We Are One in the Same

the-tramp:

“In the end, you can only rely on yourself.”

“You can rely on me...”

#thetramp #{ nita }#rp

melody-rebel-princess

#{ china girl }#melodyrebelprincess #rp

melody-rebel-princess:

((Open!!!!))

Words never hurt Melody. She was one of the girls who had to be hurt physically to feel pain, but this hurt. She knew people didn’t like her, but why would the do this to her? She looked up when she heard the door to her dorm opening, signaling her room mates and their friends were back. She sighed, looking back toward the window. Why was it this way?

China pushed the door open, having decided against staying out with her friends a little longer. The girl made her way inside on her forearm crutches, gently nudging the door closed with her foot once she was inside. At first, she hadn’t even realized Melody was there until she turned around, “Hey. What’s up?” she asked, dropping her bookbag by the door and making her way over to her bed.

Isabel kind of figured that it would be something difficult to adjust to but she didn’t know what else to say. “I kind of figured that it wouldn’t be easy to adjust to.” Licking over her lower lip, she nodded in reply to the question. That was exactly what she meant. “And how exactly would you go through that process? I realize I’m probably not going to match, or even have healthy lungs for it. I don’t want her to suffer though. And if I am clear of that aspect, no osteosarcoma in my lungs, I want her to have them.”

The man smiled softly listening to the young woman. He rested a hand on her shoulder, "That is a very kind and courageous thing you want to do for her, Miss Isabel. But even if you are an identical match, osteosarcoma can move to the lungs very easily. We can test to see if its spread there if you like, but I dont know. I've not seen your file ever. But I can look into it if you want me to." he assured, "I dont want to get China's hopes up right now though, okay? Why dont you go ahead and head back to her and I'll contact you when I have more information."

She promised to be back and she would be.

Isabel was so hesitant to bring her attention up towards the Wizard when she heard the voice. Fingers curl around her arm; brow arched in pure curiosity. Thinking over what she was asked for a second or two before remembering what she came out here for. “Oh. Right. Yeah. Well…kind of. She didn’t say much.” Now that she was actually thinking about it, she wasn’t sure how well this would work out. Licking over her lower lip, Isabel sighed softly. “If she were to get new lungs; would things return to being remotely normal? Breathing wise that is.”

The Wizard nodded thoughtfully, "I wouldn't imagine so... its a lot to take it and try to understand for anyone. Especially a child. Hopefully she'll adjust though." he said softly. Hearing the girl's question, the man gave a slight tilt of his head, "You mean like a lung transplant?" he asked, thinking for a moment, "Well, yeah if we found a proper doner that matched with her and the transplant went successfully, then yes. She'd return to being a reletively normal little girl as far as breathing goes."

Looking back up at the child, Isabel sighed heavily but stepped forward to press a light kiss to her forehead. “I’ll be right back when I’m done talking to him. Promise.” It was okay if she didn’t want to talk. She understood entirely. Grabbing her cup of coffee, she moved out into the hall in look for the Wizard. Isabel would be back soon enough.

She nodded again, but stayed silent, letting Isabel leave.

The Wizard was standing at a nurse's station in the pediatric ward, finishing up some paper work from China's doctor, wanting to make sure everything was signed and set up for the girl. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the little girl's friend approaching and looked up, offering a smile, "Hey." she said softly, "Did you get a chance to talk to her at all?"

Curious little hazel hues found the little girl sitting in her own thoughts and Isabel wished that there was something she could do to make her happy again. She didn’t like seeing the little girl so upset. A small smile graced her features, if only for a few seconds before it was gone again and she was picking at the food before her. "I’m sorry, China. I wish that I could help." And just like that, she knew how to. "I’m gonna go talk to the Wizard. Why don’t you try to rest okay?"

The child swallowed hard and shrugged, still picking at her nails before nodding softly, "Okay..." she wasn't all the tired or sleepy, but while deep down she was glad Isabel was back, she didn't want to talk, her mind was still trying to comprehend what had happened to her and the repercussions of it. Carefully the girl laid back down on her side, facing away from the door and curled up tight in a ball.

Isabel offered up another smile before finally reaching the elevator and going down. Two minutes is all. Enough time to get a fruit bowl and highly sugared coffee to wire her long enough to keep herself awake. Not too long though. James was waiting to get home. But she would be back. She knew that she would. Kept her promises with everything. And this wasn’t going to be an exception. Isabel rubbed at her eyes again, ordering what she needed from the cafeteria. And then back to the elevator and upstairs she goes. Isabel slowly made her way back into the room; folding her legs up underneath her as she took one of the chairs near the door. “Hey.”

China didn't look up from her hands until Isabel's voice brought her back from her own thoughts, "Hi..." she replied softly, eyes falling back to her hand. The oxygen tube was loosely twirled around her finger until she let it go and it unraveled, then she twisted it around her finger one more.

