Blood And Ashes

Rose

There was a large troop of horses stomping in my head, or at least that was what it felt like.

Beep. Beep.

Where am I?

oh, the damn hospital.

if I had just snuck out of the lab, I wouldn't have been here.

I winced at the pain that surged through my head.

I opened my eyes slowly; my vision was blurry for a few seconds before it balanced.

I lifted my hands to hold my pounding head, it felt heavy.

There were tubes attached to my hands, restricting me from reaching for my head.

I heard the door of the ward open up, heavy boot-like footsteps stumbled on the floor, and it got louder until it came to a halt.

In front of my bed.

"Dad!"

I couldn't hear myself speak but I wished he saw the excitement on my face the moment I saw him.

Was he sad?

Myriad expressions swarm across his handsome features, shock and grief were evident.

"My princess." He said in a wavering voice. "You're awake." He continued, I saw tears beginning to cloud his eyes.

His eyes were puffy, causing retention in the tissue around his eyes.

"Just…just stay calm." He sniffled, brushing his warm palm on my face. "I will go call My Myron to come check you up."

He turned around to get the doctor when I called out,

"Dad?" my throat itches as I try to be audible.

"Yes, honey." He turned to me swiftly, almost missing a foot.

He sniffled.

He looked different. Not in a good way.

Seeing the strongest man in my life shed a tear made my heart ache.

I would do anything in my power to dry those tears.

Oh God.

It's because of me he's this way.

"What did they say is wrong with me, Dad?"

Now, I remember the incident in school clearly that got me in this hospital bed, putting on this hospital gown and tubes that were strapped to the back of my left palm.

My Dad finally said something after pinning himself at that very spot, staring at his daughter.

"It's just a minor crisis, you will be strong."

That wasn't a comforting answer.

I've been sick many times, and it hasn't made Dad look this way.

I knew something wasn't right, but I wouldn't push things; Dad was going to tell me if he wanted to.

"How long have I been out?"

"You've been out for a few hours, you should quit asking questions." He said that last past with a dry smile that didn't spread to his cheekbones.

"I'm glad you're awake at least. I will be back with the doctor." With that, he was gone.

In less than one minute, he was back with this older man and a short young female nurse. He was the doctor and he looked a few years older than my Dad as he was a bit wrinkled, and I saw his well-trimmed beard mixed in white and black hair.

"Good morning, Rose." His voice was calming and he spoke in a low tone.

I cleared my throat from whatever rust could be down there.

"Morning, doctor."

"Well, Rose, I'm not sure your Dad has introduced me to you." He said, looking over his shoulders at my dad, who stood behind him, My dad had his glued to the wall over my head.

"But I still will do the introductions."

"Please go get her a glass of water." He whispered into the nurse's ear who stood right next to him

Audibly.

She left immediately to get it.

"I'm Dr. Myron Fisher; I'm your health consultant if you will be pleased to let me." He said with a grin, handing out one of his arms like he wanted me to give him a handshake.

"Yeah." Clears throat and coughs a little.

Blood didn't spill out of my nose this time.

Relieve.

He knew I couldn't reciprocate the handshake, so he thoughtfully brought back his hands.

"I will be checking your heartbeat and the nurse will come to give you the rest of the medications." He held up the earpiece of the stethoscope and stocked them into his ear, placing the chest piece in the place my weak heart laid.

My breathing was back to normal since I had woken up.

My Dad watched with his arms folded at his chest, still wearing that perturbed look

Maybe Dr Myron should use his stethoscope to check my throbbing head, it's pounding a thousand times faster than my heart.

"Your heartbeat is normal, Miss Rose."

"You'll be on long-term medication; you will be fine." He continued.

"You might be having a mild headache, It will be gone in a short time."

I nodded.

Mild?

My head was splitting, my eyeballs might burst out of its sockets if care wasn't taken.

****

It's been two days since I was discharged from the City hospital.

I sat with my Dad in the lounge, enjoying the cool evening breeze.

He got me a cockapoo puppy; I named him Ozzy.

I finally got a new pet five years after the sweet demise of my noisy old parrot; it gave my dad feedback on my misdeeds each time my dad got home from work.

"Your aunt, Miss Beatrice, and your brother are coming to town to stay with us; she's going to help me look after you." I stopped playing with Ozzy's soft furs and turned my attention to my dad.

His eyes were closed as he lay on the lounge chair but I was the only one there with him and he was talking to

He had one sister, at least the one I knew of.

He never told me much about my distant family, I don't care to ask.

I've got him and Morris who lived with Miss Beatrice, my supposed aunt. My annoying little brother I never speak of.

Fuck, he's going to make good jokes about my new looks.

"It's a good thing Miss Beatrice is coming, but Morris?"

I groaned dramatically in frustration. "That little pest"

"Your lovely little pest." He concurred through his laughter.

"Right."

"I'm going in to do some cleaning in my room; I haven't touched it since after… you know?" I said with a sigh

"You should get some rest, Rose. You don't need to do any strenuous work."

"Why, Dad? it's just my room I'm cleaning."

"Rose, I said you're not touching anything." he sat up straight as he spoke sternly.

Okay, this has started to piss me off.

He's been treating me like I'm fragile since the moment we got back from the hospital.

Fine, I've been sick for a few days, but I'm not a glass; I could do things for myself.

"I usually do this stuff by myself, It's like a part of me you can't just…"

"You're fucking sick, Rose!"

Losing temper was now becoming a usual thing for Mr Arthur Clifford, AKA, my sweet Dad.

He shot his eyes, soughing.

"I'm sorry Rose."