Chapter 12

Egon stood in the shower letting the water wash away his worries for the time being. It had been a long hard week for him and his friends. Turning his face into the spray he ran his hands down the sides of his face. He needed to shave. He could feel the week's worth of beard on his face. "Maybe later." he told himself. "When Echo is better." Then again, he had been telling himself that the whole week.

Egon pulled down the shower seat from the wall, which had been installed for Garrett, and sat down. The water now hit him in the chest as he let his head fall back to rest upon the wall. Egon closed his eyes and thought back over the events of the last week.

After Peter and Egon had sat on the grass by Harlem Meer for a couple of hours talking, they had made their way back to Mount Sinai Hospital. Once there Egon and Peter had apologized to the staff and security guards over their earlier behavior. After checking in on his daughter, to find that there was no new changes, Egon left Peter and Dana to keep watch over her.

Before leaving the hospital with Ray, Egon had checked in on Eduardo. He was none the worse for wear and lucky to be alive. Sitting up in bed, with his left arm in a sling and stitches above his right eye, Eduardo welcomed the older men into the room.

"Professor Spengler! Doctor Stantz! Come in."

"How are you feeling Eduardo?" Egon asked as he stepped into the private room.

"Oh, not so bad, but the morphine they are giving me upsets my stomach. I've told them about it but the nurses say that I need it for my shoulder and broken ribs. Maybe you can talk to them. I'd like to go home, but when I am constantly 'tossing my cookies' the staff here wouldn't let me."

"I'll talk to them." said Ray as he turned around and left the room to go to the nurses' station.

"Thanks." Eduardo called to Ray's retreating back.

"So." Egon said taking a seat in an armchair in front of Eduardo's bed. "What do you remember?"

"About what happened? Everything! Except for when I was unconscious of course. And I know what you are going to ask already. What did I do wrong? I've been thinking about that. I followed all the rules and still got hurt. There was nothing I could have done differently, or Doctor Spengler for that matter either. It's the line of work that we do." Eduardo said. Raising his right hand and pointing to Egon he continued. "You know that. Doctor Spengler knows that. Every team member of the Ghostbusters knows that."

Eduardo lowered his hand and released a breath.

"Professor. I love the work that I do for you. It is exciting and new everyday. College wasn't for me. Not that you were a bad teacher, don't get me wrong. I just needed action in my life, not books. I'm a hands on kind of guy. And…" Eduardo looked away from Egon now. "…if I happen to get hurt or even die while on the job I will have no regrets, because I'm doing what I love."

Eduardo looked back to Egon. Egon nodded his head in agreement. He had felt the same way at one point in his life. He knew what Eduardo was talking about. If Egon had died crossing the proton pack's streams that day facing Gozer the Gozerian he would have died happy. Content that what he was doing was right. But then his priorities had changed when he had met Eden. Would Eduardo have that same conviction when Kylie and he were married? Egon didn't know the answer to that. Only Eduardo knew.

"Professor Spengler?" Eduardo asked.

"Yes Eduardo."

"How is Doctor Spengler?"

"The staff will not tell us." Kylie spoke from the doorway.

Eduardo and Egon turned their heads as one to see Kylie standing in the doorway of the room. She was a mess. Kylie had her jumpsuit unzipped to the waist and it was soiled with dirt and ectoplasm residue. There were a couple of rips in the jumpsuit which corresponded to the holes in her black T-shirt which she wore underneath. Kylie looked different without her goth makeup on. Egon realized she must have gone to the restroom to try and freshen up. Her hair was damp as if she had tried to wash the dirt away.

"Honey, how long have you been there?" Eduardo asked.

"Long enough." Kylie said entering the room. Going straight for Eduardo's bed she plopped herself down on the end of it facing Egon. "So?"

"So what?" Egon asked.

"Doctor Spengler. How is she?" Kylie asked again.

"No one's told you anything?" Egon questioned the pair. "Roland? Garrett?"

