I don't go into the room and intrude on their moment. I sit outside the bedroom, my back against my Father's door, listening just in case he needs me.

I hear their hushed voices chatting away, so low I can barely make out a word and occasionally I hear Dad laugh- his deep, heart-warming booming loud laugh that I've not heard in such a long time but is contagious and brings a smile always to my face.

In the darkness of the passage where I'm sat, back against the door, my mind starts to run away with me and I get an overwhelming sense of relief. Maybe she could help him if just a few drops of her blood could contain his fever. Maybe more would cure him.

I had prayed for a miracle; I'd asked for him to be saved. Perhaps my pleading had been heard.

Memories of the night we lost my Mother in the car crash try to worm their way to the forefront of my brain from the back of my mind. The phone call to say she was gone, the devastation that swept through our home, the realisation nothing was ever going to be the same and there will always be a missing part from our hearts. I can't go through that again.

My thoughts are broken by her voice speaking to my Father. 'Lilla Viking ska vi ha ett äventyr till innan du är borta', he chuckles. 'I have no more adventures in me, this body is weak now and betraying me.'

I stand to my feet, my ear pressed to the door. Fear pulsating in my veins of what she may have planned for him.

'As long as there is breath in your body, there is one more adventure left in your soul. Tomorrow I will come back and you will see.'

She purrs to him.

I swing the door open, unable to stand by any longer. My Father jumps a little, surprised by my sudden appearance, but she does not flinch. She smirks at me from underneath her long dripping hair, as I have no doubt she knew I was by the door listening the whole time.

'Oscar! Come in, come in. Chat with my friend from my life long ago.' He ushers me in. 'She thinks we should have one more adventure,' he chuckles.

But I fail to see the humour in this. 'What kind of adventure is she suggesting? You are unable to leave the bed.' As soon as the bitter words leave my mouth, guilt bubbles away in my stomach for snatching away his moment of joy.

'You underestimate your father and me,' she fires back.

I clench my fists into balls, my nails digging into my palms. My anger boils up, frothing away at the arrogant little bitch.

She glances down at my hands and shakes her head slowly as if to say 'don't even try it'.

She turns and kisses my father on the head. 'I must go, little Viking. I will be back tomorrow; Oscar will see me out'.

I follow behind her to the front door, seemingly dutiful but also relieved she's leaving.

As she goes to leave, she turns on me once more. 'I will return every night until it is his time. I made a promise to him many years ago and I intend on keeping it'.

I pull myself up to my full height trying to exert some kind of dominance 'If you must, but don't fill his head with talks of wild adventures, he needs to concentrate on staying alive'.

She sniggers again, which irks me to my very core.

'Ohhhh silly Oscar it's the adventures in life that keeps us alive, without it we are simply just existing. Do you know who told me that?'

I shake my head no longer in the mood for her.

'Your father, my little Viking' she holds my gaze then winks at me, mocking me, then slips out the door like a snake sliding away.