The Final Conflict by Niranjan K

Author:Niranjan K
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Geetha Krishnan

P

aige woke up, with her eyes gummy and her body aching. Her throat and nose hurt. But the first person she saw on waking was Uncle Alexander who sat by her bed and asked,

“How do you feel?”

“It hurts,” she whispered. Her voice sounded strange.

“Where does it hurt?” A doctor in a white coat asked her. She looked kind. She looked like Kaylee except Kaylee had been prettier and smaller and younger. But this doctor was nice. Her shadow was soft and small.

Paige touched her nose and throat.

“Do you want some water?” Uncle Alexander asked.

She nodded. “Your shadow,” she said.

“What of it?” Uncle Alexander asked as he handed a glass of water to Paige with a straw in it. She took a couple of sips and it made her throat hurt less.

“It’s smaller.” She decided finally, “And not as black as before.”

“Good.” He smiled at her. “Do you want to sleep again?”

Paige nodded. “Stay with me?”

“Of course, kitten.” His hand covered hers and it was warm.

“Where’s Niek?” she asked as she snuggled into the covers.

“He’s not well,” Uncle Alexander said as he tucked her in, and placed a hand on her forehead. “You can see him when you’re well.”

Paige closed her eyes and tried to sleep.

“I don’t think this will work.” She heard the doctor say.

“I’m ready to do as much as I can.” She recognised Rupert’s voice. “Now that I know it can be done, there’s no need to trouble her.”

“It’s not like we want to,” Was that Niek’s dad? What was he doing there? “But you can’t do everything by yourself, Rupert. You just woke from a coma and you’ve already exerted yourself enough.”

“She’s eight,” the doctor said, sounding upset. “This shouldn’t be on her,”

“She has the ability,” Uncle Alexander spoke, his hand still caressing her head gently. “If she is up to using it and she wants to, I won’t stop her.”

“You’re putting her at risk!”

The doctor sounded angry and it made Paige feel uncomfortable. She didn’t like it when people raised their voices.

“I will never put her at risk,” Uncle Alexander’s voice was firm. “I will not let her overexert herself.”

“She’s eight!”

The doctor was still angry. Were they talking about her? Was the nice doctor angry with her? Or with Uncle Alexander? Paige didn’t like it either way.

“And I’m her parent,” Uncle Alexander said, his voice hard now. “I resent your aspersions that I’m putting my child’s life at risk. And why would I even do that, doctor? What have I to gain? I could let Rupert kill himself trying to cure these children because you’re apparently too incompetent!”

“Alexander,” Niek’s dad said. “No one’s questioning your love for Paige. Dr. Francis has concerns that she may strain herself too much.”

“And I’ve already said that I won’t let her!” Uncle Alexander sounded angry now.

“How would you even know?” the doctor asked, her voice something sharp and thorny. “She’s too young to articulate it!”

“She knows how to tell me, and I understand her,” Uncle Alexander said, his voice dry. “Millions of parents around the world daily interpret their babies’ wails.

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