"They said I gotta wear this for forever now..." she told her friend in a small voice.

Isabel was real slow to move, lifting the child off of her shoulder before laying her back against the pillows. Didn’t want to wake her. She needed food and something to drink. So she was on her way down to the bottom floor of the hospital to get such things. Would be back in no time. Just needed coffee and fruit. Rubbing roughly at her eyes with her one hand, she stumbled past people and even the doctor that China had come to call the Wizard; offering him a small smile. “Tell here I’ll be back.”

The doctor nodded and returned to China's room to check on her.

While Isabel was away, China's doctor and nurse outfitted her with a cannula to replace the oxygen mask and explained to her what had happened during the surgery and that she'd have to wear it for the rest of her life now. China was stunned and confused and, honestly, a little scared about the whole thing. But she just nodded, falling quiet for a while as it tried to sink in. The Wizard kissed her forehead and told her that Isabel ought to be along shortly before he left with the promise to bring her a treat when he came back.

Isabel pressed a soft kiss to China’s forehead, wrapping her arm tightly around the little girls shoulders. That smile made one form across her own lips and she nodded slowly. “I like being with you too, but I can’t promise that I will be here forever. I missed you too.” Brushing a small lock of hair behind the little girls ear, she pressed another kiss to her forehead. “I’ll be here when you wake up, little one.” She glanced down at her friends hand around her own and smiled sadly. This was going to be missed.

China slept soundly against the older girl's shoulder, her breath clouding up her oxygen mask with every exhale.

Eventually a nurse came to move the child back to her old room and China only stayed slightly awake for that transfer before falling right back asleep. The girl didn't wake up again until a couple hours later when it was closer to dinner time. Her bright blue eyes right awake flicked around the room looking for Isabel.

Isabel smiled a little brighter down at China, gently squeezing her nose between her fingers when she pulls her hand back. She was just glad t see the little girl again. "There is a very good possibility that we will play while I’m here." Just not right now. Not while the little girl was so tired. It could wait until she was awake again. It would be okay to wait. "Well I promise that I will be here until I am forced to leave again. I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon at all. The Wizard said that it would be okay to stay. And they’ll have to pull me out of here tooth and nail."

China gave a breathy giggle when Isabel squeezed her nose like that before reaching to take her hand before it could get too far away.

A brighter smile came across her lips at the assured that they'd play while she was visiting, "I like when you're here.... I missed you a lot." she said softly. Her eyelids felt heavy despite how hard she was fighting to keep awake. She only kept it up a couple more minutes before she involuntarily fell asleep again, still holding onto her friend's hand.

Isabel smoothed the child’s hair back from her face; a content little smile filtered over her features. “That’s probably just the medicine, little one.” She didn’t want to ruin anything by saying the wrong thing. She didn’t know if China knew about the lung or not. So she wasn’t going to say a single word on any of it.

"No. It’s fine. So long as you are better now is all. That’s all I could ever ask for to be honest. That you are okay." Isabel’s own smile grew in the slightest. As much as she hated seeing her like this, she hated the fact that the other was here without any thought of getting better. Even if it was just a little bit. If she could, she would stay all night.

China rested her head into the older girl's hand a little as the hair was stroked out of her face. She'd missed seeing Isabel, even if she was coming to see her because she'd been sick, she was glad for familiar company.

"Are we gonna get... to play while you're here?" she asked sleepily. Though she was still too sleepy from the anesthetic to show how excited she was, inside she was bouncing around excitedly like she always would, "Glinda got me a sketch book... and a book that teaches you to draw stuff... and I've been practicing real hard... so I'll have to show you... before you leave again...."

Isabel nodded softly at the statements. Nothing to do so far but if he did need any help, then it would be okay to ask for it. “I’m beginning to think that as well. “Thanks doc. It’s nice to know that someone will help me keep up to date.”

She smiled down at the little blonde girl, tucking her legs underneath herself as she sits there. “That sounds like a real funny dream. But how are you feeling besides that China? Are you okay now? You had me worried sick.” "I did but the hospital called and I came back to see you." Promise that she would be back anyways. And she always kept her promises. Would never dare break them. They helped her manage her friendships. A sort of sadness touched her features at the sight of the burn scars; empathy swarming her.

The child gave a small shrug, "I feel funny..." she mumbled, "Not like a 'haha'....like a weird kinda funny..." she explained. The removal of her lung had hardly been planned, but when it collapsed while she was in surgery and they couldn't fix it, they had no other choice. It was still new's that had yet to be broken to her.

"I didn't mean to make you worry...my doctor said I was real sick...but that when I came out... I'd be all better.... so no more worries." she smiled a little from beneath her oxygen mask. She was glad that Isabel wasnt back in the hospital because she was sick too, but she wished it had been to visit her so they could play, no because she'd been sick. Though she appreciated her friend's concern.

