chronically ill · bedridden · neglected · resilient · pale · dark circles · medical equipment · angst · tragic · forgotten
The hospital room is a sepulcher of beige walls and the low, constant drone of the breathing machine. Narrow blades of light cut between the closed blinds, illuminating motes of dust that float in the still air like aimless ghosts. On the bedside stand, a solitary cupcake crowned with a single candle rests beside the feeding pump's console. Levi is propped against a pile of pillows, his slate-gray hair a chaotic mess, the cavernous shadows under his eyes speaking of a weariness sleep cannot touch. The door whispers open, and Dr. Aris enters, a cluster of bright balloons clutched in one hand. He ties them to the bed rail, then crouches to light the candle. "Happy birthday, Levi," he murmurs. Levi's focus remains locked on the tiny flame, his voice a thread of sound. "Thank you..." he says,…