Chapter 5: Moving on, Moving In, Moving Up

 Chapter 5:

Moving On, Moving In, and Moving Up

So very much changed in the next month. 

I honestly didn’t even recognize my new life.

After Dad and I left the cemetery, we did not return home. We stayed the night in a small hotel, and the next day, we pulled up to a beautiful house that overlooked the ocean.

“Wha--” I turned to question my dad, but he held a hand up.

“Oasis… this is our house.”

“Wait, ho--”  I was cut off again.

“Doctor’s orders. This was your mother’s and my vacation home before you were born, and seeing as the doctor insisted that we get you out of the old house, we’re moving in here.” He patted my hand gently.

“So what about--”

“Most of the furniture has been sold. Any keepsakes we had have been moved to be stored in the attic. And, of course, there was no need to bring your wheelchair.” He began to climb out of the car, but I spoke up once more.

“But, how are you--”

“Predicting everything you say?” He chuckled as he prepared to make a reference to what had quickly become our little inside joke. “Rachel Ray, of course.”

At that, we both climbed out of the car.

It was the strangest feeling, walking up to my new home. Walking in itself shocked me. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Dad ascended the steps behind me, and I fidgeted with the guitar pick in my hand as I watched him unlock the deadbolt.

Lion’s gift had truly been perfect. I initially thought the guitar pick he gave me was plain white, it wasn’t until I looked closer that I discovered the secrets it held. 

Its surface was a beautiful iridescent color, and when I held it up to the light, I could see the hidden letter O.

I teared up. This was all too much. I had to admit, it was time to get out of that house. I honestly had begun to hate it-- too much time spent and too many bad memories created there. And, there was also the fact that I had secretly begun to hate those neighbors. Of course, I had secretly begun to hate almost everyone else as well. 

But, Lion changed that. 

And that was the reason I teared up. I truly hoped I would see Lion again. The odds against it were overwhelming. That paired with the shock new house, I suddenly burst into tears. I have no idea what came over me, I just started sobbing.

My dad ran over to comfort me, like I was still the little child he used to hold when she had fallen.

After my last few sobs died down, he led me through the front door.

Inside was beautiful, possibly even more than the outside. The décor was elegant and classy, typical of the style of my mother. I took it all in. The sights, the smells. It smelled like violets and cherry blossoms. Like my mother.

I hadn’t seen my mother since the first day at the hospital. I was still fully convinced that she was there. I was also still convinced that my dad and the doctor had not told me something, and that something had to do with my mom as well.

I took in the house for a moment, breathing in the wonderful smelling air.

Then, I saw it, and I immediately fell in love with it. I thought it was gone, I had assumed dad had sold it out of grief.

But there it was.

In the center of the room sat my mother’s grand piano. I ran over to it and swung my legs over the bench, running my hands over the fine wood that the beautiful instrument was made out of. I uncovered the ivory keys, and almost like second nature, my fingers began to play.

Memories rushed back. My mom taught me guitar when I was very young. She would let me sit and listen, and so I would for hours on end. I loved the music she played. The music seemed to swirl around us, almost like magic. The notes would swell with intensity, and for a moment, it was as if time would stand still. Then the only things in the word would be the music, the piano, mom, and me. 

The music I played swelled with emotion, and then slowly faded away as the song ended.

“Oasis…” Dad gasped. “When did you learn to play like that?”

“Mom taught me while you were at work.” I smiled at the floor of the new house, and then suddenly, I looked up, into my loving father’s eyes. “Dad, mom always wanted to share her music with the world… I want to do that too. I want to keep mom alive, through my music.”

~

The level of determination in his daughter’s eyes shocked him. What happened to his sweet little girl? Now here, in front of him, sat a wise and kind girl, who seemed to be even more mature than he. He smiled a sad, sweet smile.

“Of course, Oasis. I will do whatever I can.”

~

Weeks passed. I gradually improved my music more and more-- I found that I favored piano, just as mom had. As I learned, Dad and I would go out and buy new music, which was made possible by the fact that he had found another job. With the new job, he hired an in home tutor for me.

The tutor’s name was Minti Shamrock. She, however, insisted that I address her as Professor Shamrock. Professor Shamrock was a wonderful teacher. It was so much nicer than an automated home-school course, albeit significantly harder that an automated course as the Professor held me to quite high standards.

I remember a day on which I had become so frustrated with a problem, my face nearly turned the color of my hair. I pushed the problem away, shooting Professor Shamrock a look of exasperation.