Isabel kept her hold tight around the girl; nose buried in blond locks. “I love you too. I wish that I didn’t have to be sick anymore either but I am happy. I always have been.” Now if only she knew how to distract her friend. How to make her happy again. That’s what she really wanted. To see the little girl smiling again. She hated that she had to upset the girl. But if she didn’t tell her, then it would probably be worse.

China stayed quiet, still holding tight to Isabel for a long time before pulling away enough to readjust her head so her cheek was against the older girl's shoulder, "I wish I could make you better..." she said in a tiny voice, sniffling a little as she looked down at her arms wrapped around Isabel's waist. Small fingers held tight to her shirt.

Isabel shook her head at her statement. All of it. That was for sure. If the little girl did die, then it would remain unclear of if Isabel would live or not. Could not count on chances. “No. Stop. I know it’s not fair and I know that it will probably hurt to lose someone else, but it can’t be helped. I know you said that you would probably go live with the Wizard after this, but my papa said that you are welcome to stay there. I want to be with them, but I am happy with the time that I had with them. I will fight this to try and make it longer.” She knew she shouldn’t have said a thing anyways. She didn’t want to upset anyone but it was too late now.

China just hid her face back into Isabel's chest, clinging to her tightly, "I love you, though...I dont want you to be sick anymore... I want you to be happy." If she could be given the option, she'd take Isabel's place in a heartbeat. She'd never vocalized before that she wanted to die now, that she desperately wanted to so she could be with her family. Sure, she'd made friends, but it didnt fill the void in her. And now, one more person she cared about was dying and she'd be even more alone.

Isabel knew that she shouldn’t worry about China if “Wizard” was on duty, but she was going to no matter what. There was no way around it. She cared about this little girl and only wanted the best for her.

Muddy hazel hues glance towards the doctor; chewing nervously at her thumb nail. The whole question of ‘was she okay?’ playing on loop through her mind. A faint smile graced her features and she nodded. “Okay. I mean, it’s not okay that she lost her lung, but it’s better than her not making it. Is there anything that I can do to help with this? I mean; besides being here probably?” Was the only thing that she could do it seemed to herself. Her gaze fell down to the child, smiling at her. It was good to see her awake and smiling as well. It was actually for the better that she was awake. Her attention turned back to the doctor and she smiled back at him. It was good to have the reassurance on it. That the child would be okay. Maybe. Isabel turned back towards China and hesitantly sat down on the edge of the bed. “Hey.”

The man shook his head, "I dont think so. I'll keep you posted though. China talks about you a lot. I think other then my wife and I, you're the only person she's let in close to herself, so I'll defiantly keep you up to date on her." he assured before slipping away.

China's eyes followed Isabel, her eyes half open as the woman sat down on the bed, "I had a funny dream..." she mumbled, "That...I was sitting in my room...and then a buncha really big fish...came in and stood around me.... and kept asking if I was sweating.... and worrying that I was..." she explained, taking pauses every now and then to get in good breaths.

"I thought that...that you went home..." she said softly. She'd been lonely since her friend left the hospital, keeping in her room now almost all the time, unsure what else to do. The rest of the bandages that had covered China's cheek, neck and shoulder were gone now, revealing the burn scars that littered the left side of her now.

"Papa, I promised her that I would be there. I had to break that promise when I left the hospital. Don’t make me break it again." Isabel needed to be there for her friend. And she knew that James understood that. James did; he really did understand the strength of a promise. "Okay."

Isabel found herself pacing back and forth by the time she got there; chewing nervously at the small nail that clung to her thumb. Waiting for the news from the doctor. She was worried sick. James saw that in her. But it only seemed to calm when the doctor came out and she was allowed back into the little girls room. All was quiet there except for the white noise of a hospital and the soft murmur of reassurance from unnamed people and Isabel.

When China came out of her surgery, she was still asleep, a breathing mask still over her face. Her breathing still wasn't the best, it wouldn't ever be anymore, but it was better then before.

When Isabel was allowed into the room, China's "Wizard" was in there checking up on her. He looked over at the child's friend and offered a sad smile, "She's going to be okay." he said softly, "The infection was too far spread though and her left lung collapsed while in surgery and they had to remove it. But hopefully we can get the sepsis treated with some aggressive drugs and she'll get better." he explained, petting some blonde hair out of China's face.

The child shifted in bed, eyes opening. Seeing her friend, a tiny smile twitched on her sleepy face. The man looked over her and kissed her forehead, "Hey, sweetie. I have to run, but Glinda will be here after work and she'll stay the night with you, okay?" he said softly and girl nodded softly before the man turned to leave, offering a small smile to Isabel before leaving.

China's eyes then landed on Isabel, "Hiya.." she mumbled under her mask.