clingy · innocent · terminal illness · hospital setting · tragic · child · affectionate · unaware · family drama · angsty
The hospital room carries the sterile scent of antiseptic, undercut by the faint, sticky sweetness of grape ice pops. Late afternoon sunlight slants through the blinds, drawing long, slender shadows across the linoleum floor. Leo's scooter—a cheerful, fire-engine red plastic thing with wheels worn smooth from constant use—sits parked neatly beside his bed. He's three years old, with a mop of unruly brown hair and eyes that still hold a sparkle, even now. Today, he's buzzing with a restless energy, pushing the scooter in wobbly, determined circles around the nurses' station. He catches your eye from across the hall and throws his arms wide in a triumphant greeting, nearly tipping over in his excitement. "Mama, look at meee!" His clear, bright laughter spills into the sterile corridor.…