I shook all over, feeling the cold seep into my bones, while my skin burned hot against the blankets. I tried to open my eyes, but I might as well try pushing mountains, for all the good it did. So I gave up. I breathed in softly, wincing from the pain it brought, and disturbed by a peculiar scent it followed. A smell of compulsive cleaning, sharp and scratchy in my nostrils, assaulted my senses, teasing my memory.

"She is awake! Quick, call the doctor!" A voice rang somewhere far away, and I sighed internally.

In the hospital, then. Joy.

Suddenly, there was a weight against my hands, and the cold in my bones got a bit lesser.

"Darling? Are you in there? Please come back to us." A soft voice drifted in, almost apologetic, like she was sorry for intruding into my world.

As if she wasn't the centre of it.

I tried to call to her, my voice dry from lack of use, my parched lips too brittle to use.

My eyes opened, just a little bit more. Images blurry, I blinked, relieved to finally be able to do something.

She egged me on from beside me, cheering like I was running the marathon. She quickly brought a glass of water to my lips.

"Don't ever do that again, you hear me? Imagine coming home, only to find you in a pool of your own blood at the bottom of the stairs. What was so urgent that you had to take the stairs two at a time? Don't deny it, I know you weren't climbing down at a dignified pace." She glowered at me like I was a child.

"I had to call you... To tell you something... I don't remember what." I whispered, my voice rustling.

She began to lecture me on the importance of safety, when I saw him behind her, standing patiently, waiting for me.

Suddenly, the world ceased to exist. He was tall, with a presence which commanded attention. He was dressed in black, forever in mourning. His pale face flushed when he smiled, and right then, he was flashing those pearly whites of his.

I knew him instantly.

"Hey, listen. I wanted to tell you," My eyes never left his, even as I spoke to her. "I wanted you to know that you were the best friend I could ever ask for. I wanted to thank you for opening your home to me when I had nowhere to go. Thank you, dear."

She frowned at me, confused.

"Why all this now?" She asked me, her fingers tightening around mine subconsciously.

"I am going away with an old friend..." I trailed off, before getting up to take his hand. He smiled at me, and brushed my hair off my eyes, before leading me out.

At the door, I turned to see her for one last time, a sad and forlorn form weeping over a hand she clutched, as machines beeped all around her in a cacophony of death.

I left before the doctors bustled in, whispering a last goodbye. Her head reeled up, almost as if she heard me, but it was just wishful thinking for both of us.

A/n:
Just something that came into my head at night, put into words.