Heart Beat

The sheets were too stiff for Petra’s liking. As a matter of fact, she didn’t care for anything at the moment. The heart monitor beeping in her ear, every time she felt a thump in her chest, caused the machine to make even more noise. She glanced down at the IV in her arm, watching the clear fluids pump into her veins. The room was dull and lifeless.

There was a knock at the door. She could tell it was a woman, based on the bright pink heels that reflected under the door. A woman entered.

“Hi sweetie,” the woman said, chewing watermelon gum in Petra’s ear.

The heart-monitor began to beep faster and faster. Beep, beep, beep, beeepppp. Petra closed her eyes.

“Not today Momma,” Petra mumbled before her mind began to move away from reality...

Petra was six. She clenched her mothers hand, touching the fake nails her mother wore every day. In her other hand, she carried a shopping bag full of her possessions.

Her favorite floral print dress, mary-janes from Goodwill, and her teddy named Bear. A car pulled up next to her mother.

“Get in baby,” The man said as he opened the door for Momma.

Petra shuffled into the dark, smokey car behind her, holding her shopping bag to her chest, in case it broke.

“Did they kick you out again Vlada?” The man asked in a deep Russian accent.

“Yes. I can’t believe it! I was only a week late on rent!” Momma responded. “And Petra didn’t help either, because she would scream every night, making me fight for her to go to bed.”

“Sorry Momma,” Petra whispered with her head down.

“You should be,” Momma replied staring at Petra through the rear-view mirror...

Petra awoke to the sound of chomping and the scent of artificial watermelons. She knew her mother was still there, but pretended she was still asleep.

“I know you’re awake, Petra,” Momma said.

Petra did not respond. All she cared about were the clothes that were taken away from her just a few days ago. She didn’t want anything to do with her mom. It wasn’t right that the only reason her mother came to see her was because she was lying selflessly in a hospital bed.

“Well, since you aren’t talking. I, I know you can, the doctors said so. I, um, brought you some flowers. Call me when you’re ready to talk,” Momma said hesitantly as her heels clicked away from Petra.

“Good-bye Petra.” The door closed with a long click.

She didn’t have the energy to fight. Petra moved her thoughts away from Momma to her heart. Counting the beats the monitor made with each of her deep and full breaths. Her eye lids felt heavy as weights dragged them closed. With one final blink, the weights won, as the beeps began to get fainter and fainter with every breath she took.