I blink my way out of unconsciousness. I continue blinking ignoring how heavy my eyelids feel.
The steady beep from the heart monitor tells me that my heart rate is just fine.
I recognize the all white walls, furniture and ceiling.
It's my very own ward.
I'd been here a lot this last past years.
So the hospital was nice enough to just give me one room in case of freak emergencies.
It's like they're waiting for me to just kick the bucket or something.
Sitting up in the bed doesn't seem like an option for me because I feel like absolute shit.
My body is in pain.
I groan just as the door to the room opens.
Mike walks in a frown settled on his face I groan even louder facing the other way.
One thing I don't need right now is his super grumpiness.
I don't hear him swearing or shouting which is not normal. I turn my head to sneak a peek at him.
My eyebrows crease when I notice him standing by the door with a saddened expression on his face.
I open my mouth to ask him why he has that look on his face instead my dry throat has this uncomfortable scratchy feeling and I immediately start coughing.
Mike is quick to get to the side of the bed and he raises my head up pressing a glass of water to my lips.
The cool water slips into my mouth down my throat and it eases away the itch at the back of my throat.
As I sip the water I'm aware of Mike's hand rubbing gently on my throat.
His hands are hard and calloused.
I've held it a lot of times and I know the exact texture. No amount of moisturizer could make his skin soft.
"You okay?" he asks helping me adjust the pillow behind my back.
"Yeah" I reply wary of his cool.
How is he not shouting now?
Did the doctors say something?
"Quit looking at me like that".
"You can't blame me. You are not shouting like I thought you would"
He shakes his head and his hand extends to my face. I watch as his rough hand makes contact with my cheek. He rubs it too tenderly.
He removes his hand pocketing them and sighs.
"I thought I'd give you a break".
My lips tilt in what I hope is a smile.
"That's sweet of you Mikey".
He says nothing while he continues staring at my face.
Okay why is he being super creepy?
Or so I have something on my face?
Wait a minute...
I haven't eaten shit today.
Oh God I'm going to get it from Mom, Dad, Mrs. Clara, Amy, big head Diego and even my little sis Amelia.
Maybe I could convince them with the new deal I just scored.
They would understand right?
"What happened?" I ask Mike even though I know the answer already.
He chuckles and starts pacing the space in front of my bed.
"I remember telling you to stay put. But your stubborn ass just had to do the opposite".
I was fond of doing that.
"I was just coming out of the elevator when I saw your body hit the floor. Your head hit the ground so loud I feared your skull was going to crack".
I roll my eyes unable to help myself.
Mike is also an exaggerator the best there is in the family. So you can always trust him to add a whole jar of spice to simple details.
"I'm not exaggerating Lin I swear it was so loud"
"It's okay. I don't believe you"
He throws his hands in his hair and resumes his explanation.
"I rushed you to the hospital as fast as I could which was luckily not far away. Your parents are on their way".
"They don't have to come" I say hastily.
Maybe it was my father's stern look or the tears that would surely leak from my Mom's eyes.
I didn't want them rushing here.
If they stop coming every time something happens to me maybe they won't take it too hard when I leave this world.
"Too late. They should be pulling in any minute".
I sink back into the pillow forming a pout with my dry lips.
I pick at the hospital cloth. It's oddly fashionable with it's blue material and rainbow shapes all over.
"How long was I out?
"About thirty minutes" he replies.
"Has the Doc said anything?"
"Still running the test"
I get distracted by the cartoon playing on TV. I get so engrossed in it after five minutes that I don't notice Mike pulling his hair tightly.
I tear my eyes away from the little ponies to Mike.
When I lock eyes with my best friend the dam of anger breaks.
"Have you had anything to eat today Lin?"
"Huh"
He repeats himself rather calmly. "Have you had anything to eat today Lin?"
My gaze falls to my folded hands in my lap.
I feel like five year old Lin that broke Dad's expensive vase from Egypt.
I remember Dad saying how careless and clumsy I was with a calm voice. He told me that a lady was never to be careless. He said it all with so much love that the tears just flowed like a running tap of water.
I shake my head to the side telling him no.
I remember that he doesn't like head gestures. He always calls me a lizard whenever I shake my head.
"No"
"Lin!" he exclaims lightly throwing his hands in the air.
"And I bet you haven't taken any of your drugs since this week started".
Oh my!
He knew me so well.
"Yes" I meekly say.
He curses and turns to me he walks the distance to the side of the bed.
"Don't you want to get better Lin?" his hard expression softens "So that I can stop nagging you to eat and take your drugs"
"That will be a relief" I say offering him a little smile.
He chuckles agreeing with me.
