Irrational thoughts about Jason spinning around her head, Charlie found it impossible to really wake up and do the regimen. Breakfast was another dissociative failure and with the black marks adding up by her name, she knew she'd be disciplined at some point that day. Martha's eye rolls and the dis- approving stares had given that away. Retreating to her room as soon as she could escape the canteen, she exhaled then practiced her new language skills with a poem dedicated to Jason.

Bloodstream

Through the darkness and the light,

Tears and laughter,

You are always mine. I am always yours.

We're sharing a bloodstream.

With the blood running thin,

I'll hold my breath and hope our life source returns.

https://youtu.be/KlEmI8MsPj4

Staring at the scribed words lazily, she lost track of time but was snapped back to reality by a loud bang on her door followed by the familiar clanging of that dreaded medical cart. Sharply swinging it towards Charlie's bed, Kiera looked down avoiding eye contact with her.

"Martha said you need to have your boost drink or get the tube again", she spluttered.

*sighs* "Fine, what flavors you got?", she asked as Ana tried calculating the nutrition content in each.

"Banana and strawberry. Toffee is in as well", listed Kiera.

*not impressed* "That's a lot Kiera, I don't know", pleaded Charlie.

*putting a hand on her compassionately* "I know but if you don't have it I need to call for the tube. How about half and you tell me what's wrong?", she replied gently.

*reluctantly drinking half of the strawberry boost, Charlie took a second to try and rinse out the bitter taste before talking to Kiera*

" Jason is having chemo today, he gets really sick on that stuff. I'm worried about him and my mum, she has to put up with so much medical crap between us both", blurted Charlie.

"I'm sorry, i'm sure he'll be alright as he is a fighter. He's come through so much like you but that doesn't mean you can stop eating again", responded Kiera.

* Following the unit's rules and sanctions, she put a mark against Charlie's name showing she was now banned from the trip to Weston- Super Mare. Too shy to explain, she shown Charlie the chart leaving her disappointed*

" I deserve that I guess, I'll have to tell the others now at lunch. Thank you Kiera, your so much nicer than Martha", said Charlie.

*Smiling* " Martha is very in her ways, I've watched my little sister struggle so i could never be nasty but you need to be more responsible as well Charl. I can't recover for you, if you have a successful lunch I'll let you join Lucy's community. Deal?", she retorted in return.

*stuttering slightly* "deal", she muttered as Charlie pushed the medical cart away then waited for lunch community to begin. 

Whilst Ava and Lucy were disappointed that she wasn't joining them, some encouragement from Lucy was enough for her to earn an extra hour writing with her. The girls didn't waste any time getting prepared for their outing the following day as Charlie was left to reflect on a big question: Can I be stronger for Jason?

With radio silence from her mum and at least three marks against her name from that day, she could taste the metallic tube still in the back of her throat. Gagging slightly at the thought, she lay back and pinched herself abruptly. Just waiting for reality to slap her in the face again I suppose, unfortunately nothing works like that especially in her complex situation.

With darkness dawning across the unit, a sense of seclusion took over. Through the thin walls all she could hear was excited chatter about the next day's adventure whilst she would be held captive in these walls again. That was the one thing she had in common with Jason in a way, being controlled and poisoned.

Later on that night, Charlie's phone aggressively vibrated. As she checked the missed messages, a wave of relief comforted her tense body.

Mum: Jason is just sleeping, his scans show he'll be in remission within a couple weeks

The touching words of her poem, all incorporated into one message. If his life source was returning, if her theory about combined genes was correct then maybe hers could be revived briskly too.