“I can’t do this! It’s impossible, Professor!”

“Now you listen here, Oasis.” She started. I braced myself for a lecture, but was shocked when her face took on a kind expression. “Calm down. It’s okay that you don’t get it-- yet. But I know you will. You are by far my most impressive student, Oasis. Did you know you’re working on college level? College level, Oasis. You should be in your third year of high school, but you have the intelligence of someone in their third year of college.”

I calmed down after that, and we worked together.

~

The professor always reminded me of my mom, in the sense that she was able to calm me down so easily. I always thought that, but I was pretty sure my dad had never noticed their similarities.

~

The year proceeding that went by in a flash. I learned more and more, practiced my walking, and took the medications prescribed to me every week. My dad still refused to tell me their purpose. Soon, however, my eighteenth birthday snuck up on me, and i forgot about my concerns.

I couldn’t have been happier. There I was, surrounded by people I loved, happy. It was all so impossible. I took a breath, and as the clock stuck seven, I became an adult.

And to think, I wasn’t even supposed to live past seventeen.

~~~~

Author’s note:

Here is a quick tour of the Dawn family’s new home.

Front Yard

Back Yard

Main room

Kitchen

Restroom

Saffron (Mr. Dawn)'s Bedroom

Oasis's Bedroom

Chapter 4: Walking Away

Chapter 4: Progress

As my eyes adjusted to the glaringly bright light, I took in the room we had entered. There stood Dr. Mirage, Nurse Maraschino, and my dad, each one with a different emotion written on their faces. The doctor exuded confidence, the nurse, excitement, and my father, anxiousness. I shifted in my seat as I tried to forget about the exchange Lion and I had just had.

“Glad to see you made it here, Miss Dawn.” The nurse’s attempt to act professional was completely transparent, and she smiled gleefully. “Why don’t we get you set up?”

~

After a brief lecture over how to use the treadmill, including the safety device that would make the treadmill stop should I fall, I stood atop a treadmill, surrounded by four people who seemed to be almost yelling encouragements.

In actuality, the sweet looking little nurse really was yelling. I could feel my hands start to sweat as I gripped the support beams of the equipment, and slowly eased myself into a walk.

  The first people I had come to care for after my mother’s passing all supported me, smiles shining on their faces… I’d never been happier.

It was an amazing feeling, walking on my own. The feeling I had was almost like the thrill one feels when they learn to ride a bike, of have their first kiss. I will never forget the feeling of walking again.

~

Sadly, I was not allowed to stay long. After about ten minutes, Dr. Mirage shut off the treadmill and helped me off of it. I then returned to my room, with the help of Dad and nurse Maraschino. That day, I I was elated, and I all but forgot about Lion’s and my conversation in the elevator.

~

A couple weeks later, I had grown even stronger. The small amount of awkwardness between Lion and I had vanished and be were back to normal.  It was then when the news finally came.

 

It was a beautiful morning in Briocheport, the sun was tinting the sky pink and, due to how high my room was, I could see what seemed to be miles and miles of land--which, I later learned, was scheduled to be turned into an apartment building. I hadn’t seen Lion all day, and was expecting him when I heard the door open. Instead, Dr. Mirage, looking friendly and refreshed, peered through the door.

“Oh, I’m glad the two of you are awake.” My dad had begun sleeping in the armchair next to my bed.

“Yes Doctor?” My dad’s voice was rough, it seemed that he had only woken up moments before.

“Today is the day.”

For a while, we discussed the plans for the day, regarding transportation and continued care. I would smile and nod, but inside, I felt a small twinge of pain. Will I even get to say goodbye?

This thought repeated over and over in my head, as the doctor, Dad, and I, exited my room, gathered my belongings, and entered the elevator.  I sighed as I realized that I probably wouldn’t be able to wish Lion a farewell, and voiced my concern.

“Doctor?”

“Yes?”

“Would you mind telling Lion bye for me?” 

“Certainly.

With a small chime, the doors to the elevator opened, revealing what, or rather, who awaited us in the lobby.

If I hadn’t promised the doctor I wouldn’t, I would’ve run over and hugged Lion. 

“Lion!” I beamed.

“Did ya really think I wouldn’t say goodbye? Don’t be silly, Mousey.”

He leaned over and hugged me. You were my first friend. Ever. And now, I’m leaving… Why is it that fate seems to do these things on purpose?

“I’ve got something for you, O.” He took his hands out from behind his back and showed me what he had been hiding.

A guitar pick.

