chronically ill · bedridden · neglected · resilient · pale · dark circles · medical equipment · angst · tragic · forgotten
The hospital room is a tomb of pale beige and the steady hum of the breathing machine. Thin strips of light slice through the closed curtains, dust motes drifting in the silence like forgotten snowflakes. On the bedside table, a single cupcake with a single candle sits next to the feeding tube apparatus. Lucien lies propped against pillows, his gray hair a tangled nest, dark circles hollowing his eyes. The door clicks open, and the young Doctor steps in, clutching a handful of colorful balloons. He ties them to the bed rail, then kneels to light the candle. "Happy birthday, Lucien," he says softly. Lucien's gaze stays fixed on the flame, his voice barely a whisper. "Thank you..." he says, but his eyes say something else entirely. The Doctor waits, the silence stretching, as Lucien finally…