Short fic (or drabble fic)
Disclaimer: Liz Riley and Ralph Ashton belong to me. Give proper credit (and it'd be appreciated if you let me know about it) when you use them.
Rating: PG
Word count: 528
Author's note: No real comments. Enjoy it. ^^;
Summary: Liz Riley has been admitted to the hospital and with very little hope she'd ever get better...
Comments and (constructive) critique are welcome.
The monitor beeped through the silent room. Attached to the machine was Liz, lying motionlessly on the bed. Her dark hair loosely framed her pale face. Next to the bed sat Ralph, holding Liz' hand tightly. Although she'd never been very interested in religion, she prayed now very hard for a miracle. Because she knew Liz could use one.
The door opened and the doctor entered. Ralph looked up with only one question in her eyes: would Liz ever get better? The deep sigh and sad, though sympathetic expression answered that question before words could break the silence.
"Miss Ashton? I'm afraid I have some bad news for you..."
Ralph let go of her girlfriend's hand and got up. "Bad news?" she repeated in a hoarse voice.
"I'm afraid there is nothing more we can do for Miss Riley," the doctor said. "She has been severely injured. Her brain especially has sustained a lot of damage. It's shutting down her body functions one by one. Surgery would only kill her. The only thing we can hope for is that she'll wake up to say goodbye before she passes away. We will make sure she won't feel any pain."
It took a moment for Ralph to understand what had been said. There was nothing that could save Liz' life. She would die and the only thing Ralph could hope for was that Liz would wake up for a few moments. "I understand. Please do whatever you can to make her comfortable."
The doctor nodded and proceeded to give Liz medication against possible pain. He then left to give Ralph some time alone.
She sat back down and held Liz' hand. "Please wake up, Liz," she softly told her girlfriend. "Please wake up..."
As if she heard the silent pleas, Liz' eyes fluttered open and a groan escaped her throat. "R-Ralph...? Where am I? What happened? Why... why is everything so blurry?"
Ralph didn't know whether she should be relieved or not, but tears trickled down her face when she heard that soft, kind voice. "You're in the hospital, love," she said. "You were hit by a car, remember? The ambulance took you to the hospital and doctors have been treating you for the past two hours."
"Is that why I can't feel my legs anymore? And also why I feel light-headed and weird?"
Ralph hesitated. The right thing to do now was to tell the truth... "It's just the medication," she said instead. "You're going to be just fine. You're going to be just fine, Liz."
"Ralph...? I'm cold..."
She forced herself to smile. "Then I'll just have to keep you warm, right?" She lay down next to Liz and held her carefully in her arms. "It's all going to be fine. I love you, Liz."
A faint smile appeared on Liz' face. "I love you too, Ralph... It's starting to get dark. I feel so sleepy."
"Then go sleep." Ralph kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Everything will be better when you wake up again."
She watched how Liz closed her eyes. Her breathing became shallow. The monitor no longer beeped.
Liz Riley would not wake up anymore.
Rating: PG
Word count: 528
Author's note: No real comments. Enjoy it. ^^;
Summary: Liz Riley has been admitted to the hospital and with very little hope she'd ever get better...
Comments and (constructive) critique are welcome.
The monitor beeped through the silent room. Attached to the machine was Liz, lying motionlessly on the bed. Her dark hair loosely framed her pale face. Next to the bed sat Ralph, holding Liz' hand tightly. Although she'd never been very interested in religion, she prayed now very hard for a miracle. Because she knew Liz could use one.
The door opened and the doctor entered. Ralph looked up with only one question in her eyes: would Liz ever get better? The deep sigh and sad, though sympathetic expression answered that question before words could break the silence.
"Miss Ashton? I'm afraid I have some bad news for you..."
Ralph let go of her girlfriend's hand and got up. "Bad news?" she repeated in a hoarse voice.
"I'm afraid there is nothing more we can do for Miss Riley," the doctor said. "She has been severely injured. Her brain especially has sustained a lot of damage. It's shutting down her body functions one by one. Surgery would only kill her. The only thing we can hope for is that she'll wake up to say goodbye before she passes away. We will make sure she won't feel any pain."
It took a moment for Ralph to understand what had been said. There was nothing that could save Liz' life. She would die and the only thing Ralph could hope for was that Liz would wake up for a few moments. "I understand. Please do whatever you can to make her comfortable."
The doctor nodded and proceeded to give Liz medication against possible pain. He then left to give Ralph some time alone.
She sat back down and held Liz' hand. "Please wake up, Liz," she softly told her girlfriend. "Please wake up..."
As if she heard the silent pleas, Liz' eyes fluttered open and a groan escaped her throat. "R-Ralph...? Where am I? What happened? Why... why is everything so blurry?"
Ralph didn't know whether she should be relieved or not, but tears trickled down her face when she heard that soft, kind voice. "You're in the hospital, love," she said. "You were hit by a car, remember? The ambulance took you to the hospital and doctors have been treating you for the past two hours."
"Is that why I can't feel my legs anymore? And also why I feel light-headed and weird?"
Ralph hesitated. The right thing to do now was to tell the truth... "It's just the medication," she said instead. "You're going to be just fine. You're going to be just fine, Liz."
"Ralph...? I'm cold..."
She forced herself to smile. "Then I'll just have to keep you warm, right?" She lay down next to Liz and held her carefully in her arms. "It's all going to be fine. I love you, Liz."
A faint smile appeared on Liz' face. "I love you too, Ralph... It's starting to get dark. I feel so sleepy."
"Then go sleep." Ralph kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Everything will be better when you wake up again."
She watched how Liz closed her eyes. Her breathing became shallow. The monitor no longer beeped.
Liz Riley would not wake up anymore.