Eduardo and Kylie looked to each other and then back to Egon.

"No." they said together.

Egon sighed before he said. "Doctor Spengler is in a coma."

Eduardo and Kylie were shocked. Egon filled them in on what had happened after they both had left in the ambulance for Mount Sinai Hospital. As he was finishing Ray came back into the room.

"Eduardo the doctors are going to change your pain medication. Egon we need to get going. I'm beat." Ray told the group.

Egon rose from his chair.

"Professor Spengler." Kylie said, "We'll keep Doctor Spengler in our prayers."

"Thank you." Egon replied.

Ray drove Egon's car back to the firehouse where both men had crashed. Ray, in the sleeping quarters in Eduardo's bed and Egon in his old lab.

Egon had found Echo's dress laying on the bed when he had turned on the lights that day. He sat down at the foot of the bed and tenderly stroked the dress for awhile before picking it up to hold in his hands, much like Kylie had done with Eduardo's pillow. He remembered rocking back and forth with it unable to even cry anymore. That is how Janine found him when she came in for work.

"Egon?"

Egon looked up from Echo's dress to see Janine in the doorway. She crossed the room quickly to squat down in front of Egon, placing her hands on his knees.

"Janine?"

Janine smiled at Egon. "Yes. I'm here and I've taken care of everything. You need to sleep or you won't do Echo any good. Do you understand?"

Egon turned his face away from Janine, but he knew she was right. He couldn't stay up 24/7 anymore and needed rest. Janine got up and turned down the bed for him. As she was untying his shoes and helping him off with his jacket and vest, Janine explained what she had done.

"I called the Metropolitan Opera to let them know about Doctor Spengler tonight. I called your neighbor. They will watch the house for you, pick up the mail, and feed Echo's reptiles while you are here. I also set up a fund at Juilliard School of Music in her name for those who would like to make contributions in lieu of flowers and cards. Winston will be here Monday evening with Oscar. Winston has to pick Oscar up from Sydney, Australia where Oscar is conducting the orchestra there. I even called Echo's work, but you are going to have to go down there Monday morning to speak to Doctor Pla personally. I really hate that man."

Egon nodded his thanks to Janine as he untied his bow tie and handed it to her. Janine took his jacket, shoes, tie, and vest and placed them into the locker. She paused at the door before she left.

"Egon?"

"Yes, Janine."

"I'm sure Echo will get better."

"I do hope so."

Janine wished him a good day's sleep, turned out the lights, closed the door, and left the room.

Egon had not slept very well that day. Tossing and turning he was unable to settle down. He had been awakened by Ray shaking him early on Saturday evening.

"Egon it's okay. Wake up." Ray was telling him.

"What?" Egon asked half awake.

"You've been crying out Echo's name for the last ten minutes. Echo is fine. You can relax." Ray told his friend.

Egon sat up in bed. He had been dreaming about his daughter on the operating table when her heart had stopped.

"Sorry Ray." Egon said swinging his legs out from under the covers.

"It's fine. I know how you feel."

Egon looked at Ray. How could he have forgotten? Ray had lost his sister recently. She had been involved in a car accident. When the police had gotten to the scene she was still alive but badly hurt. Ray had been called and had met her at the accident scene. She had told Ray that she loved him before she had lost consciousness. By the time the ambulance had gotten her to the hospital she was gone. Ray hadn't been the same for awhile until he had come to terms with his sister's death last month. Now he was having to relive it with his niece.

"Oh, Ray. I'm sorry. I forgot." Egon told him.

Ray just waved his hand at Egon. "It's water under the bridge. Come on and get up. If I can borrow your car I'll drop you off at the hospital on the way to work."

Egon rose from the bed. "That's fine Ray, I just need to take a shower and find an old jumpsuit or something. I can't wear this wrinkled suit." Egon said, waving his hand to indicate his shirt and pants that he had just slept in.