He leans away and makes space for himself beside me on the bed. He slides into the bed the white material of his shirt touching me.
"I can't force you anymore."
He shrugs looking at the TV on the wall opposite where we sit.
The door is once again pushed open and in comes Mum first even though my Dad opened the door.
Such a charming gentleman.
I smile at the couple dressed in jeans and matching polo shirts.
They were cute. I've always wanted their type of love that didn't fade as the years went by. Every year it was stronger you would notice this too if you spent your entire life living with them.
Mikey slides off the bed and three seconds later my Mom takes the space.
She rests her hand on my forehead first then on my neck.
"You don't seem to have a temperature" she mutters.
"Now that you're here I'm going to call the Doctor and see what he has for us"
"That will be just fine Michael" Dad says with his arms crossed over his chest standing at the foot of my bed.
"If you will excuse me" Mike said making a beeline for the door.
Once Mike leaves my Dad settles himself beside my legs.
"How are you Lin?" he asks in that voice that has corrected me many times and made me see my wrong.
"I feel tired and there's a dull pain in my head"
"Must have been from when you fell" Mom says pressing a kiss to the side of my head.
I close my eyes for a second and open them.
"I didn't fall that hard though. You know how much of an exaggerator Mike is"
None of my parents say anything.
So we are left in a silence spiked with tension. I keep watching the little ponies hoping that Mike comes in soon with the Doctor.
My prayers are answered when the ponies cartoon comes to an end.
An unfamiliar man in a white lab coat and stethoscope hung around his neck walks in. Mike closes the door behind him.
"I'm Doctor Haliday" the man introduces.
"I'm Darter Reese and this is my wife Sonia" Dad says giving the Doctor a firm handshake.
The man nods and looks in my direction.
My first thought is 'damn this man must have been dashingly handsome in his earlier years.
"And you must be Linda-Lin Reese, my patient for today"
I nod still confused as to why my regular Doctor isn't here.
"Doctor Fi isn't around so I had to take charge of her patient. I hope that's okay?"
"Okay".
He clears his throat and flips through the file he has in his grasp.
"From the file I've been made to understand that you are a cancer patient. Correct?"
"Yes" I reply waiting for his diagnosis.
"Well the brain activity result through the scan we took tells me that you have been overworking. Not the right thing to do as a cancer patient".
"Dehydration and a mild concussion from when you hit your head earlier"
I breathe out in relief. Nothing serious like the cancer cells are eating away at my body rapidly.
"When was the last time you had eight hours of sleep Lin?"
I decide not to answer because my Mom will surely throw a fit.
"I understand that you are a CEO of your company. Despite the busy days you might get you need rest Linda Lin. I mean lots of it. I suggest that you go to the office let's say maybe three times a week and the remaining days you can work from your bed". he suggests maintaining eye contact with me.
"Have you had anything to eat today?"
"Not really?"
"Yes or no" asks my Dad in a stern voice.
"No" I answer.
The doc scribbles down in the file.
"And your drugs?"
"I haven't taken them in a while" I answer looking down at my lap top embarrassed to look at anyone.
The Doc scribbles down in his file and when he finishes he directs his gaze to my father and mother.
"She most likely fainted because she over-worked herself and hasn't had anything to eat much less to drink today"
"Luckily for her there was not a change in the position of the cancer cells they are still localized meaning in one area of her body. If she continues taking her medication there is a chance that the cancer cells can die completely".
My Dad sighs and slide of the bed. "Thank you Doctor for your help"
Doctor Haliday laughs "It's my job"
"Just to be safe we are going to keep her here for the rest of the day and then tommorow she can be discharged and will be on bed rest for two days".
"That is alright with us. Thank you" Mom says from beside me.
"A nurse will be here to change the contents of your drip".
The doctor leaves after advising me to rest and give work a break.
Only if he knew I was recently just coming out for a whole month break.
"You never seem to listen to us. I don't know what to do with you" Mom says lightly tapping my lap.
"We talked about over working yourself Linda. What happened to the promise you made to us?" said Dad.
"I..it was because of this deal I had...I had to make sure I was ready for it. I couldn't lose it"
"Why don't you let Amy and Carl handle it?" Mike inquires coming closer to the bed.
I shrug preferring to not give an answer to that question.
Mom and Dad leave telling me that they'll come pick me up tomorrow and that this discussion isn't over.
Mike leaves the room to get me food.
When he comes back he places it on the bed unwrapping it.
"Where's your food?"
"Not eating here Lin"
"So you're going to leave too"
"Yes. Consider that as your first punishment"
He knew much I loved company whenever I was here. Now he's leaving to teach me a lesson.
"But..but"
He walks towards the door he pulls the door knob open "Good night Lin".