CATHERINE MCMILLAN

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"It's raining really hard.", I said.

"It is.", Dylan replied. I sat up my bed and Dylan helped me. It was nine in the morning of my seventh month stay here in the hospital and it was cold. I was feeling a bit dizzy and sleepy.

"I'm getting sleepy.", I said. I felt like my body was really heavy.

"But you just woke up.", Dylan replied.

"Yeah. Maybe I'll eat.", I said.

"What do you want to eat?", he asked.

"Vegetable salad.", I replied. Dylan smiled at me and stood up. He went to the kitchen and prepared the salad. I could hear the echoing sounds of the bowls and plates and I could hear the rain drops clatter by the window. I turned my head and looked at the window. It reminded me of the day when Dylan and I first met. I smiled to myself and my head started to ache.

"Ouch.", I whispered to myself. I touched my head and I laid back down. I sighed and closed my eyes. I felt really tired for some reason. Little by little,I was drawn to a very deep sleep.

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DYLAN WILSON

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I finished mixing the vegetables together like how Catherine wanted it to be. After placing everything on the tray, I carried it to the table beside her bed. I couldn't look at her though because the tray was a bit heavy. As I was preparing, I said.

"The salad I made today is your very favorite lettuce salad! I bet you're going to eat a lot to-", I stopped talking when I turned around and saw Catherine laying on her bed with eyes closed. I approached her and I felt this feeling of nervousness.

"Catherine?", I tried to call her. I placed the bowl back on the table and I turned back to her. Placing my hand on her wrist, it gave me the chills. She's go cold! I pressed my index and middle finger under her haw bone. My hands were moving on its own. I got scared and I pressed the emergency button. In just a few minutes, the doctor and two nurses came in.

"Doctor, she doesn't have a pulse.", I told him. My body was shaking amd I began to sweat despite the coldness of the surroundings.

"Hurry! Bring her to the emergency room!", the doctor screamed as the two nurses hurriedly exited the room manipulating the bed where Catherine was in.

"Doctor!", I called him.

"This is critical for her and for the baby. If the mother doesn't have a pulse, then so does the baby!", the doctor said. A wave of fear washed all over myslef and I found myself kneeling on the floor.

"We will do whatever we can to save Catherine.", the doctor said as he ran out of the room. I was left alone, staring on the pale cold floor that stared right back at me. I punched the floor so hard that my knuckles were starting to bleed. Tears were falling down from my eyes. I was so scared and I didn't know what to do. Catherine, please don't leave me. What will my life be without you?! I called Michael and the others and in about an hour, they all arrived in the room.

"What the hell happened?!", Michael asked.

"Catherine... she's... not breathing.", I replied while sobs were coming rapidly out.

"Oh no!", Christine said in fear.

"Why is this happening?!", I screamed and cried.

"I can't accept this.", Michael said.

"Look, we all know Catherine isn't the type to give up that easily. No bully gives up easily on a fight. So all we can do is pray and believe in her.", Mark told us. We all looked at him and I wiped away my tears.

"He's right. Catherine is strong.", Michael agreed. I looked at them and agreed as well.

"Right. Let's all believe in her.", I said. We then waited for more than three hours outside of the emergency room and the doctor finally came out. All of us stood up hoping for positive news. I'm sure she's okay. Or so I thought.

"How is she?", I asked.

"She's breathing now.", he said. We all sighed in relief.

"See? She's tough to beat!", Michael said and we all laughed.

"Sorry to spoil the fun but she's not doing like what you are all thinking right now. Miss McMillan is in a state of coma.", the doctor said. We all gasped in fear.

"What will happen doctor?", Christine asked.

"For now, her heartbeat is stable and so is the baby's. The huge problem here is if Miss Catherine will wake up or not.", the doctor said. We were all enveloped by fear and the doctor left us and entered the emergency room again.

"There's still a chance.", I said.

"A chance for what?", Mark asked.

"Duh. A chance that Catherine will wake up.", Michael said.

"But there is a huge possibility that she won't. She's in a coma for crying out loud!", Christine said. We were all silent. Later, Catherine was transferred to the ICU and I told the doctor on the people who could only get in. I told my dad to hire five security guards to guide the door so that no stranger can enter. I sat beside Catherine. I held her left hand and it was so pale and cold.

"Catherine, please come back.", I whispered. I leaned in and kissed her forehead. I had let go of her hand and stood up. Michael came in and he looked at Catherine.

"I want feel pity but I know she'll just kick me in the balls if she knew.", he said.

"Yeah. That's Catherine for you.", I replied.

"I'm worried about the baby. Will it be alright?", Michael asked.

"I don't know myself but I bet Catherine and the baby are working together to stay alive.", I replied.

"How do you know?", Michael asked again.

"You know what they say, like mother like child.", I replied. Michael nodded and sat beside Catherine.

"Hey, wake up so that I could mske fun of you and tease you again. Don't give me a fucking bad ending.", Michael said. I saw a tear fall from his eye and I could now tel how hurt he was. Well, I wasn't the only one hurting.

"I have to go. I'll come back on the weekend since we still have school tomorrow.", Michael said.