"No worries. Janine sent Louis to your house and he brought back a suitcase for you." Ray told him as he exited the room. "Smart woman, that Janine is. More than we give her credit for."

Egon agreed. After Egon had showered and changed, they left Roland and Garret in charge at the firehouse. Garrett had been released Saturday afternoon after he had received his new stitches and Roland had driven him back to the firehouse in Ecto-2. Garrett gave Egon a change of clothes for Kylie in a bag. She wasn't going to leave the hospital until Eduardo did. Ray drove Egon to the hospital and dropped him off at the front doors. Ray promised to be back after closing his store at midnight.

After stopping in and seeing Eduardo and giving Kylie her clothes, Egon went into Echo's room to see Dana and Peter still there keeping vigil. Egon thanked them as they left for the night. Egon then settled down for the night in an armchair that he pulled over to his daughter's bed. He must have fallen asleep as he was awaken to someone gently rocking his shoulder and calling his name.

"Professor Spengler?"

Thinking it was midnight and Ray was back, Egon had been surprised to open his eyes and see Daniel standing before him, violin in hand.

"What? How? When did you get here? Who let you in? It's after visiting hours?" Egon questioned the young man as he raised his head off of the hospital bed where he had placed it a couple of hours earlier.

"Sorry Professor Spengler. I know it's late, but I had to come see Echo. I told the staff that I was her cousin and had come all the way from Scotland overnight. I do hope you don't mind."

Egon smiled at Daniel and indicated for him to take a seat. Daniel immediately went to Echo's right side. After pulling up an armchair and setting his violin on the floor he took Echo's right hand in his.

"I'm so sorry lassie." Daniel spoke to Echo. Turning to face Egon, Daniel explained why he was there.

"Echo was supposed to be singing in the chorus at the 'Met' tonight for Madam Butterfly. I was playing in the orchestra. When I got there at six thirty for the call, Echo wasn't there yet. I know that sometimes she runs late because of work and school, but today was Saturday and everyone there knew something wasn't right. At six forty-five we were all gathered together and given the news that Doctor Spengler had been involved in an accident and was in a coma. We were told we could make donations in her name to a fund set up at Juilliard School of Music in lieu of flowers and cards. I was shocked to learn this, as was everyone else there too. We knew we couldn't cancel the show and had to go on. Before the start of the show General Manager, Peter Gelb, announced to the audience what had happened and dedicated the performance to Doctor Spengler and wished her a speedy recovery."

Egon nodded his head at Daniel. "How did you know to come here? Should I be concerned about others coming?" he asked.

"No. Professor Spengler. I didn't tell anyone when I found out. Echo needs her privacy to get better. Janine told me when I called the firehouse right before going on to perform." Daniel replied.

Taking his left hand and replacing a lock of Echo's hair back in place Daniel told Echo, "You need a haircut lassie."

Egon was puzzled. Why would Janine have told Daniel where his daughter was? He was only a friend, not family. Egon questioned Daniel about it.

"Because of my relationship with your daughter," was Daniel's reply.

"Relationship?" Egon thought as he narrowed his eyes and tilted his head. What relationship? Egon was worried that Echo hadn't told him everything about Daniel. He knew that she was friends with Daniel and liked him as a musician, but Echo had never mentioned anything beyond that. Was Echo in a relationship with Daniel and couldn't tell him? Was it something beyond just friendship? Echo had kept the secret from him about seeing her mother die. Was Echo keeping another secret from him? Egon had to know what was going on.

"Daniel. I'm sorry if this comes out personal, but are you in a sexual relationship with my daughter? You do know that she is under the age of twenty-one, don't you?"

"Oh no! Professor Spengler, it's nothing like that. I was just going to ask Echo tonight if I could 'court' her." replied Daniel, clearly taken back by what Egon had said to him. "I come from an old upbringing. No sexual intercourse before marriage. Trust me, I haven't touched your daughter."

