I managed to get up after a while. I felt like I was getting the flu, but I also remembered Sandra's warning that I would be taken away and experimented on if the zoo thought I was too sick to be an attraction. I struggled out of bed, and took a warm shower and put some clothes on. I couldn't eat anything, so Sandra told me to make sure that I had something to drink. Then it was time to go and do what we have done every day... being a zoo attraction.
Zenko came by later and was worried and said that I looked very pale. I smiled at him and told him that I was just tired as I slept very badly. I would be fine again after I took a nap. I tried to change the subject by telling him about what it was like to be a child on earth. I told him about my parent's expectations and the constant stress I was on to please them and make them proud of me. This bought tears to Zenkos eyes, and he hugged me while saying if they saw me the way he has seen me, they would have unconditional love for me and be so proud of me!
After Zenko went, I rested under a tree. I could not do a lot or be active for the zoo visitors. I had to get rid of the bug that I had. I also had to think. When I came to galaxy zoo, I wanted so much to escape. I did not want to be owned or forced to be a zoo animal. I did not want to be controlled. Now things were so different. I was happy and Sandra showed me as much love as my real mom ever did. I still had to prove myself to zookeepers, but overall I was happy here and considered Sandra and Zenko as a family. The Galaxy Zoo had changed me. It made me realize that happiness is important and bitterness rots away a persons spirit. I had no wish to escape and go back to my old life. I was finally happy.
Zenko came unexpectedly back again and said he was worried about me. He asked if I felt ill as I was resting so much and I looked so pale. He was right that I was not feeling so well. However, Sandra's warning that the zoo did not keep sick species was in my mind. I had no wish to be experimented on. I smiled and told Zenko that I was feeling well. I know this was a lie, but I also wanted to protect myself and not be subject to mad scientists and evil doctors. I lied to survive.
My health did not get better. A few days later, my whole body was sweating and I had pains all over. It was like a train hit me! I could hardly move. Sandra was very worried and told me she didn't want anyone to see me. They would take me away from her. I had the same thoughts and begged her not to let them take me. We both cried for some time and wondered what we could do.
At last, I begged Sandra to take me to this area by a rock cliff. This was an area where Zeko hardly ever came. Sandra was unsure about this, but she could not listen to my constant pleading and begging. We both ended up struggling across the enclosure to a place that gave a lot of privacy. I rested on the ground and was so tired and in great pain, but I was smiling. I felt as if I was safe now.
Sandra would visit me when she could. She would try to get me to eat something and at least drink something. I could hardly swallow anything. After a few time that Sandra visited me, I could not swallow at all. This was making Sandra very worried. She would sit down next to me and start crying. She told me that I was fading away. She had no clue on how she could help me or not. I did not have the energy to respond or to talk with her. I did know that deep down, I was afraid that the zoo would find me and think that they no longer need me anymore. What would happen to me?
Sandra told me that Zenko was becoming a problem. He kept on asking where I was and the zoo visitors were complaining that they could not see me. He knew I did not escape but was very worried about me. Sandra had convinced him that I needed privacy. This worked at the start, but Zenko was becoming more impatient. He told Sandra that I could not hide. Some people visited the zoo just to see me. The heads of the zoo were becoming very impatient.
At the same time, Sandra told me that my health was very bad, and she could see life leaving my body every time she came. She knew that it could mean dire consequences, but she simply did not want me to die. I had no strength to speak. I just held her hand and squeezed it as to beg not to let them take me away. Sandra must have known what I wanted, as she slumped next to me in tears and said that she did not know what to do.
I do not know how long I was hiding there. I do know that my body was giving up on me. I had no clue as to what was wrong with me. I just wanted to die there in peace and not be sent to some torture chamber. Time went by and I was asleep most of the time. In the end, everything was black.
When I woke up, I did not know what time it was or even what day it was. Zenko was next to me wiping my forehead with a cold cloth. I tried to speak, but I was too weak to do anything.
"It's nice that you finally opened your eyes," he said smiling down at me. "You have been asleep for several days. This has been such a nightmare for us. The problem when living in a zoo is there are so many viruses that go around and this is dangerous. You most likely have a virus that some other species bought with them. Do not worry, I am here now and I will take care of you."
I whispered in a very low and weak voice, "Thanks, Daddy."
I do not know why I said this. I could make an excuse that this sickness meant that I could not think clearly. If I was to be honest, even though Zenko was not human and was an overgrown ape with one eye. This being said he had shown me more love than my real dad. I could not imagine that my real dad would be at my bedside if he saw me sick. He rarely showed any emotions or love towards me. He had many expectations and I wondered if he knew me.
Zenko and Sandra did love me. They did care about me. They knew who I was. They were my family.
I was not getting better. I drifted back and forth. I was finding it harder to breathe. My body was numb and I could not even feel it anymore. It was like I was a living corpse. Barely living. I did think that I was dying. I knew that my life was slowly slipping away. I was not afraid. I was just happy that I was no longer in pain. I was thankful every time I woke up, but at the same time wondered if I would wake up again when my eyes were closed again.
Once when I woke up, Zenko and Sandra were in an argument.
"We can do nothing about it," Zenko was saying, "The head of the zoo noticed that the visitors could not see Laura for a long time. I had to tell them that she is very sick! They have told me that in a few days, she will be moved to the medical facility."212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5sLjUZitH
"You cannot send her there. You know that no one comes out of there alive"212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLOc61ONZj
" I have no choice"212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWkWNXI8Q4
" Laura can't go there. I won't have it! They will not cure her. They will experiment on her! Laura will be all alone and no one will care about her!"212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2p7PyQg0C
" Listen. You have no say. The Zoo owns you and Laura. I have no say. They already think that I am too soft with you both. If they knew how you were arguing with me now, and I did not punish you, I would lose my job!". The fact is that Laura is being moved."
I felt like this was the worse news in the world. I did not say a word as I could not even open my mouth. I could not even cry! I had pictures in my mind of me on some bed and 10 doctors around me with huge needles, and cutting sample off my body and putting it under a microscope. Would I be too sick to feel the pain? Would I be too sick to care? I did not want this to happen, but I had no choice.
Zenko must have known that I was worried. He whispered in my ear to trust him and do not worry.
I was worried. I was afraid. Fear of something unknown is unbearable. My imagination was thinking about the worse things that could happen to me. Still, I had to believe that angels would protect me. I had to believe that my life was not to end up as a guinea pig. If this was meant to be, I needed to be brave. I knew that I could be. If they would dissect me like a frog, then at least I was so sick that I would not feel anything.
Everything went black once again
When I woke up again, everything was strange and I was so confused. I was often confused by now at any rate. This sickness made my mind fuzzy and it was hard to think. It took me some time to realize that I was no longer in the enclosure, but on a small cot in a spaceship. Zenko was next to me doing his best to take care of me.
"I told you to trust me," he said, "You see I am an activist for an organisation called Respect all Species. We disagree that species should be part of a zoo or owned by anyone. We do not like when there is unneeded experimentation done on a species or a species is used to test things. So I have helped you to escape from Galaxy zoo. Now rest because you are getting weaker every day. You must fight this virus."
I was confused as to what was happening. My brain was telling me that I was free. The problem was that I did not get better. I continued getting weaker and weaker every day.
Finally, Zenko told me there was only one solution. I had to go back to Earth where the human doctors could take care of me. They were my only chance. I honestly did not want to leave Zenko, but I could not say anything. He must have read my mind as he said I should have learned how to use telepathy. He gave me a quick lesson on how to concentrate and use telepathy. It was all a haze for me.
All I knew was that I was going home
To be continued
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