Born to Die

It was a week to the day Sophia would leave for school. She fell sick and was admitted to the hospital. It was very critical. She was in a coma for almost two days. Her mum was devastated. She thought Sophia was gone forever but Larry kept on encouraging her that coma didn’t mean death. There was hope she would come back. 

Larry couldn't break down before Sophia's mum but he was very much in pain. He couldn't eat for days having lost every appetite in him. The hospital became his home because he couldn't bear to leave Sophia's side. It was a week he wouldn’t forget in a hurry.

Sophia jerked out of a coma in the evening of the third day but remained unconscious until after the doctor administered drugs. She became fully awake the next day. The joy that leaped from Larry was second to none. He couldn't contain his joy that he almost lifted Sophia from her sickbed. 

He instantly called Sophia's mum to give her the exciting news. The doctor had told him to come with Sophia's mum to his office once she arrived. 

***

Sophia looked like someone who rose from the dead. Indeed it was an experience of death from the way she described it to Larry. She described it as being outside her body but couldn't feel or hear anything. Larry wasn't paying so much attention to all she was saying, he was overly excited about her recovery. 

“Larry, my son, I brought food, please I think you should eat before you fall sick and I don't have the strength to take care of both of you. I brought your favorite, Larry! What is happening? You told me that Sophia is awake but I’m not seeing her awake,” Sophia’s mother said.

“No ma’am, she is just sleeping. The doctor said we should come to his office once you arrive.”

“Okay, I think we should go now before Sophia wakes up.”

The doctor was about to leave when they got to his office. He stepped back to allow them in. He handed a paper to them and told them to make sure she took all the drugs listed. He said that this was the time that Sophia needed all the care she could get because her last days were near.

“You are lying doctor,” Larry said. “Her last days are not near. She will live.” 

Surprise etched on the doctor’s face as he stared at the young man arguing with him. “I just told you what her medical records are saying. Please, excuse me, I need to attend to other patients.”

“Okay, thank you, doctor,” Sophia's mum said with a gloomy face.

They watched as the doctor left and then went back to Sophia's room. Sophia had been awake wondering where they have gone. They comforted her and told her what the doctor said about when she would be discharged. She was so happy that she couldn’t wait to get home and get ready for school. The excitement in her eyes made Larry cry. When he couldn't control it, he left for the restroom. He couldn't bear the thought that she would soon be no more which meant that they would be apart forever. 

“I think we should get going now before this rain meets us. I wouldn't want Sophia to battle with the cold again. We should be home in the next couple of minutes. Please, ma’am, can you pack our bags, so as not to forget anything? Remember Sophia's cloth in the bathroom.” 

Larry was willing to go to any length to make sure Sophia had the best last days to the point that he decided to move down to Sophia's neighborhood to do all he could to alleviate Sophia's mum's pain and help Sophia get ready for school.

 ***

Larry was caught in the thought of how Sophia would cope at school. Though both of them were in the same school, he wouldn’t always be there to provide support knowing how serious her condition was. What happened when she fainted? In a world where fewer people cared, how would she cope? These questions and many more were running through his mind until Sophia tapped his shoulder. “We are going to be late, Larry. What's on your mind? You look troubled, do you mind sharing with me?”

“Oh, Sophia,” Larry said, pushing the dark thoughts to the back of his mind.  “Are you ready? It's nothing to worry about. I was just thinking about our new school. I was lost in the thought of what it would be like.”

“Alright, mum said you should come and help with the bags.”

“Okay. Right away.”

***

Sophia's mum couldn't sleep the night before. She was occupied with the thought of staying alone. She was worried about Sophia's condition. She felt so helpless that she began to cry and cried almost throughout the night. 

Sophia heard her sobs in the still of the night and knew immediately it was because of her trip. She decided to let her be at least for the night. Saying goodbye was a bit difficult for them. They were all crying with no one to console each other. Larry decided to be the man, wiped his tears, and took the bags to the car. 

“Sophia, I think it’s time for us to leave. We will be late for the bus if we don’t leave now. We have just an hour to get to the bus stop,” Larry said. 

“Yes, I will join you in few minutes. Let me do my makeup.” Sophia's phone beeped, it was Sandra on the other end of the line.

“Hi Sophia, where are you now? Are you still at home or school?” She sounded worried.

“Hello Sandra, we are just about to leave for the bus stop before your call came in. Larry is waiting by the car for me. Can we talk later maybe when I get to school? I have a lot to tell you anyway.”

“Alright, Sophia, take care, talk to you soon. My regards to your mum.”

“Okay, I will inform her that you called. Bye.”

Sophia came downstairs, to bid her mum farewell but her mum was still crying. 

“Mum, you need to stop crying. I will be visiting as often as I can and will be calling too. You won't miss me so much. I will be fine too. Can’t you see that Larry is with me? We are going to the same school too. Nothing will happen to me mum. Stop worrying too much.” 

Her mother wiped her tears. “Alright dear, please take care of yourself. Remember to call as soon as you get to school. My mind won't be at rest if I don't hear from you guys.”

“Okay, mum, I will put a call across once we get to school.”