Dream Catcher

Chapter I

I rush through the doors to Pennsylvania Hospital and lean frantically over the front desk. My eyes feel heavy and red and my hands are shaking uncontrollably.

"Lydia Watson!" I shout at the person I the white jacket. "She's my mother! I need to see her."

The woman turns around, peering at me from over her glasses. Her brown eyes seem to carelessly stare into mine as she sits forward and folds her hands.

"Ms. Watson is undergoing surgery at the moment. She's not allowed visitors. You can speak with her doctor."

"Fine. I want to see him."

I walk over to a seat by the aquarium as the woman intercoms the doctor. I sit down and lean my head back against the wall, breathing out heavily.

Relax, Honey Bee, I hear in my head. Relax. Breathe. We will get through this.

My mother has been in and out of the hospital for months now. It seems as if the hospital is our new place of residence since we're here so much. Not knowing what is going to happen to her from minute to the next is so stressful. I shut my eyes as tight as I can, continuing my breaths. I hear a loud pounding and my eyes fly open. I jump up, startled by someone touching my hand.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Jamerson. I didn't mean to scare you. The doctor will see you now."

The woman leads me to the doctor's office and I have a seat in front of his desk. I fold my hands in my lap and sit up straight. The doctor folds his hands as well and leans forward to me. His wrinkly nose crinkles up against his sallow skin, making his furry, white eyebrows sink low.

"I'm sorry, Hunter. You're mother had another heart attack".

I lean forward and bury my face in my hands, unable to stop the tears from pouring out of my eyes. I feel the room spinning around me and my head feels so heavy. My eyes feel like they may fall out of the sockets.

"Hunter." I look up to see the doctor standing beside me with his hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry about your mother. I understand how hard this must be for you."

I look at the doctor and nod silently. My eyes are hurting from this stinging sensation I get whenever I cry and my vision is red and blurry. I look down and notice my hands shaking.

Damn. I never ate today-- all I had was that damn cup of coffee.

"Hunter," the doctor says interrupting my thoughts, "I know we've talked before about your mother's condition and how it's affected you..."

"No." I wipe my eyes and sniffle, swallowing hard. "I already know what you're going to say."

"You know it's what your mother would want. And Rider."

I look up at him and stare a hole through him. I can't focus on anything but my mother right now. I can't allow my own demons to get in the way of what's most important. My mother needs to come first. If I can't take care of her, who will?

"No, Doc. My mother needs me. My father-- he hasn't been around since I was six. If I can't take care of my mom... she has no one else. Just up the dosage on my prescription if need be. I'm not that bad, I swear!"

"Hunter, I can just keep changing the prescription. That's the third time we've done that this year. That's not healthy for you or your mother."

He sits back in his seat and pulls a book out and plops it on his desk. The dust puffs into the air like pixie dust, except it was less magical and more disgusting. He opens the book and looks back up to me, gesturing emphatically.