The only thing was, I’d never told him about my ambitions with my mother’s guitar.

“How did you--” He cut me off.

“A little birdie told me… Looks like this is it, O.” He placed the pick into my hand, and grinned.

“Looks like this is it, Lion.” I paused. “Don’t forget to read those books, alright?”

“Alright. Seeya later, Miss Mousey.” Dad wheeled me out of the waiting room, and to our car, which had been sitting there for the past four weeks.

Goodbye, my friend...

~

Our little car pulled up to the solemn looking gate, and dad and I climbed out of the car. Remembering the doctor’s instructions, I allowed dad to help me stand up and walk across the stone path. We stopped in front of a small stone with an engraving on the front.

Cherry-Blossom Dawn, Mother, Wife, Music in the Dull Hum of Life.

A little piece of unrest finally melted away as I was able to pay my respects to my mom.

Once we had both cried ourselves out, I pulled my dad into a hug.

“Maybe this roller coaster is finally over, dad…”

He sighed. “I hope so, Oasis. I hope so.”

Little did I know how it had only just begun.

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…

Chapter 2: Revelations

Chapter 2: Revelations

  “Mr. Dawn? May I please speak with you in the hallway? We don’t want to wake the patient…” A quiet, hushed voice came from the little nurse who had just finished injecting a shot full of Berrimine into his daughter’s arm. He leaned over, kissed her on the forehead, and set her stack of books on the small nightstand next to her bed. What happened? What happened, Oasis?
“Alright. I’m coming.” He followed the little nurse into a meeting room a floor down from Oasis’s, and stopped when the nurse turned around.

“You’ve been called in here today because Dr. Mirage, the doctor who will be taking care of little Oasis up there, asked me to explain the technicalities of Oasis’s condition. Then, she herself will be in here to discuss a more… sensitive topic.”

“Go ahead. Hit me with the bad news. I’m ready.” The nurse furrowed her eyebrows, realizing he was expecting the worst. It made sense, seeing as after one look at Oasis’s medical file, it seemed the worst had already happened.

“Mr. Dawn, you’re daughter’s going to be okay. She’s going to heal. All we have to do is continue with these injections of berrimine.” He was beyond shocked. He couldn’t believe it… she’s going to heal? How?

“What? How?”

“You see, sir, your daughter suffers from Berryberry because she has the inability to take in berrimine…orally. This is because of a strange abnormality in her stomach and intestines that doesn’t allow berrimine to reach her bloodstream. However, if berrimine was to be injected into her blood steam regularly, she would begin to heal.” 

“Wait.” He began. He was shaking as he came to the realization. It hit him like a brick, knocking all the wind out of his lungs. “Do you mean to tell me… that my wife, who died of the very same thing, would have lived if they had just given her some stupid INJECTIONS?” He was shaking so hard that he could no longer force his voice to work.

“Y-yes, sir. I’m afraid so.” The nurse took note how pained he looked, started to back away, and she said one final thing. “Sir, your daughter should heal. With any luck, she’ll even be able to walk. I wish you good luck.” With that, she left to check on another patient, leaving Mr. Dawn all alone, in agony.

In the Children’s Ward…

I awoke to find myself sitting in a hospital room full of children’s toys. Beside me sat some of my favorite books. I eyed them, and titles like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and A Tale of Two Cities caught my eye, and letting me know that my Dad had been there. What happened? I began to sit up, noting that even though I had evidently had a panic attack, I was feeling stronger than usual. Odd. 

My thoughts were interrupted my the opening of the door to my room. In walked a boy about my age, who promptly strolled across the room and walked right up to my bed.

“Well, hiya.” Then, with no regard to my personal space, he leapt over the foot of my bed and got comfy. I frowned.

“You know,” he continued, “You’re awfully old to be stuck in the children’s ward.” I simply stared, at a loss for words. “So, what’s your name, Newbie?” 

“Uh… Why… Are you in here?” I was annoyed. What’s going on? Who is this guy?

“Well, nice to meetcha, Whyareinyouhere! My name’s Lion.” He laughed at his own joke, and my brain finally shifted into gear. If someone’s going to bother me, I might as well tell them my real name.

“Oh, err, actually, my name is Oasis…”

“Wow, that’s actually kinda pretty. A lot prettier than ‘Whyareinyouhere’ at least.” He laughed again, and smiled brilliantly.

I frowned back, still a bit peeved. This would probably be the first teenager I’d spoken to… ever, and I really wasn’t liking how loud my fellow teenager was. “Lion is a pretty interesting name, too. It seems to suit you.” He looked at me strangely, and I couldn’t help but smirk.

