In the pale white room of an old hospital a boy rest motionless on his bed. Medical devices surrounding him, screens flickering with activity, there methodical beeps and hums littering the silence. Limbs limp and body frail the boy sunk into the mattress, his skin stretching slightly as if struggling to cover his protruding bones. An IV drip was stuck into his arm allowing the slow flow of a clear liquid through his veins. A pale light crept through the lone window, casting a weak, cold glow against the sickly boy's skin.
A weak sigh escaped from the grasp of the sickly boy's lips, he turned his head slowly towards the window. Heavy, grey clouds polluted the sky, the pale sunlight seething through the cracks. Below was an almost abandoned car park, a view the boy was very familiar with.
Suddenly, the door to the room was pushed open.
"Atlas! I have bad news." Atlas' head slowly turned away from the depressing scene outside, towards the source of the panicked voice. It was a man, who seemed to be around his mid thirties, he had short jet-black hair, a decent physique and bore a doctors uniform. Some Atlas was very familiar with.
Attempting to defuse the young doctors panic the sick boy, Atlas greeted him with a weak smile. "How was your shift today, Dr Zane?" His voice was rough, like sandpaper but Zane could sense the sincerity behind them.
Dr Zane's brows raised in confusion, but still he mustered up a small smile, "It was good. We weren't too busy today." He answered honestly.
"That's good to hear." The sicky boy responded with a slow but surely nod of his head, "So what news do you have Doctor Zane?" He asked, despite being confident he knew what it was.
Before Zane spoke, he seemed to hesitate, holding onto his clipboard tightly, "Well... The higher-ups have decided there is no way for us to help you anymore..." His voice came out cracked and strained as he answered the boy. Atlas couldn't help but sigh; he had expected his time would be over soon... But, so suddenly, the thought of dying terrified him...
"They want me to pull the plug at exactly midnight..." He added on with a crestfallen expression.
Atlas went silent. The entire room would've been... If only it wasn't for the accursed machinery! It kept him alive but at what cost? He had never been able to leave the hospital... Had he ever truly lived?
"I see..." He realised quietly this would be the end of his life of suffering. He should be happy. But yet, tears swelled in his eyes. He told himself it was only logical to cry; after all, death was a primal fear. A fear built into every creature one veering them away from danger. But... that wasn't true. He wept for the life he missed. He cried for the opportunities he could've had. Once he had passed his life would be over. He would never experience anything again..."I'm so sorry, Atlas... I wish I could do more!" Weak shouts erupting from Zane echoed across the small room. Guilt escaped his eyes, rolling down his cheeks. An air of regret filled the small room as Zane stared down towards the floor in shame."Never blame yourself for something you had no control of." Atlas reprimanded, his voice croaking as he attempted to comfort the doctor. He calmly wiped away his tears putting up a strong front.
With a bright smile, rivalling the warmth of a star Atlas spoke, "Despite its length, I have nothing to complain about in this life. Thanks to you. If you never decided to fight for my life, I would've died 15 years ago."
Putting up his own strong façade, a powerful smile found its place on Zane's face, "Let's enjoy the remaining time we have to its fullest." Atlas agreeingly nodded and then the two of them began to recall all the time they had spent together.---Soon after Atlas' birth, it was determined he had an incurable and terminal illness and would have to live the majority of his life within the hospital. He would also need constant support and care, and well, apparently the burden of this was far too great to carry. The next day, Atlas was abandoned by his parents, left for dead within the bounds of the hospital.
Perhaps the first stroke of luck in his short existence, the hospital staff—Dr. Zane specifically—fought for his life. They had saved him from an instant death and raised him themselves, doing everything they could, buying toys, delicious food, or even just being with him.
Even with the staff's care, there would always be things Atlas was never able to do. Despite this, he did not complain once. The boy was a silent sunbeam with a heart of shining gold. An innocence not even the darkest of night could corrupt.
Atlas would often talk about hypotheticals - specifically, things he would do if he was suddenly cured. An often topic that appeared was school, while to most a nightmare to Atlas school was a dream that couldn't come true.
---
As the night passed on Atlas and Zane enjoyed there time playing video games and eating snacks.
Due to Atlas' restrictions on leaving the hospital he had become extremely good at certain things. One of those being video games, he had a lot of free time and they were the one of the best ways to pass it.
Atlas would of course use this to heavily brag every time he won. Though, Zane was never bothered by the bragging because he knew the moment he won he would return it tenfold. Atlas knew it too, which is why neither of them held back or let the other win.
Sadly for Zane, Atlas was just too good.
Eventually, hours had passed and a small alarm went off on Zane's phone. The simple ringing tone had his heart fall to the depths of his chest. Like a prison bell signalling inmates to return to there cells. Zane's phone rung as a sombre signal that there time had come to an end.
He dropped his controller and picked up his phone with frightening haste. The clock on his phone struck midnight. The colours drained from his face. He stared down at his phone shakenly.
"Zane? Watcha doing? Everything alright." Finishing his sentence Atlas took a peek at the Doctor's phone.
His body sunk as he got a depressing slap from reality, it was midnight already. That meant it was time for him to pass on. The hospital managers really were cruel... They didn't care for him they only saw him as a waste of space. He had known this for years now but knowing they truly will have him killed stings.
"Zane... Please just do it quickly... This is my final request." Atlas spoke quietly, just enough for the doctor to hear.
Zane weakly stood up and tumbled over to Atlas, leaning down he wrapped his arms tightly around him.
"I'm sorry Atlas, I wish I could've done more for you..." He mumbled as he moved away from the hug and towards the shut-off button of the machinery.
Atlas shakily shut his eyes, "May God guide you into a wonderful new life of prosperity." Was the last thing he heard before the buzzing and beeping of machinery disappeared.