Camp Melodrama - Episode 21

Episode 21 - Part 20

May. 3rd, 2006 at 12:36 PM

</td>

Mary took the stairs quickly at first, then slowed down after six floors of spiraling made her dizzy. She decided to get off on the third floor, it's familiarity somehow comforting. It was late, and most of the doors were closed-visiting hours were long over. One door remained open, the light from it flooding into the hallway, creating moving, colorful patterns on the dingy white tile floor. Mary slowed and peeked inside. The patterns were from balloons tied to the handrails of the bed. Inside the bed was a young girl, perhaps twelve or thirteen years old. She was hooked up to far too many machines. Over their humming and whirring, Mary could just make out the conversation between who she assumed was the girl's parents and a doctor.

Doctor: "We're still waiting on confirmation, but that's really just a technicality at this point. Hopefully we'll be able to begin the operation within the next five to six hours. It's astonishing, really, the timing-and the fact that she's a six-of-six match. It's very rare, especially in cases involving minorities."

Mary stood at the door, listening with an interest that she couldn't quite explain. The girl was awake but groggy looking. Her eyes locked with Mary's, though she made no outward indication that an eavesdropper was in their midst. Mary smiled at her, feeling a tenuous connection between them. The girl was obviously very close to death, her salvation hinging on some sort of operation. Mary was also close to death, all outward appearances to the contrary. She felt a tangible ripple move through the atmosphere as their two ships passed in the night.

Mrs. Itou: "We're very blessed. And she-it-is here already?"
Doctor: "Yes, the beating-heart cadaver in right downstairs in the ICU. It really is a remarkable confluence of events. Things couldn't have been more ideal if we'd planned them."

Mary smiled at the girl and turned around, heading back toward the stairs. She was pleased for this family who would get a second chance. She wondered what a beating-heart cadaver was, and giggled as her head filled with visions of Frankenstein monsters.

Mary: "Oh god."

The floor suddenly dropped out from under her as she realized what was going on. Emily was the beating-heart cadaver. Mary stopped in her tracks and stood, wavering, before finally breaking out into a run and flying down the stairs to meet the others.