Egon apologized to Daniel for jumping to conclusions before he had all of the facts. What kind of scientist was he? Jumping to a conclusion before he had conducted his experiment? When Ray had showed up an hour later Egon spoke to him about it.

"You are not a scientist right now Egon, you are a father," Ray pointed out to him.

Egon, Ray, and Daniel had stayed at the hospital until Sunday morning when Peter and Dana had returned. Between the five of them they devised a schedule to each have a turn to stay with Echo. The attending doctor had come in when they had been making their schedule, and told them that he could move Doctor Spengler to a private room that had a fold out couch to make it easier for them all. Egon agreed, and Echo had been moved later that day.

Egon opened his eyes and stretched his arms above his head. As he stood up to turn the shower off he remembered what he had gone through on Monday morning at the University.

President Lee C. Bollinger, Doctor Pla, and Doctor Spengler's fellow teachers had been there for the meeting. Egon updated the facility on Echo's progress and then Doctor Pla had opened his mouth to speak.

"Doctor Spengler will just have to take my class again next semester Professor Spengler. I just can't go around playing favorites."

Egon had been upset by Doctor Pla's reply, but before he could tell him what he thought of him President Bollinger had spoken.

"I'm surprised at you Doctor Pla. I've known Professor Spengler and Doctor Spengler for a couple of years now. If any of their students need help, they both find the time out of their busy schedules to help. Even if it involves staying late or working weekends when there is no school. Their students have reported nothing bad to me. Only good things." President Bollinger pointed his finger at Doctor Pla and with an accusing tone continued. "You on the other hand have had students complaining to me about your teaching methods right and left. The students tell me how you can't make time for them around their schedules. Doctor Pla 'YOU' are treading on dangerous ground!" President Bollinger dropped his hand. "Doctor Pla." he said more gently. "I have always sided with you because I have always believed that the teacher was right. Now I'm not sure I believe that anymore."

Egon was surprised to hear this from President Bollinger. Here he was thinking that he had to turn two men to his cause and now he had one on his side without even trying.

"Professor Spengler." President Bollinger said. "I am going to graduate Doctor Spengler this afternoon. Doctor Pla's class was only a technicality that she had to take so that it could be on paper. I have reviewed Doctor Spengler's grades and papers. In my opinion she has not only passed Doctor Pla's class, Doctor Spengler really should be the one teaching it."

Doctor Pla made to open his mouth, but President Bollinger had pointed his finger at him and told him to be quiet. The whole room had erupted in applause at that and the meeting was adjourned.

Egon turned the shower off and stepped out to grab a towel on the rack nearby. As he was finishing drying himself off he could hear running footsteps on the stairs. Quickly wrapping the towel around his waist, two young ten year old twins burst into the bathroom.

"Uncle Egon! Uncle Egon!" they hollowed. "Mama wants you."

"The hospital called." the one said.

"You need to get down there right away." the other one finished.

"Sandy! Harry! You didn't just barge in on Egon did you?" Janine's voice could be heard from below.

"No Mama." they hollered back and disappeared out the bathroom door running back down the stairs.

Egon was worried now. Echo must have taken a turn for the worse. Swallowing the bile that had risen in his throat, Egon exited the bathroom and went to his old lab. Quickly dressing into a brown suit without a vest this time, Egon went downstairs. Egon let Janine know where he was going as he tied his tie on the way down the stairs. Grabbing his overcoat Egon headed out the door. Janine and the twins told him that all would work out for the best as he left the firehouse.

