What if she didn’t wake up?  

She had seen the concerned expression on Dr. Bauer’s usually stoic face when he had come to check on her, and she knew it meant she was in trouble.  This infection travelling through her body was like a poison – a poison caused by the poison of chemo, she thought bitterly.  All of which was the result of the cancer overtaking her body.  

Poisons begetting poisons.

Lost in her bleak thoughts, Dana suddenly felt more than heard another presence enter the room.  She breathed deeply and opened her eyes, knowing before she did so who she would see beside her.

But, she wasn’t expecting the sight that greeted her when she looked up at the figure standing beside her bed.  Alice wore a mask over her nose and mouth, and a blue gown over her clothes.  A matching blue cap covered her hair.  Although everything else was hidden under sterile plastic coverings, Alice’s brown eyes shone out clearly, expressing all her feelings without words.  

Dana tried to smile, but her mouth didn’t seem to want to obey her commands.  In fact, her whole body seemed incapable of voluntary movement.  Her throat felt scratchy and dry, and she couldn’t seem to transform her thoughts into words.  She had to settle for trying to convey her thoughts with her eyes alone.  

“Hi, Dana,” Alice whispered, grabbing her friend’s hand and squeezing gently.  Dana felt the plastic gloves covering Alice’s hands, and wished that she could touch Alice’s skin, connect to her familiar warmth, rather than feeling the cold, impersonal plastic that shielded their hands from direct contact.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Alice continued, trying to keep her voice as light as possible as she realised that Dana could only mumble wordless responses.  “I look like a smurf.  But, I’ve got to say, I think the cap is kind of fetching, don’t you?”  Her eyes gleamed mischievously, and Dana could tell she wore a grin behind her mask.  She tried to return the smile, but her lips only managed a small upward curve.  But, it was enough for Alice to know that Dana had appreciated her attempt to lighten the situation.  

At that moment, a nurse came into the room carrying a needle.  “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” she said, looking kindly at Alice.  “We’re going to give Dana a sedative so that she can sleep.”