Attention: Bad News

10 minute flash fiction.

Prompt: I knew she was talking, that was the problem.

Image via Flickr by bc the path

I knew she was talking, that was the problem. I was expected to retain this information but all I heard was “Wah Wah Wah, wah wah.” It was like watching Charlie Brown try to pay attention in school, only this was a hospital and there was a doctor in front of me with my MRI results. The bright fluorescent lights hurt my eyes.

“I’m sorry. Could you repeat that? I’m not sure I understand.” My voice sounded calm in my ears. Distant, but calm. That’s good, I though. At least I’m not falling to pieces.

The doctor’s mouth drew down and I noticed the dark circles under her eyes. I wondered how long it’d been since she slept. How many times had she been the bearer of bad news since her brown curls touched a pillow?

“Cancer, Mr. Eugenides. You have Leukemia. We caught it early. That’s good. It means we have a lot of treatment options.”

I’m gone again. I got the important bits this time. I think. But I can’t seem to pay attention.

My hand reached automatically for Ruth, but she isn’t there. Stupid, I chided myself. She hasn’t been there for years.