His body was certainly there, plugged into a vast bank of chattering equipment, but somehow, he wasn't. His white hand was limp and lifeless, with no warmth to it at all. Charlie's parents had gone out of the room for a moment to phone their sons at home and Marie had offered to stay with Charlie until they returned. She had regretted this decision the moment they walked out. Now, she found herself sitting beside him, wishing she could be positive and reassuring, but unable to speak. "BLEEP," went one of the monitors, jolting her from her thoughts. Suddenly, she felt breathless and trapped in this dead little room filled with manufactured air and sterile light. Evelyn appeared at the door and something snapped in Marie. She jumped up from her seat and went charging out of the door as fast as she could. Evelyn tried to say something as she went passed, but Marie didn't stop to hear what it was. Fortunately, no one followed her as she ran out of the hospital, but the smell of the place still clung to her.
