Tea for three

The dense atmosphere of the room filled the hearts of the four occupants, the intermittent sounds of machines combined with the flow of lights, a pair of hands covered by latex gloves moved nimbly, two fingers rested on an outstretched neck and parched and then down to a famished doll.

—Can I have something to drink? —Said the bedridden figure.

—I'll bring you some tea —the aforementioned replied softly.

—You can bring for us too a — voice commented.

—Sure, I'm not late —he said as he took off his gloves

—You should go home to get some sleep —said a deep voice.

—I don't want to leave them alone—.

—Don't worry, we'll be fine —said the hunched figure as he got up from the chair he occupied.

—Okay, I'll be back in a couple of hours —he pointed out as he approached and put his arms around the man with the deep voice.

—I know —he said returning the hug.

The fleeting footsteps echoed on the chlorine-impregnated floor, the corridor full of people with blank stares and gloomy faces, lying on the cold floor, sitting in the uncomfortable armchairs, these people located in front of room two hundred and three observed with attention the person of in a white suit holding in his hands a tray with three steaming cups, the white figure opened the varnished pine door, leaving the gloomy procession behind.

—Here's the tea —

—Thank you —the man said as he took the tray to place it on a small table.

—Come, I'll help you drink, Mom —the young woman said as she brought one of the cups to the chapped lips of the prostrate woman.

—Okay daughter, do you have sugar? —

—No, do you want me to put some in it? —

—No, it's because your dad was told not to use too much sugar —was the woman's response as she took a sip and fixed her eyes on her husband's.

—I know, Erica and Leila know it too, don't worry —observed the husband, drinking some of the warm lemon-flavored liquid.

—Remember Héctor that you shouldn't eat a lot of fat either and your vitamins, even if you don't like them, you should take them —Erica said. Tears filled her eyes, giving her the same sensation of warmth as tea.

—Yes, the taste of the vitamins is a bit bitter, but I'll take them, don't worry —Hector said.

—It doesn't matter, they're good for you, they're good for you —Erica commented slowly.

—True dad you must take them, don't worry mom I'm waiting for you to take them— Leila said as her voice became heavy

—That's daughter —Erica took one more sip of her tea, her tears were already rolling down her dry cheeks, but her gaze did not leave Hector.

Leila moved away from her mother, put the cup back on the tray, took her own cup with tea and drank in the hope of clearing her throat or holding back her tears, Erica's breathing became more and more slow but her gaze did not move away. of her husband at no time, not even when tears clouded his vision, Héctor took his wife's hand and his slight trembling was transmitted to the bedridden lady.

—You should ... not ... get upset ... a lot ... it can ... do you wrong —

—Yes, I know, but nothing will happen to me, don't worry —

—Remember… to… lock… with a key… sometimes… you… forget——

—Yes, I'll write it down on a piece of paper on the door to remember it —

—And… it warms… water to… bathe… it… can… make you… sick… the water… cold —

—Yes —Hector said while the rest of his words refused to come out.

Erica's eyes remained fixed on Héctor, she was crying, Leila finished her tea without being able to undo the knot that held her voice, she saw her mother prostrate and her father sitting next to her, she observed the tears that rolled down their cheeks, but she… she cried for him, in her mother there was no fear; only sadness for leaving him alone, for not being able to take care of him any longer.

—Sir, I must ...—The figure in white did not complete the sentence as it was interrupted.

—No, leave it alone, it was enough —Hector said, clarifying his voice as much as he could.

—I understand —said the figure in white located in the corner of the room as he carefully observed the flashing lights and then turned his attention to his watch.

Leila couldn't get up from her chair, she listened to her father's words, the intermittent sounds in the room and understood what love meant.