Kingsley ran through the hallway, dodging people left and right. He had only one goal in mind: "I have to get to Room 956." He kept going until he heard someone call him.
"Mr. Kingsley!" a voice called out.
Kingsley turned to see a doctor chasing after him. She caught up with him after a few seconds, nearly tripping as she approached, but Kingsley caught her.
"Doctor, where is she? Is she okay? Is she—"
"Shh!" the doctor said, putting a finger to his lips. "Miss told us not to tell you anything," she said, reaching into her coat pocket. "But... she did say to give this to you," she added, handing him a voice recording.
Kingsley took the tape and studied it. "Why did she..."
"Okay, bye!" the doctor said quickly, turning and bolting down the hall.
"Okay. That was weird," Kingsley muttered as he turned and slowly walked out of the hospital.
"Yay, honey... cough... You did it... cough. Now I won't need you... cough... to keep playing... cough, cough... without me. Love you, my glorious King. Bye... honey."
Kingsley played and replayed the message, but still couldn't understand it. "What does she mean?" he asked himself. "Why did the doctor leave when I tried to question her? And most importantly, why is she still coughing—even more violently than before?"
Confusion clouded his thoughts until one hopeful idea surfaced. "No. Think positive," he told himself. "Maybe she's at her house. Yes, she's at home," he said as he turned on the car and sped off to see the love of his life.
'Ding dong. Ding dong. Ding dong.'
The door opened, revealing a woman who looked to be in her mid-forties. She had bright blue eyes and long blonde hair. The moment she saw him, she burst into tears.
Kingsley was again confused. "What's wrong, Ma?" he asked, though he struggled to form the words. He gently held the woman's hands and stepped inside with her. He sat her down and began to console her.
"What's wrong, Ma? Why are you crying?"
The woman stopped crying and looked at Kingsley with a puzzled expression. "Why are you asking me this? Didn't she tell you she was leaving?"
"No," he answered. "She didn't tell me anything."
"But I heard her talking to someone over the phone two days ago."
"Oh yeah," Kingsley said. "We did speak two days ago. She was just introducing a new game we should play."
The woman bowed her head. "I want you to tell me everything she told you two days ago."
Kingsley sighed and began. "Okay, so... two days ago, she said..."
"Hey, honey... cough, cough. How... cough... are you?" she said.
"I'm doing great, but you don't sound fine. Your cough seems to have gotten worse," Kingsley replied with concern.
"I'm... cough... fine, honey... cough, cough. I'm fine... cough, cough, cough."
"I'm going out tomorrow. Wanna come?" Kingsley asked.
"I'd love... cough... I'd love to... cough, cough... but I'll be having a surgery tomorrow... big cough," she said, her voice sad.
"Why are you sad?" Kingsley asked. "You should be happy. Your problem will go away. Then we'll be able to go on with our plans."
"Yeah," she said softly. "My problem will go away."
"Then I should come and accompany you tomor—"
"No!! Big cough, big cough. You shouldn't... cough."
"Whatever you say, Princess," Kingsley said, making her giggle.
"So, tomorrow..."
"Maybe... cough," she replied.
"So I'll see you later, my sweet baby girl," Kingsley said.
"See you too, my sweet and glamorous King... cough," she said.
"But to keep you entertained tomorrow... cough, cough... I want us to play this game... cough," she suggested.
"And what game?" Kingsley asked.
"I want us to spend a day without seeing or calling each other," she said. "It's supposed to test our dependence on one another."
"Well, that's a good idea."
"And you also said a full sentence without coughing. That's great," Kingsley commended.
"Well, it's late. I have to let you sleep."
"Okay... cough. See you on the other side," she said with a whimper.
"Yeah, see you too," Kingsley replied, ending the call.
"That's all that happened."
"So she didn't say anything else?" the woman asked.
Kingsley shook his head. The woman held his hands, tears in her eyes.
"Kingsley, I want you to go home. When you get there, call me."
"Okaaay..." Kingsley said, slowly rising. He wiped her tears and kissed her forehead before gently walking out of the house and into his car.
Kingsley drove home as fast as he could. He got inside and called out, "Lily! Baby, Lily!" But there was no response.
Confused, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. The call rang until the receiver picked up.
"Hello, Ma," Kingsley said.
"Kingsley, are you home yet?" she asked.
"Yes, Ma. I'm home, but Lily isn't here," he replied.
The woman began sobbing, which turned into uncontrollable crying.
"I think Lilia didn't want to tell you, but she's had lung cancer for the past fifteen years. She had surgery to remove it, but the doctors left a small tumor. She didn't want anyone to love her. But after meeting you, everything changed. She told me not to tell you. Lilia is dead, Kingsley. She died yesterda—"
Before she could finish, she heard a loud thud.
"Hello? Hello? Kingsley? Are you there?" she asked.
There was no response.