Diana's sobs shook her fragile body as she sat curled down on the floor. She was still in her elegant red gown she had worn out that day. Everything in the room; the windows, the bulbs, even her own spirit, seemed to be staring at her. The strongest and gorgeous woman was sobbing like a baby alone in her room.
Just then, she seemed to hear a footstep approaching her room. With every strength in her, the weak breath... she pushed herself up. Her hands instinctively reached for her face as she wiped her damp cheeks and adjusted her gown, ready to deny once again that she was completely fine. Her lips curled slightly, forcing a smile, just in case someone walked in.
But after some wait and expectation, no one came. The hallway behind her closed doors remained silent.
Just realizing that she was only imagining things, she exhaled in exhaustion, bending over her body to catch her breath.
Then, she locked up the door and walked sluggishly towards her bed.
Then she fell onto the bed.
She curdled up on her side, her arms closing around herself as if that could keep her away from her own prison... from falling apart. But that wasn't the case here as they proved to be useless. The weight of the actual fact was twice more than she could bear, pressing her too hard like an unbearable force.
"The surgery operation failed."
These taunting words of her personal doctor replayed in her mind. Calm at first, just like a little whisper in the back of her mind. But then, gradually louder. And even deeper and stronger.
"You only have one month to live."
Diana's breath faltered at once.
She immediately turned her head quickly, as if expecting to see someone uttering those words beside her.
But she was alone. Completely alone at that.
But, still, the voice continued.
This time, it seemed like even the bedside lamp was lamenting.
"The surgery operation failed."
And so also was the wardrobe, and the wind passing through the window seemed to be lamenting also.
"Just one month to live, Diana."
Now, the words were everywhere. Not only on her head but also in her own room. The very walls she knew seemed to murmur. The ceiling above her also whispered it. And the worst of them was the evening breeze, carrying them around repeating them word by word... twisting it like a lullaby.
Diana pressed her palms against her ears, her breathing caught. She's tired of hearing those words.
"No..." She muttered. "Please, stop."
But the words wouldn't stop. Instead, it increases in tempo than it previously was.
"The surgery operation failed."
Even her closet, her bookshelf, her mirrors...they were all speaking out loud to her.
"You only have one month to live, Diana."
Diana closed her eyes tightly, willing the voices to stop. Her heart kept on rising and falling in a steady motion... panic had taken over her.
"Enough!" She screamed.
Her anger rose, but the voices didn't stop. Not even for a single breath.
"One month. Just one month and you will die, Diana."
Her entire body trembled, shaking in fear. She curled her fingers, gripping the bed spread beneath her as if the sheet could save her in reality.
"Stop it."
"I said stop it."
"Please, stop...," her voice cracked, as she began crying again.
But the whispers never stopped. Instead, they grew louder, more insistent, echoing off the room as though the room itself was alive.
"Diana... only one month..."
She gasped for breath, but her breath faltered and hitched. Her mind was spinning like a wheel, her fragile and kind heart beating in her chest... trying to burst out and escape.
"It's enough! Enough, please!"
She pressed her palms against her head, shaking her head repeatedly. And her voice broke into a heart-sobbing tone.
All Diana wanted was silence. To be alone, just alone with her own peace. She needed a miracle.
But none of these things came looking for her.
Diana had always been the strong type. She was known to be kind, holding herself together for the sake of others. Before her staff, she was the radiant one. Very composed and had everything always under control.
But that isn't the actual truth when in the solitude of her room. Instead, she was a woman who had been dying gradually for years now and wouldn't want to bother anyone about it.
She had spent her life giving solace and warmth to others around her, making sure that those people around her never felt alone or intimidated. Yet, at that moment, she was the loneliest person to have ever lived in the world.
The ocean of her tears streaming down her face was heartbreaking. Though her voice was barely enough to speak to her pain, she would never stop whispering to herself.
"It's fine... I'll be fine..."
But every moment these words of encouragement left her lips, the cruel echo of her own mind would speak out again.
"You only have one month left to live."
And this shattered her heart into pieces.
And as always her pattern of solving her own issues, Diana allowed herself to cry freely to her satisfaction, with no one to see, no one to comfort her... just her alone in the room, with nothing but the cruel truth about her health sinking deep into her soul.
Meanwhile, the weather outside wasn't clear any longer. The sky was rumbling in a collision, and then the sound of the thunder echoed. The wind hushed against the window, creating more tension for Diana.
Diana flinched in shock.
Her breath caught immediately as the wind once again carried the cruel words again.
"The surgery operation failed... you only have one month to live."
Diana covered her ears with her palms, squeezed her eyes closed.
"No... no... stop it!"
This time, she screamed to the apex of her lungs. She's tired of waiting for miracle.
The sound of her voice echoed through the building to the hearing of Sasha, who was watching a TV show.
Sasha was shocked and then rushed up the stairs, heading to Diana's room.
She knocked and called out.
"Madam! Madam Diana!"
But no reply came, making Sasha more persistent.
"Ma'am, are you okay?! Open the door!"
Diana had no other choice but to jump out of bed, her body trembling in fear.
She ran quickly towards the door.
But her foot caught on the hem of her gown. Before she could know it, her body was already lurching forward. Then she fell and crashed onto the floor.
Her elbow scraped against the ground, and, of course, she hissed in pain. But at that moment, that wasn't her problem. Rather, she needed to leave the solitude of her room.
Meanwhile, Sasha was still knocking, her voice growing more and more desperate every single second past.
"Ma'am, please answer me! What's happening?!"
Diana gnashed her teeth in pain, but had to push herself up and get moving.
She stumbled towards the door, struggled with the lock before she pulled the door open.
Diana ran out of the room with urgency and panic. But, just as she was about... running past Sasha.
Sasha grabbed her wrist, pulling her backward.
"Ma'am!"
"Hey, hey... it's fine."
Diana was only staring around as if she was in a different world.
"Ma'am, what happened? What's that scream for?"
Diana... of course, a specialist in hiding her emotions. She steadied her breath and acted calm. Calm like nothing happened at all... that everything was normal.
"It was nothing," she replied quickly. "Well... it's just a dream... And the thunder startled me. That's all."
Sasha stared at her closely, before she quietly let go of her wrist.
"A dream?"
"Yes," Diana replied immediately.
"A bad one at that. Just that it felt so real, and when the thunder hit, it was as if it was fired at me, actually."
Sasha nodded quietly, still scanning her ever-strong boss.
"Ma'am... you're shaking like hell."
Diana inhaled lightly. She hadn't even noticed that yet.
Diana... shaking in fear.
"It's just the cold," she covered up quickly, forcing a subtle smile on her face. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Sasha nodded gently without a reply.
"What about my dinner?"
Diana had just remembered that she was meant to go upstairs, freshen up and return downstairs.
"Yeah... I waited for you, but you didn't come back. So... I had to put it in the microwave," Sasha replied immediately.
"Alright," Diana replied.
"You can now go. And for the food, I will take it another time."
Sasha nodded quietly, hesitated for some moments before she finally turned and walked away.
Diana took a deep breath and sighed.