Chapter 3: Taking Steps

Chapter 3: Taking Steps

“Hmmmmm. So, what you’re saying is, because your mom’s a doctor here, you get to simply hang around and harass the patients?”

“Well, harass is a very strong word…” He smirked at me. “…And you really don’t seem to mind.”

“Well, that’s because the last time I talked to anyone but my Dad was about six months ago.” 

I was still feeling great, and I was even able to prop myself up on my arm as we talked. Lion--in the short thirty minutes I had known him--had managed to draw my entire life’s story out of me, down to the very last detail. We swapped stories of childhood, and eventually managed to get into a debate about his habit of “visiting” the patients. 

“And,” I continued, “the moment I saw you, I knew I was destined to deter you of your intruding ways.” I smiled mischievously as he stuck his tongue out at me. Well THAT’S mature, Lion…

“Bring. It. On.”

“Fine. I will.”

At that, I heard the click of the door adjoining my room and the hall, and I immediately looked up, expecting to find my dad.  Not quite.

Instead, in walked a small, fiery haired doctor, who seemed to be quite frazzled.

“Lion Brave Mirage... What on Earth are you doing in here?” She was at my bedside in an instant, glaring lasers at my new friend.

“Uh… Hey, Mom.” Lion now slinked off the foot of my bed, looking less like his namesake and more like a house cat who had been caught shredding the drapes.

“What have I told you about bothering the patients?!” She threw her hands up in the air, and began to scold him.

“Honestly, Lion! I don’t know what to do with you anymore! You know I can’t leave you at home, but I really can’t have you coming in and pestering whoever you please!” For some reason, Lion looked extremely shocked, it seemed like he rarely received tongue lashings like this and was not prepared.

“Mom, are you okay? You seem really, really stressed… It’s okay.” His face twisted into an expression of worry, and his mom continued to glare at him. I decided to pipe up.

“Actually, Dr…” I leaned forward, overjoyed that I was able to do so, and read her name off of her ID. “Dr.  Mirage, I really don’t mind the company. After all, I haven’t had company in… let’s just say, quite a while.”

She sighed, and seemed to break down. The doctor almost collapsed onto the bed across from mine, and began to speak. “I’m so sorry, Lion. I’ve just been so stressed out lately, between patients collapsing in the waiting room and furious parents, and…”

She trailed off, but something she said caught my ear.

“By furious parents, you wouldn’t by chance have been talking about my dad, would you?” She seemed to have forgotten I was there, but quickly remembered and reassumed her professional façade.

“Well, Miss Dawn, we have a privacy policy here in Briocheport General…” 

“If it was my dad who upset you, please, doctor, don’t take it personally. Every time we go to the hospital, he ends up more and more upset. Was it bad news?” I eyed her as I watched her thoughts fly through her mind, trying to decide whether or not to tell me something.

“Actually, the news was pretty good.” She smiled at me, and I noticed how much she resembled Lion. “But, with every word I spoke, your father just became more and more angry.”

Then, it clicked. Mom. I frowned as I realized that there must have been a way for her to be saved, and now dad was blaming Dr. Mirage for Mom’s loss. It hurt, coming to that realization, but for the moment I decided not to allow myself to get worked up.

“Doctor, he’s not angry with you. My dad’s grieving.” My voice caught on the last syllable.

“Oh… I’m so sorry…” And then, it clicked for Dr. Mirage. So that must have been why Oasis had been screaming for her mom. She must’ve passed away from the same thing…  What I said about the inadequate doctors in Sugar Valley only made it worse, because Mr. Dawn’s wife‘s death was in vain... I noted that the doctor’s nose would crinkle when she was thinking, and realized that I had just seen Lion do the exact same thing. They were exactly alike. The doctor looked at me.

“For such a young girl, you sure do speak and act like an adult.”

“Well, doctor, I didn’t really have much time to be a child.”

~

The next few days passed uneventfully, as far a spending your time in a hospital goes. Dad almost never left my room, except to speak to Lion’s mother, which Lion took as an opportunity to bother--visit me. Other than the two of them, the only other visitors I received were the nurses who would check on me every hour or so. I eventually figured out that what they would inject into my arm was, in fact, berrimine.

I became stronger and stronger, and eventually, I could even walk across the room with the help of my new friend.  It was thrilling- I walked farther than I had in years, and every day I was able to do more. With every physical step, I could feel myself taking another step closer to forgiving the people outside my window. 

