18 years ago
" Charlie…! you stay with me! You stay with my now, you hear!" Renee muttered under her breath as if she wished hard enough he would never leave her , holding his hand in a vice like grip. Tears mixed with mascara made a streaky trail on her pretty face as Charlie was rushed into the ER.
Renee tried to hold on to her husband's hand, anything … just to keep him here next to her. But he was surrounded by doctors and nurses, saying things that sounded like a different language to her.
Soon, the doors shut, and the red light came on. Renee paced through the night, thinking.
About how the first time her eyes connected with Charlie's kind brown eyes, she knew he was The One.
Their first awkward date, at the age of 14. He didn't kiss her and she wondered why. (Later when she had asked, he told her sheepishly that he thought she wouldn't like that)
The first time, they were in each other's arms. Both of their first times…
The day she found out that she was pregnant, weeks away from graduation. Crying on the floor where Charlie found her, held her.
Right there on the wet floor of her bathroom, he proposed.
The birth of their daughter, their beautiful baby girl…Isabella…
Who was in her crib at the apartment sleeping peacefully. Oblivious in her baby dreams, to the fact that her father was dying….
All too soon the red light stopped blinking , and the doors opened.
Renee looked up, her eyes looked like she was burning in pits of hell. A handsome blond nurse came out, and gently took Renee's hand.
"I'm sorry ma'am. We did everything we could. But.. it wasn't enough…"
Shock.
That was the only thing left to feel. She had worn out all her tears. Renee stared at the nurse , unblinkingly.
But, the handsome blond had some last news to deliver.
"Ma'am, Mr. Swan urgently wishes to speak with you"
He pulled her up, and guided her into the room.
Charlie lay there, numerous wires connected into him, that were slowly being removed. His eyes, once full of warmth and happiness, now looked like he had seen all the terrors of the world, followed her as she came to his side.
"Renie-Wienie" he croaked. The nickname he had come up with as a child. Which once made her smile, now had no effect on her vacant face.
"Baby... I love you. I'm so sorry, I couldn't be there for you" he whispered, gasping for breath.
"Tell Bella I love her, tell her I'm sorry. I couldn't be there to see her grow up…."
His whispered gasps became more urgent now "Tell her to trust him.. Tell her. You'll tell her wouldn't you" His eyes panicking, as he looked between her and to his other side, as if he was seeing the angels coming to take him away.
"Yes, honey . I will. I will" Renee tried to soothe him.
"Tell her.. tell her.. .."
Suddenly his mutterings were cut short. His eyes lost their focus, the life and joy that could always been seen in them was gone. His mouth went slack.
Renee didn't need that annoying "beep" sound to stop, to know what had happened.
It would have been right to say, that she cried and wept for him to come back, that she would have at least shown some emotion.
Instead, she walked forward, gently closed the lids of her husband's eyes, and so softly, whispered in his ear.
"Goodbye Charlie"
And with that, she walked away from her first love, her childhood best friend. Leaving the doctors and nurses, to take care of him.
She went back to the only reminder of their love, their daughter.
Two people had lost their lives that day.