Member-only story
The Yellow Hibiscus
Flash Fiction Under 1000 Words
“How is your father?” Willoby asked.
She sat down in one of many multi-seater chairs in the waiting area and released her tears.
After consoling her, we learned that she was an only child and that her mother died four years ago. That was when her father’s alcohol consumption began to increase rapidly. He tried everything, Rehab, AA, and nothing worked. All the money they had, was spent paying the debts her father incurred from his reckless living.
One hour later, a short Chinese looking blond, wearing a doctor’s smock, came into the waiting room calling the name Malia Webber. She introduced herself as Dr. Sonja Chin Fah. She informed Malia that Paul’s skull had been fractured and that he’d suffered a mild heart attack. “Do you know Tara? He keeps calling the name ‘Tara’.”
Malia turned and glared at me oddly, half in recognition and surprise. Which Willoby observed too. He edged closer to me and whispered in my ear, “Go on in.”
I followed Dr. Chin Fah down the hall to room 303. Paul was semi-conscious, tubes running in and out of him. He held onto my hand as if it was a life support machine. Willoby and Malia came in minutes later and Paul fell asleep. We left the hospital, leaving Malia by her father’s side.
