "Well I'm sure that we just have to be patient. If this treatment doesn't work, I have faith that the doctors will come up with one that will." She glanced toward his tablet. "What are you reading?"

"I've been reading up on different religious practices. Maybe there's something that I could do to increase her chances of beating this." His gaze went to the sleeping face of his mother. "I'm reading about voodoo right now, but I don't think that there's any of that I can do."

Max's mother sighed and shook her head. "Max, you know that wouldn't work. Neither you or Linda ever believed in such things, and practices like that have no strength if there is no faith." Laura studied her son for a moment. "What happened to the medical papers you were reading?"

"I got tired of reading all the complications and case studies." Max hadn't been able to handle the fear or thoughts that came with reading up on his diseases and what could go wrong. "I just don't get it, mom." Max set the tablet to the side and looked to his mother on the bed. "I've known so many who were in a position like this and I've always been strong for them. But right now I feel so…weak. I'm so afraid and it hurts so much to see her like this. I just don't understand why it hurts so much."

"Sweetie, it's okay for you to be afraid and for it to hurt. She's your mother, not just a friend. She changed your diapers, picked you up when you fell down, and has loved you all your life. She's a special person in your life so it's natural. This isn't the same as facing the illness of a friend, because the bond runs deeper and longer." Laura looked to her wife. "It always hurts more when it's someone we love."

"I know." Max felt frustrated with how badly he was handling the situation. "I guess I just expected I'd be more prepared for something like this." Max closed his eyes and let out a long shaky breath. "I just don't know what to do. She doesn't seem to be getting any better and it's been weeks." Max could feel the dams that had been holding back his emotions for the past few weeks starting to break.

"Oh, Honey." Max's mother's arms wrapped around him and Max leaned into her comfort. He cried against his mother's shoulder, just letting the emotions run their course. He didn't even notice when the doctor entered the room. If he had, he would have been embarrassed as most of the doctors knew him as a cheerful ball of hope, not a crying teenager.

When Max calmed down he finally noticed the presence in the room. "I hate to interrupt," the doctor said politely. Max knew this particular doctor was new to this hospital, but he'd served for a few decades at another medical center before this assignment so he was experienced. He'd only moved because in his older age, and the warm climate here was better for his joints. "The blood tests came back, though I apologize for the wait." Max braced himself for bad news. "We don't want to be too quick to assume anything, but it seems that the medication might be working. We're seeing increase in white blood cells and it appears that the fever might break soon." Max let out a breath of relief. It was the best news they'd gotten since his mother had collapsed in their home weeks ago, and it was more than he had hoped for. "We'll keep an eye on her progress, but this is very promising."

"Thank you so much," Laura said, a wide smile forming on her face. Max couldn't help but smile as well.