Deteriorate

Understanding.

Scott

"Scott!"

I groan.

"If it's my sister, I'm trying to sleep." I mumble absentmindedly.

"Listen, you're just taking a nap, you're fine. I'm just checking on you. You have duties."

My brain shoots awake.

"I thought... But you... You aren't real!" I mentally scream.

Like, literally mentally.

I have no idea how we're communicating.

"I am. I'm here to tell you that you have duties on this earth."

"Haha, duties..."

She somehow smacks my head.

"I'm serious. There are things that you need to do. You will find out what they are."

I flinch. "Ow. Not the head!"

"Oops, sorry. I can't tell you what your duties are, but you'll find out."

"Why can't you tell me?"

"My Dad doesn't allow me. You know, my Father. The Big Man Upstairs."

"No, this can't be real. I'm dreaming. He doesn't even exist." I say and try to shut her- it- whatever- out.

"Oh, yes He does. You wouldn't be here if it weren't for Him."

"Okay, so if He is, why am I hurt so bad?"

"Everything happens for a reason, Scott. I have to go. Remember that."

She vanishes right in front of my eyes.

I shake my head from side to side to try to rid the image of her from my head.

I feel a sharp pain and snap awake.

I shouldn't have moved my head.

I cry out in pain and start shaking Kirstie.

"What? What are you okay?" She says, sitting up quickly.

"I'm sorry to wake you, my head hurts really bad."

She yawns. "No, it's okay. Mitch should be back soon, anyway."

"So... Can you explain why I'm here?" I question.

Kirstie parts her lips and her eyes get wide.

"Uh.. Um... You..."

Her eyes fill with tears.

"What?"

"You had a cancerous tumor. They removed it. You had brain surgery."

" I... The fans," My brain starts to race. "I let them down, they witnessed all of this."

"Don't worry about the show, Scott. We won't be doing shows for a while."

"But-"

My face goes pale as I vomit into a bucket.

"It's okay, let it out." She says and rubs my back.

I throw up a few more times and lie back on my pillow.

"I shouldn't have drank that water," My eyes get wide. "Why am I talking like that?"

"Um... Oh, your senses. They might be
stronger for a while. You're talking normally, but it sounds different."

Is this real?

"Kit... I need to tell you something." I say very quietly, as my head is (obviously) throbbing.

"Okay...?"

"Argh, Kirst. Don't talk so loud."

"Sorry." She says at, probably, barely a whisper.

"Sorry... It hurts. I saw something while I was sleeping."

"Like a dream?" She asks.

"Uh... Yeah. A dream. I saw my... Sister...?"

She parts her lips a little and stares at me.

"Uh, yeah, that's what the nurse said. You don't have a sister."

"I know... I'm tired. Can we talk later?"

"But you just... Sure. Get some rest."

I close my eyes and try to get rid of the pain in my skull.

Skull, heh.

Funny word.

Kirstie

Scott closes his eyes and falls asleep.

I lay my head on his bed and let tears flow from my eyes.

We'll figure this out, Scott.

For you.