I appreciate for a second the ability to relax. To lie back and rest my head on a soft pillow with clean sheets and a clean floor and clean clothes. A combination I wasn't really used to.

As a family, we'd never really been the wealthiest bunch, but ever since Mother's situation deteriorated and she wasn't able to work, money began getting quite tight. She never hesitated to give me her oxygen cannisters rather than using them herself, always saying that I was young and 'had my whole life ahead of me'. I think it's an overused phrase if you ask me. When the world is basically ending, you don't really have time to think about your future.

But she insisted nonetheless, which meant her oxygen levels were always dropping below the recommended level, causing her to become quite weak. It really pained me to see her that way; day in day out, coming back home from doing freelance work, wondering whether I would find her sitting happily on the dining table, or lying dead on the floor. Eventually the day came, the day I had prepared myself for. Surprisingly, I still struggled to react, despite telling myself that it wouldn't be something unexpected.

So there I was, listening to my rhythmic breathing and the low hum of the oxygen machine which provided some nice background noise. My thoughts kept drifting to my plans once I got out of here, but I silenced them. I think I was entitled to a bit of rest before I embarked on a journey that would mean almost certain death.

***

I only realise I'd fallen asleep when I wake up at 7:00am exactly. Sunlight is streaming through the white hospital blinds, and creating patterns on the white hospital floor. I sit up in my white hospital bed and roll up my white hospital clothes to expose my stab wound. I can't exactly see it because it's being covered by a large white gauze, but what I can see are speckles of dried blood seeping through, probably from where the wound was still bleeding at the time. All of a sudden I have a strange feeling in my groin area and quickly remember the cannisters I'd stashed in my underwear a few hours ago, plus I was desperate for a wee, so I got out my bedpan and relieved myself.

As nice as the room was, I knew I had to leave. I had more important things to do.

I shuffled off my hospital bed and push myself upright, but the second I do I feel searing pain. Suddenly the truth dawns on me. How will I travel all the way to Scarsdale province when I can barely walk? Maybe the doctor was right. Maybe I should just wait this out and heal completely. But a whole week, seven days? That's seven more days of innocent people dying.

I sighed. Why couldn't I just live a straight-forward life and stop worrying about stuff that isn't even in my hands?
Because, Adira, if you don't do something, no-one will.

My subconscious was right, annoyingly.

I committed to standing upright completely, clutching my IV pole for support. Yes, I thought one step at a time. Once I was up and walking the pain wasn't too bad. It still hurt, but it was manageable. I made my way over to the window, opened it and looked down. Trust the doctors to put me on the fifth fucking floor. There was no way I could get down there. The drainpipe I spotted was far too thin and wouldn't support my weight, besides, there was no way I was in climbing state right now. Alternatively, I could try and jump into the skip directly below me full of garbage bags. But no, I'd already been through one near-death experience.

So the window was a no-no, I thought, guess I'll just have to try and sneak out. Before I made my way to the door, I went to the cupboard and stuffed another couple of the small cannisters into my underwear. What? Times are tough, ok?

My room was more isolated than I would've thought, as I peered round my door and scanned my surroundings. One sign-in desk. One stern-faced receptionist. Two... four... five nurses and one doctor, but no sign of my doctor. Three hospital trolleys lying mid-aisle. And a large, flashing 'lift' sign.

I knew I needed a cover story, I couldn't just walk out of here. Then an idea popped in my head.

"Excuse me? Excuse me, receptionist."

She waved a hand at me to show she was on a call

"...yes. Yes that's great. Thank you. Bye, bye, bye."

She hung up the call and turned towards me.

"How can I help you?"

"Hello, yes, um... I just wanted to ask whether I could visit my father? He works at this hospital, but I'm not sure on which ward, could you help me?"

She inspects me closely, taking a long look at me and my IV bag.

"Alright, what's his name?" she finally answers

"Frederick Kurian."

She types away at the keyboard for a few seconds, then stops and clicks a few times. Meanwhile, I keep glancing back in case the doctor assigned to me makes a surprise appearance.

"Frederick Kurian... he's currently on Ward 7, which is on the first floor. Take the lift down and then turn right. Walk straight down the corridor and you'll see it on your left."

"Ok. Thank you so much." I start to walk slowly to the lift.

"Wait," I turn back "If you want, we have some wheelchairs you can borrow."

I contemplate her offer for a split second. A wheelchair would actually be really helpful.

"No, thank you. I'm fine." I decide.

I make my way through the lift and am thankful when I see it is empty, then I press the "ground floor" button and lean against the handrail. Of course Frederick Kurian wasn't my father, he had passed away when I was younger. He is, or was, my dad's colleague back when he worked here. But of course it didn't really matter. I just needed an excuse to leave my ward.

The lift screeches down the floors and I watch the holographic screen count down.

3

2

1

G

"Ground floor, doors opening." says the automated female voice. As the doors open I am taken aback by the level of business and chaos. This was the Emergency Room floor, though. Somehow I navigated myself through the rushing medics, crying babies, and worrisome families to the exit.

I walked and walked and didn't stop walking until I was well clear of the hospital grounds.

Then I thought about how easy that was. Nobody stopped me, nobody asked me any questions of why a 17-year-old wearing a hospital gown and clutching an IV pole was walking down the street. Made me realise how little people cared about me. That was a good thing, though. A good thing. Meant I could go around undetected.

Well, I first needed to go back home and get some clothes, then get rid of all these cannisters in my pants. Then Ace. Again.

***

Now clothed and equipped with my usual pockets, missing my IV pole which I had painfully ripped out of my wrist, I got to Ace's door and hoped he actually answered the door. It was 8:15 so he shouldn't have left for work yet.

"You." He says sternly

"Me."

"I've seen enough of you the past few days..."

Jeez, that hurt. The tone in his voice, and the look in his eyes. Was I even sure he was going to help me anymore?

"I- Yeah. Sorry for coming again so soon. I was just wondering when... well...."

"If you're talking about your little plan thing, I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to help you out."

Shit.

I needed to tread carefully. Very, carefully.

I put on my best 'disappointed puppy face."

"Why not?"

"Well, my boss has this new project for us. He's found an abandoned mine from some contractors a couple of years back. It's supposed to have a shit-ton of stuff in it." Ace works at an oxygen mine, where they basically extract the oxygen from ores in the Earth's crust. It's the main source of oxygen nowadays.

"Sounds big."

"Exactly. And if it goes well we'll be loaded. All of us."

I sighed a familiar sigh. Everything was always about money to Ace, it's what I've always known him for.

"I guess if it's so important."

"It is."

We stood in awkward silence for a bit, until an idea popped into my head.

"Have you, by any chance, spoken to your brother in a while?"

I saw his jaw clench at the mention of his brother. They'd been out of touch for a while because of something that happened between them a few years ago.

"No. I haven't."

"Do you know where I could find him."

He rolls his eyes. "I dunno... check the skate park, maybe."

"Ok, thanks." I say "Bye Ace."

"Bye Adira."