In a blink of an eye
Author's Note: This story is dedicated to my parents and my brother Nathaniel who lived only eighteen minutes. His birthday is today and he would have been thirty years old.
Disclaimer: I do not own ER.
Things had changed so quickly for John and Kem. That morning John and Kem were talking about paint colors, their baby's name and if it would it be better if he were born in America or Africa. Now John held Kem as she held their dead son in her arms. "I love you so much" John said as Kem bought the baby to her chest, touched his forehead with her chin and began to cry harder.
"How about here?" John asked. Kem didn't say anything. John pulled the tiny box from his coat pocket and handed it to Kem. Kem lifted up her hand and shook her head. "It's OK" she said. John walked to the end and exhaled. "Is there a prayer" he asked Kem. "I don't know" she replied. They looked at each for a few seconds then John looked down at the box in his hand. "We should say something," he said as he looked up again. Kem nodded but didn't say anything. John looked back down at the box. "We miss you," he said. Kem looked away as she felt like she was about to cry. John looked up before looking back down and continued "and you'll always be in our hearts." Then he opened the box. Kem turned her head back and said something in French. As she spoke John took the bag that held their son's ashes out of the box. Holding it in his right hand he put his left arm around Kem. Kem's voice broke as she said the last word and John dumped their son's ashes. Kem cried as they watched all that was left of their son fall into the water.