Chapter 2

A nurse walked over to Ricky and helped him up. She walked him over to a chair and sat him down.

"Sir, are you alright?"

"It's all my fault. If I hadn't tol' her she was too fat or pressure her to fit in the custume, this never would'a happen. What kin' of a husband am I?" mumbled Ricky, out loud.

"Sir, I'm going to get you some water. Do you need anything else?"

"Yes, please fin' out how my wife, Lucy Ricardo is."

"Yes, sir. I'll be right back."

Ricky sat there in the hospital hallway, staring off into space. So many thoughts ran through his mind that he didn't even see Dr. Jones standing before him.

"Mr. Ricardo! I need to talk to you about your wife."

Ricky looked up, hearing the magical word "wife". He saw the doctor in scrubs and a thin sheet of sweat on his forehead. Ricky tried to read the expression that was on the his face, but unfortunately, he wasn't able to.

"Tell me, Ductor, how's my wife? How's Lucy?"

"Well, she's still unconscious. We put an IV in to put fluids in her body and now we're just waiting for her to respond. She lost quite a bit of weight, Mr. Ricardo. It was an unhealthy amount in a short amount of time. She starved herself and lost a lot of nutrients that she needed."

Ricky felt a pang of guilt as he heard the doctor's words. He was the reason she was here and if he had kept his mouth shut and not made fun of her, she would be at home in his arms instead of this hospital.

"When can I see her?"

"Visiting hours are over, but I'll let you visit with her for a few minutes"

"Thank you, Ductor."

Ricky followed Dr. Jones down the hallway up to room 202, where his wife lay. He took a breath and opened the door. He tried to prepare himself for what he was about to see. He walked in and saw his wife, laying

on the hospital bed with an IV and her face paler than usual. He walked slowly towards her bed and sat down on the edge. He gently picked up her hand and brought it to his lips. He kissed each knuckle and rubbed her hand against his cheek. At that moment, he would do anything in his power to trade places with Lucy. After all, he believed that he was the reason for her being there.

"Lucy, I'm so sorry. Please come back to me, baby. I know I shouln't have made fun of you. It's all my fault. You need to get better. Please, do it for me."

In response to his speech, all he heard was beeps from the monitor. He looked at his wife's lifeless body and couldn't help, but wonder what was going on in her mind. As he was staring at her, Dr. Jones poked his head in and gave Ricky the signal that it was time to go. Ricky nodded, got up and leaned over to give his wife a kiss.

"I have to go now, but I'll be back tumorrow mornin'. I love you, Lucy."

Ricky looked at the doorway to see Dr. Jones still standing there. Ricky wanted to get a promise out of him before he left.

"Please, Ductor, if anythin' changes, call me."

"I promise, Mr. Ricardo. I'll call you about the slightest change."

With that, Ricky walked out of the room and down the hall. He would be going home to an empty apartment and sleep alone for the first time in eleven years.