Chapter 1
February 24, 2012
12:35 Renee Swan: Hey sweetie! Did you get the loan?
12:42 Bella: Yes! Thank God! We needed this car.
12:43 Renee Swan: I'm so happy for ya'll! I can't wait to see you next week. You'll have to drive me around in that shiny red Honda ;)
12:47 Bella: Are you sure you're allowed to go out? You just got out of the hospital. You need to rest woman!
12:50 Renee Swan: Oh please! I'm fine. Anyways, I gotta go. Your dad is being a pain in my ass. Love you sweet pea!
12:51 Bella: Love you too! I'll give you a call when we're on our way. :)
Februrary 25, 2012
11:12 Bella: Hey! Did Alice and Hailey make it? I'm starting to pack my bags. Michael is being whiney about me leaving. Big baby. ;P
12:00 Bella: Mom? You're not answering your phone. Call me back.
12:30 Bella: Okay, you're starting to freak me out. No one is answering.
1:45 Bella: I'm on my way.
February 28, 2012
"Ms. Swan?" I jump slightly when I feel a hand pressed on my arm. My eyes feel blurry and unable to focus on the woman talking to me.
"Yes?" My voice embarrassingly hoarse and I bring my hand to my throat.
Once I'm able to see who I'm talking to, the woman smiles. Sympathetically, but she smiles nonetheless.
"Dr. Williams says she's ready for everyone." She places her hand on mine and squeezes it lightly. The lump in my throat returns and I swallow it down before the tears start. I nod my head to let her know I understood and watch her walk out of the ICU. I didn't want to. I wanted to tell her this was all a big misunderstanding. But I would be lying to myself. I needed to accept it no matter how hard it was.
Looking to my left, Alice looks uncomfortable in her chair and Hailey resting on her chest. I hate to wake them up but I knew it had to be done. Taking Hailey's sleeping form out from Alice's arms and into mine, I lightly tap on her arm to wake her.
"Aly," I whisper, careful not to disturb the others down the hallway. Alice is startled and frantically searches for her daughter. "Shhh, it's okay. Aly, I have her." I show her Hailey and she relaxes immediately.
It's been three days.
Though we've had our chances to shower, the hospital smell is still thick in our clothes. We want out of here. Leave this place behind.
"Where's dad?" Alice asks as she takes Hailey back in her arms, careful not the wake her.
I look down the hallway and immediately spot our father. Charlie is surrounded by his support team, the ones he's gotten to know the past year as they wait for their loved ones. For a year, all they had were each other.
Charlie turns his attention to us and the look on my face says everything he already knows. Its then I've noticed how much older he looks. He had always looked young at 53 but now? The years have caught up to him.
We walk towards Charlie as he's finishing up his goodbyes and smiles sadly as we approach.
"Daddy," I take his hand in mine. "She's waiting." Charlie kisses my forehead and the four of us exit the long ICU hallway… forever.
My legs are wobbly and I lean a little of my weight on Charlie for support. The walk is silent as we make our way down the hospital hallways. Soon, all too soon, large double doors are what separates us from her. And just above the doors, a sign, letting us know we're here.
Hospice
A/N: What you're reading is based on what happened to me five months ago. I'm still grieving and writing this opens up a lot of wounds. So please be patient if I don't update regulary… I write when I'm in the right mind frame. After a pretty serious breakdown a few weeks back, someone suggested I write it all down. And in a process, a story came to life. It's going to be a slow burn. It's going to be ugly. I will warn you now. So if this is something you may not be able to handle, I understand completely.
To me, this is my therapy. The first few chapters are what really happened.
But don't worry, I always believe in HEA :)