Chapter Five - Patients, my friends...

Six thousand breaths of air later, Chloe sat in Amy's room again. Why did she have to die? Why did she have to be taken from this world - because Chloe could not believe she had committed suicide? And, who was Harvey? Why had she never met him?

So many questions, too many questions... and not enough time. Her lungs had months. Maybe days. She'd be dead within the year, that much was sure. Not nearly enough time. Not enough time to find the truth, to convince the police there was more to her death. Not enough time. There was never enough time.

How to find the truth?

Her watch beeped. It was time for her doctors appointment. Should she tell, of what was on her mind? Or should she stay silent? Fear of being labeled insane kept her quiet. She went in, she came out.

Hope was what she needed right now. Hope was what she needed.

And, just like that, she ran into Harvey.

"You knew Amy?" Chloe asks in a hoarse voice. Harvey looks up as if struck by a bolt of lightning.

"Y-yes... who are you?" Chloe does everything in her power not to glare.

"I'm her mother." He awkwardly bows.

"I'm sorry about what happened to her. I wish I could...."

"Wish you could what?" He stops suddenly, as if realizing he'd made a mistake.

"I wish I could have saved her. Before she... took her life." Chloe is hit by a sudden crippling burst of pain, making her double over. accompanied by her anger. SHE DIDN'T COMMIT SUICIDE!! Of this she was sure. But, the question was, how could she prove it?

And, how could she survive the process?

"Ma'am, are you okay?" She gives a curt nod.

"Fine," she rasps, standing upright again and starting to walk home. "I'm fine." She can feel his eyes on her back as she walks off.

Amy, Amy, who is he? Why are you dead? Who... who killed you? The word dead and the word killed linger in her head like a migraine. So much pain. What to do with it?

Home was cold and empty without her daughter, so she went back to her room. Amy would be back.. she'd be back... she wasn't dead... she was.... at college, at college, that was it. She'd be.... back.

"Mama, mama, don't cry," Amy says, putting both arms around Chloe. "It's college, I'll be back..." Tears streamed down Chloe's face, uncontrolled. Her sight was trapped in a memory, but her mind was in another time, in the future, where her daughter would never come home from college.

"I love you.. Amy," her voice says. "I love you. Be safe. And remember... I'll always love you."

Amy nods, with the innocence of a five year old, the maturity of a forty year old, and the ebullient joy of being on one's own.

"Yes, Mama. I'll be back to visit soon!"

She'll be back, thinks Chloe. She'll be back.