Dad would never tell me what was wrong, even though I already knew. He had decided to grieve on his own, and there was no way I could have changed his mind. His weak smiles and forced laughs worried me to no end, and eventually I suggested that we visit mom’s grave as soon as I was checked out of the hospital. 

He looked quite shocked when I initially suggested it, but eventually, he caved.

“Alright, Oasis. We’ll go together.” I smiled, sensing the tears welling up in my eyes. I had never been able to visit Mom’s grave, because when she died she requested to be buried in her hometown, Briocheport. It just reminds me of home, she always used to say. I never understood what she meant, but would always tell me about the beautiful lights and how much she loved them. I sat there, tears streaming down my face, enjoying a comfortable silence with dad when in walked Dr. Mirage.

“How are you doing this morning, Oasis?”

“I’m great, Doctor.” I smiled, and she took in the tears on my cheeks with a look of concern.

“You’re not in any pain, are you, Oasis?” She scowled, and briskly walked over to asses my current state. I let out a small laugh.

“No, I’m fine. I’m just…” I paused, unsure what to say. “Happy…. I’m happy.” The revelation almost shocked me as I thought about the last time I was truly happy, without the threat of the disease of the pain of my mother’s death looming over me. Then, I realized that what I was feeling, instead of happiness, was peace.

As I thought, the doctor bent over so her eyes were level with mine.

“Oasis, Lion has been telling me about how strong you’ve been getting. I’ve decided it’s time you start learning to walk again.” My father made a small, strangled noise, and started to stand, but Dr. Mirage reassured him. “It will be fine, I assure you. She will be under constant observation, and will be using our world renowned physical rehabilitation center. We’re gonna fix you up so you’re just like new.” Almost. 

         Her smile wavered as she thought this, but I was far too excited to notice at the time.

~

The next morning, I awoke to the ever so lovely sound of Lion’s voice. After a moment of glaring at him, I finally forgave him for waking me up and propped myself up onto my elbows.

“Guess what, O!” He had picked up on my nickname from Dad, and had relentlessly been using it since. I sighed dramatically, and did my best to look annoyed.

“What could it possibly be, Lion?” A smile crept onto my face, because I knew why he was there. His mother had told me the day before that she was going to have Lion take me to their  physical therapy floor, as well as murmuring something to my father about “keeping me calm”. Once again, at the time, I was far too excited to notice.

“Are you ready, O?”

He offered me his hand as he led me towards my wheelchair, being very careful as so not to allow me to stumble. After he had eased me into the cool leather seat of the chair, Lion wheeled me towards the door that was being help open by the kind nurse who I had come to know as Maraschino.  She flashed a smile at me, and I smiled back, too excited to contain myself. 

As we slowly made our way through the bustling hospital corridors, I noted that several nurses would look up from their work and smile of wave at me. It puzzled me, but I was amused.

Once inside the elevator, Lion whipped around and spoke.

“I’m sure you’re wondering why the seemed so excited to see you.” His voice was low and intense, he spoke quickly, to the point where I almost thought I had imagined it.

“ Um, what? Well, yes. Yes, I am, actually.” I tripped over my words, stuttering and mumbling.

“They’re glad for you. You were in very serious condition when you showed up. Do you know how long you slept after you got here?” He paused, but continued quickly, cutting off my reply. “Five days. For five days, it was assumed that you would eventually just pass away. Do you know how lucky you are?” He was speaking even faster, his tone extremely urgent. Confusion hit me, and I tried to reply again.

“What do you mea-”

“Oasis, you are the first one to ever survive a case of Beriberi that severe. In your condition, you probably would have passed away within days. The odds were so stacked up against your living, all the nurses expected you to die the night you arrived. But you didn’t. You got stronger, and beat the odds. There’s only one way, O. You’ve got someone watching over you, I’m sure of it.”

I gaped at Lion. His face was twisted with emotion, an intensity I had never seen in anyone burned in his eyes.

“Lion…” I began, frantically searching for words. Lion had  just shown a completely different side of himself, one that seemed determined and intense. I stared for a moment longer, then the right words came to me. 

“I know.” 

At that, the elevator slowed to a halt and a quiet buzzer sounded. The doors opened, and we slowly entered the dazzlingly bright room.

~

When one looks away from their window, their world has changed. Everything seems different; Complicated, confusing, heartbreaking… When one looks away from their window, their  forever unchanging window, they begin to wonder why they ever looked away…