“How is it that you think the name ‘Lion’ suits me?”

“Lions are loud. You’re loud.” I stared at him, waiting for him to be offended and leave so I could sleep.

“Huh. That’s actually pretty true. But by that logic, your name should be Mouse.”

“Gee, thanks.” I was disappointed that my jab had no effect on him. Instead, he just kept smiling. Although he annoyed me and was way too loud for my taste, he was slowly growing on me. I thought I had hated everyone but my dad, but that might’ve been because I’d never really gotten to know anyone else…

“So, what’re ya in for?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Why where you checked in to the hospital? You don’t look too terribly sick…” I mentally kicked myself for not understanding what he was trying to say, however, in all fairness I really wasn’t myself that day.

“Oh. I have a hereditary disorder called Berryberry.” He looked quite surprised.

“Berryberry? I thought only people in Africa and stuff had that.” I laughed a small, sad laugh.

“Well, yes. It is prevalent in third-world countries like certain parts of Africa, because they don’t have any good way to take in Berrimine. However, It is also, albeit rarely, found in places like America as a heredita-”

“Okay, whoa, there.” Lion interrupted me and held his hands out in front of him, as if to tell me to stop. “Me no like big words. Big words baaaaaaaad!” We stared at each other for a moment, and then burst out laughing.

It seemed as though we talked for hours, me and this strange, annoying boy who I met in the hospital. We were total strangers, and instantly, he felt like my good (although overtly pesky) friend. He turned out to be a lot smarter than he let on, and I discovered that he had read most of the books sitting on the stand next to me.

“So, you’re telling me that you’ve never read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea? You really need to! Its about these three men who become prisoners on-board a submarine named the Nautilus, and they go on tons of fantastic adventures with Captain Memo!”

“Actually, I’m pretty sure it’s Captain Nemo, not Memo…”

“So you actually have read it?” He looked guilty, scratched his head and shifted his eyes.

“Yes. I just don’t like telling people…” At this, I actually smiled at him.

“Well, you don’t have to worry about me. I’ve been sick so long I’m pretty sure I don’t count as a ‘people.’”

“That’s not true. Anyone who has any kind of independent thoughts is a person. I’m almost positive that your thoughts are independent.”

“I’m almost positive that your thoughts are annoying.”

“Touché.”

Meanwhile, in The Meeting Room…

Dr. Rose Mirage stood behind the father of her patient, Oasis, and waited for him to notice her presence. She stood there, running what she would say through her head. She had some very good news. However, she also had some very, very bad news as well. How Mr. Dawn would take it, she would just have to see.

Dr. Mirage cleared her throat, alerting Mr. Dawn of her presence. He quickly turned around, and she too a breath to speak. “Mr. Dawn, I called you here to speak with you today because I have good news…” She trailed off. “…as well as some rather unfortunate news.”

“Well, by all means, let’s hear it.” His tone told the doctor he was none too happy to be talking to her. The middle aged man turned back to the window he had previously been staring out of, and the doctor shifted her weight, feeling uncomfortable.

“You see, sir, the good news is that your daughter’s condition is perfectly treatable, and the doctors in Sugar Valley are completely incompetent.” She snorted. “Next time anyone in your family is sick, please, I beg of you, come to me. It will save you the heartbreak of their total inadequacy.”

“I knew that. The nurse informed me of the fact that her disease could have been avoided.” He said this with a grunt, and his jaw set almost immediately after he spoke. 

The petite woman now felt extremely uncomfortable. His daughter was going to heal. She was, essentially, going to perfectly fine… physically, at least. Why was he behaving this way? It seemed as though he was grieving rather than celebrating.

“Uh, well, sir… I suppose I should tell you the bad news  now…” 

Another grunt. Why am I always the one to deal with the difficult parents…?

“You see, earlier, in the waiting room, your daughter seemed to have a panic attack. However…”

Suddenly, he felt rage burning through his veins, and he whipped around and yelled. “If there’s bad news, just get on with it, already!” He slowly turned back around, fuming.

“Mr. Dawn, your daughter’s panic attack wasn’t really a panic attack.”

“Well then, Doctor. What. Exactly. Was. It?” He seethed. She simply couldn’t understand why he was so angry, so furious. She swallowed the growing lump in her throat and continued.

“It was a lapse of her sanity.”