It's a Withered Life in a Boisterous Summer

Lochlann had squirmed under her, and Adelene didn't know what else there was for her to do, except to hold his restrained hand, tangling their fingers together as he closed his eyes and Dr. Hart started working.

Adelene was biting her lip hard, and unconsciously. She watched despite the fear, as the doctor inserted a tube into him, and as Lochlann looked so horribly scared in bed. Her heartbeat's become even faster, and she had to stifle her own breaths because she was worried she was going to start sobbing if she didn't.

"I'm just right here," she spoke shakily, but her hold on his hand was firm, as her thumb rubbed its back in circles. She wanted him to at least know that she was there with him through this.

Dr. Hart sounded like he was trying to start a conversation, but Adelene only looked at him and shook her head. "Don't, please," she couldn't speak that well while trying to hold tears in. Besides, how can she engage in a casual conversation under this circumstance? She couldn't speak anymore. One more try, and she might break and start to cry.
@"ReD"

It was probably already midnight, or later than that. But Adelene couldn't feel how tired she was, despite the hours of watching over Lochlann, crying for him, dealing with the staff, dealing with the stress. She couldn't feel the cold either, despite not having anything over or under her t-shirt. Her heart was racing and the faster blood flow somehow kept her body slightly warmer.

She was thankful it was only going to take an hour, but at the same time, she felt so sorry for Lochlann, for having to be like this in the meantime. She eyed Dr. Hart for a moment, before deciding to pull the chair even closer to Lochlann, and she'd sit down and hold Lochlann's hand even tighter.

Dr. Hart left. Adelene found herself absentmindedly bending down to kiss Lochlann's hand, and without anyone else around, without other sounds and movements, things were sinking into her much quicker and much more horribly. Her eyes started to sting as they watered. She tried blinking and wiping them away, but they still stung.

She felt Lochlann react, and she squeezed his hand back to let him know she wasn't going to leave him.

She didn't notice Dr. Hart's return until the doctor held out a cup of coffee for her. She looked at him, and then at the cup, before taking it carefully with one hand. She wasn't going to let Lochlann go.

"Thank you," she mumbled, before taking a sip. And then she rested the cup on her lap. "Also, for letting me stay with him."

She remembered just then what the doctor said about taking him home. She bit her lip for a moment, before deciding she'd ask about it.

"Doctor..." Despite her hoarse voice. "...what was that you were saying about taking him home?"
@"ReD"

It was like the doctor's words were the only thing needed to push Adelene to her limit.

She silently listened to Dr. Hart, and it didn't exactly show on her face how her mind suddenly started feeling unsettled, panicked, and then she started to worry even more, even though she didn't want to believe that things would get worse. Never mind the past incidents, she was afraid of what happens in the future. And her stomach turned and her chest tightened as her mind was filled with the worst thoughts.

She lowered her head and covered the cup's rim with her hand when she couldn't hold it in anymore. She started crying, her sobs soft but very noticeable against the silence.

She was getting drained, physically, mentally, emotionally. She was stressed and tired and she was crying again. But her hold on Lochlann's hand didn't loosen.

She couldn't answer the doctor, however. She couldn't fight the sobs, she couldn't speak. It was painful in the chest, and any attempt to utter a word would surely just make her crying worse.
@"ReD"