"Some people leave footprints on your heart… Alia leaves them on your neck, your sanity, and your snack stash."
If you've never had to drop off a pint-sized hurricane with a smart mouth and a teddy bear backpack into a children's ward, with her fingers laced tightly around yours…like you're her entire world.
Count yourself lucky.
Because right now, that was me.
Her small hand gripped mine, as her little fingers curled around mine like as we approached the glass doors of the hospital's Children's Recovery Wing.
"You know the drill…don't charm your way into taking more snacks, don't sass the nurses, and for the love of peace, don't start a revolution."
Alia just scoffed and tossed her hair.
"You act like I'm the problem," she said with a roll of her eyes. "They love me in there."
The second we walked through the door, chaos confirmed her theory.
"Uh-oh!" A nurse behind the counter in box braids called out. "Trouble's back!"
Another nurse popped out from behind a curtain holding a clipboard. "Where is she? Tell me she didn't run off again!"
"I didn't run off," Alia huffed dramatically, placing her hands on her hips. "I was exploring. I was just being curious."
"You unplugged someone's IV, Alia."
"That boy was crying over a scratch," she said, pointing at a poor kid nearby who was still sniffling. "I was helping him toughen up."
A third nurse tried to hide her laughter. "She told him if he didn't stop crying, she'd trade him for pudding."
"That's a fair deal," Alia muttered. "Have you tasted hospital pudding?"
I buried my face in my palm.
"She's been running this ward like a tiny dictator," the nurse beside me said with a laugh, scribbling something on a clipboard. "She also bullied a kid by telling him his eyebrows looked like two caterpillars in a turf war."
"He called Elsa stupid," Alia said with a scoff. "He got what he deserved."
"Omg…Alia," I mumbled.
"Also…" she pointed to a short nurse with a curly afro and glittery Crocs, "…that's my favorite nurse. She gave me two apple juices. TWO."
The nurse smiled at us.
I knelt beside her, trying to hide the smile tugging at my mouth. "Okay, rebel leader. I'm gonna head home, grab some supplies, maybe try to figure out how to reverse the damage you've caused to the healthcare system."
She folded her arms. "You coming back?"
"Before SpongeBob ends."
"That's better."
I leaned in close and whispered, "You good?"
She nodded. "I'm good if you're good."
That one hit.
"Bring candy," she whispered. "The grape ones. The good kind."
"Got it. No shady candy."
We bumped fists. Her fingers lingered a second longer, before she turned, hugging me tightly.
And just like that, she strutted off toward the nurses.
"You better be nice," I said out loud.
"Can't promise that," she turned and grinned.
As I walked out, I heard one of the nurses whisper behind me, "Honestly, I think we're all just living in her world."
Time to go home..
And pray I came back before that poor boy got roasted again for his cartoon opinions.
The walk home felt longer than usual.
Every corner of the neighborhood felt like it was holding its breath.
By the time I got home, the walls were quiet.
Too quiet.
And all I could think about was Mom…still unconscious, still somewhere in between this world and the next.
I shoved my charger in my bag, grabbed extra clothes, Alia's half-finished homework she pretended didn't exist, mom's fave blanket. Then I paused at the door, keys in hand, just standing there.
It felt like I was waiting for something.
Back at the hospital.
The nurse at the front desk looked up when I returned.
"Hey," she said with a small smile. "You're just in time. The doctor said you can go in and visit her now."
My heart kicked.
"Really?"
"She's still unconscious," she said, "but you can see her now. She's been moved to the general ward. She's stable enough for some human company. It might help… when she wakes up."
When, not if. That word mattered.
The new room was bigger. A public room. Three beds, divided by curtains, humming machines at each side, and a small window cracked open to let in the evening breeze.
Mom was in the bed closest to the far wall.
She had a thin oxygen tube across her nose. Machines beside her blinked softly.
She looked… peaceful. Pale. Her hair had been tied up neatly, someone had covered her with a blue fleece. Her lips weren't blue anymore.
She looked like she was resting. Like if I just called her name loud enough, she'd turn and smile.
I swallowed hard, placing her favorite blanket gently over her legs.
Then I noticed the flowers.
Two bouquets. One simple. One ridiculously fancy. A few cards propped between them.
I blinked.
Who brought these?
I picked up one card. No name. Just:
"Get well soon. You're stronger than this. – A friend."
I glanced around. A friend?
I didn't know what to feel. Gratitude? Suspicion? Both?
I turned to mom and took her hand in mine.
"Hey, Mom," I said softly. "We're still here. Still waiting on you. A lot had happened mom. Alia also made you a drawing."
A soft shuffle behind me.
"Ash?"