"Sure. Come back anytime.", I told him. The nurse came in as Michael and I went outside.

"See you around then.", Michael said as he walked away. I turned around and my eyes opened wide in shock as I saw Stacy Morland stand right infront of me.

"Stacy.", I said. She approached me and stood a few meters away from me.

"How's Catherine?", she asked. I got really angry and I was about to lose it.

"How is she? How dare you!", I yelled and she gasped in shock and fear.

"Dylan, look. I'm here to apologize, not to create a fuss.", she said.

"Now you come here because you knew she's not doing fine.", I said.

"Dylan.", she said.

"Get the hell out of here!", I screamed. I saw her burst into tears and walked out. I inhaled and exhaled deeply.

"You didn't need to do that." I turned around and saw Michael.

"What are you still doing here?", I asked.

"Get a grip Dylan. You're out of mind.", he said.

"You don't have the right to order me around!", I screamed.

"Shut the fuck up Dylan! You did this to Catherine! If she weren't pregnant, her condition wouldn't have worsen! Now I don't have the right to say anything to you?! I have the right because I love Catherine!", he screamed. Speechless as I was, I ran away leaving Michael alone. So in the end, I'm the one at fault.

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CHRISTINE BROOKS

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I watched Michael's words pierce right through my heart. "I have the right because I love Catherine!" My tears just wouldn't stop falling. He turned around and he saw me in tears.

"Christine?", he said. That's it. I couldn't hold myself any longer.

"Michael, you idiot!", I screamed and ran away. It hurts. It really hurts.

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MICHAEL COLLINS

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I went inside the ICU and sat beside Catherine who was attached with so many wires and sleeping soundly.

"Catherine, I don't know what to do anymore. Everyone is not themselves. Christine got really mad at me. Dylan is really confused and depressed right now. Mark is depressed as well. Stacy, yeah that bitch came to I guess apologize to you but Dylan told her to get out. I understand how everyone is feeling right now. We are all so worried about you. As for me, I am confused. I'm still so crazily in love with you that I can never forget these emotions even though I tried; so many times even! Catherine, I love you and just like Dylan and everyone else, I don't want to lose you. So, I demand that you wake up! That's an order.", I said. I don't know if it was just me but I think Catherine's lips formes in to a faint smile. I smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Wake up, alright? That's an order.", I whispered to Catherine. Then I stood up properly and I heard a commotion outside. I opened the door and I saw an old lady argue with one of the security guards.

"What's wrong?", I asked the guard.

"She claims to be the landlady of the apartment Catherine was staying in before.", he replied. I stared at the old lady and indeed she was the landlady. I remembered on time when I drove Catherine to her apartment and I saw her waiting for Catherine.

"Yes, she is. Let her in.", I said. The guards let her through and both of us went in and approached Catherine.

"Oh Catherine, I hope you get well. What's this?", she said as she looked at Catherine's tummy.

"Is she pregnant?", she asked and I nodded.

"To whom?", she asked.

"To Dylan.", I replied.

"Oh my! Dylan? Well, isn't Catherine lucky?", the old lady said.

"She is.", I agreed even though what the old lady said had hurt me.

"Well Catherine, get well soon alright? I'll have your favorite dish ready when you get home.", the old lady said. She's nice, like a mother.

"I have to go. I only intended to visit for a short time.", she said and we exited the room.

"Thanks for visiting her.", I said.

"Tell her I said Hi.", she said as she walked away. I went back in and sat down beside Catherine. I looked at her from her head down to her feet. She was really pale. I held her left hand and to my surprise, it twitched. Her finger twitched! I immediately stood up and called the nurse and doctor. After a few minutes, they came in.

"Doctor, Catherine's finger moved!", I said.

"Really? Let me check her.", he said. I stood aside and I let them do the work. Later, the doctor talked to me outside while the nurse was left inside.

"Catherine's condition improved by .5%. This is good news. It would mean she still wants to live.", the doctor said.

"That's good news Doctor. Thank you so much.", I said.

"I'll take our leave. Watch her.", the doctor said and I went in.

"You heard my order? That's good Catherine. Don't forget what I ordered you to do. Always have that will to live. We're all waiting for you.", I told her. I took out my sticky note from my bag and wrote "Get well soon. -Michael" I pasted it on the wall just above Catherine's head. I placed the pad of sticky notes back in my bag. Then, I had an idea. Everytime a person visits, I will let them post a note on the sticky notes and paste it to anywhere in the room so that when Catherine wakes up, she will be amazed with all the colors of green, pink, blue, and yellow. But, five hours has passed and Dylan hasn't come back yet. So, I decided to stay with Catherine for the night. Geez. Where did that idiot go? It's not that I don't want to look out for Catherine but I still have class tomorrow. Oh well, I'll take a leave from class tomorrow.

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Confused individuals, a string of hope, sudden repentance. What's next? Where exactly did Dylan go? Find out in the next chapter of UMBRELLA :))

Hey hey hey guyss!! How are you? Do you think Michael's idea of sticky notes is nice? Do you think it was time for Stacy to apologize? Let me know on the comments guys! Don't forget to share abd vote :*

-SophiaMission