Ethereal

Chapter 25

"Mum?" I choked on the word. There she was. Lying on a hospital bed, strange wires attached to her, and a drip full of a strange silvery liquid that reminded me of angel blood.

The angels had only been too kind in telling me where she was being kept – there were many spare rooms down one corridor in the courthouse where the portal was kept, one of them had been converted into a makeshift hospital room for her. Apparently, they had never attempted to heal a human from their insanity before, I could only hope that the Knowers were smart enough to do it.

They'd been surprised to learn Lori was my mother, though it meant they understood why Acacius was always asking how she was doing. They had been trying their best to keep angels out of her room unless it was absolutely necessary – they didn't want to risk anyone accidentally revealing their light to her. Though they believed she might have some sort of immunity now, they did not want to test this theory. It was too high risk.

Lying there asleep, she seemed so peaceful. I was almost scared to wake her, scared that the hope of her healing was about to be crushed. I wanted badly for her to be getting better, it was something I'd dreamed of for years. The important thing was that she was alive, even if she hadn't gotten better.

I moved to the chair at her side intended for visitors (not that they ever thought she would get any here) and sat beside her. I noticed that her dark hair seemed a little fuller, her skin a little brighter.

Was that because she was healing? Or because whatever it was in that drip was making her healthier in general? I wasn't sure.

Nervously, I reached my hand out and took my mother's hand in mine. Her skin was smooth and soft.

I gave it a gentle squeeze (carefully, I knew it would be all too easy for me to break her hand now). And then... she opened her eyes.

"Emilia." She greeted, smiling up at me. She squeezed my hand back. "It's been a while."

"I..." I didn't know what to say. It had been years since she had spoken so... easily. "Yeah, um. I'm sorry I didn't... visit you sooner."

She nodded thoughtfully. "I didn't think you would ever be able to. I didn't think you would be allowed here."

"W-what are you talking about?" I stammered. "Why would I not be allowed in the hospital?"

"Oh." She nodded again. "Nothing, they just told me I wasn't allowed visitors."

I breathed a sigh of relief, so she didn't know where she was. "Right, yeah. They're letting family in now."

She smiled. "I'm glad."

"I'm... I'm glad that you're doing better." I told her, still in a state of shock.

"It's a nice change." She laughed, and it was contagious. I couldn't help but join in.

"It is." I agreed, grinning.

"You have grown up so well. You seem very different to the young girl you once were." She commented, looking over me. I wondered if she could tell how much I had changed since she last saw me.

"Do you remember it all? The past eighteen years?" I asked, concerned.

She seemed hesitant. "The earlier years are clearest. Most of my memories are a little hazy." She squeezed my hand again. "My memories of you are the clearest of all, though."

I relaxed a bit. "And... before I was born?"

She looked down, away from me. "Acacius, he died in the fire. I realise that now."