Ernie awoke, in a room filled with beeps. I’m in the hospital, again. He saw his mother asleep in the chair across from him. Her mouth was slightly open, her head was back, and it seemed that her wrinkles had grown deeper. Mama, I’m awake! Ernie tried to make these words come out of his mouth. He strained and strained, but all he succeeded in doing was increasing his heart rate, and so much so, that nurses flooded the room.

Later on, Terri stopped in. “Ernie…” She cooed while stroking his hair. “I’m sorry. Both times that you’ve been here, it has been on my account. Could you ever forgive me?” Little Frances climbed on the bed. “She looks like you.”
Frances awoke with a start. “Get away from here. Leave now.” She hissed.