Putting on his overcoat, Egon walked quickly up Varick Street heading for Canal Street and the subway station. He remembered how upset Oscar had been on Monday evening when Winston and him had arrived in town. It was all Peter could do to keep Oscar away from the containment unit. Oscar thought that if he could fight the demonic entity, that had hurt Echo, he would feel better. Ray and Peter had finally convinced Oscar to let his anger out in another way. Oscar had gone upstairs and beat his frustrations out on the piano by playing Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C# minor very loud. Oscar and Echo had grown up together. Two years apart in age, Oscar had been the closest friend that Echo had. Almost like a brother to her. They had both gone to Juilliard together, although Echo had entered first and Oscar had followed three years later at the age of eighteen. Echo was a child prodigy. She had been accepted into Juilliard at the young age of thirteen and Columbia at seventeen, right before she had graduated from Juilliard. Echo had done five years worth of work in two and a half years for her Doctorate of Science Degree at Columbia while also working there. This was not unusual for Egon to accept as he had started college at fifteen at Columbia and had graduated with seventeen degrees.

Egon walked down the subway stairs and slid his Metro card through the slot. Walking through the turnstile, Egon stood waiting for the #1 train to take him uptown.

Egon felt the wind direction change on the platform and looked to his right as he heard the train coming up the dark tunnel. The train slowed down and finally came to a stop. When the doors opened Egon climbed aboard and found a seat. Egon knew that he had a ways to go before his next stop. He would have to transfer at Times Square to take another train to Grand Central Station. Eduardo had been released Monday morning and Kylie had taken him back to the firehouse to recuperate. Egon remembered how after Winston and Oscar had arrived they had all sat down again to revise the schedule for the hospital. There was now seven people including Oscar, Dana, and Daniel to keep watch over Echo.

Peter, Dana, and Oscar, along with Winston and Daniel, had divided up the morning and afternoon times between them. Ray had taken the graveyard shift and Egon had taken the evening shift, often staying up with Ray when he arrived at one in the morning.

On Tuesday morning the doctors had run an electroencephalogram (EEG), which records the brain's activity by measuring electrical currents through the brain, and a Spect or Xenon test, an enhanced CT scan to test for blood flow and metabolic activity within the brain, to see if Doctor Spengler had any brain function. The tests came back positive. Echo had brain function but she also had slight swelling on her brain because of her earlier operation. Doctor Henry Moyle had come back and with Egon's permission, his daughter had undergone a ventriculostomy. Doctor Moyle made a small hole in Echo's skull and inserted a plastic drain tube to remove the cerebrospinal fluid from inside the brain, helping to relieve the pressure that had been building up.

"Everything went well Professor Spengler." Doctor Moyle had told him after the surgery. "I want you and your friends to talk to Doctor Spengler every chance you get. Sing to her. Play for her. Doctor Spengler needs to hear conversation and music to get her brain to start thinking again. I believe it will help."

Egon's train was stopping now at his connection. Egon got off and took another train to Grand Central Station and then transferred one last time to head uptown.

Tuesday afternoon Dana had brought her cello to the hospital and had practiced her music for the NY Philharmonics. Doctor Moyle told Egon it didn't matter what they did or said as long as it was being done. Daniel played his violin for her and Oscar brought a keyboard to practice on. Ray had chosen to read to his niece. Ray brought along books from his store that he was reading and would read them out loud to Echo. Peter would read the local newspaper or his paranormal investigation notes to her. Winston, read his Air Force flight manuals. And he, Egon, had sung to his daughter. Egon who was embarrassed to sing in public, softly sang every song he knew into his daughter's ear.

Egon had noticed a difference in his daughter's demeanor. The tight lines that had been in Echo's face had started to diminish. Her whole body was starting to soften and be less tense. The nurses even noticed it, when they came to change her bed and bathe her. The nurses had told Egon that the whole floor felt different with the music that was being played for her.

Egon had sworn early Friday evening that Echo had moved her hand under his touch ever so slightly, but when he tried to get her to do it again, nothing happened. Egon figured he had imagined it and said nothing.

The train was slowing down now. This was Egon's stop. Getting off with the rest of the passenger's at 96th Street and Lexington, Egon walked three blocks west and two blocks north to Mount Sinai Hospital and the news that awaited him there.

Egon walked through the front doors, greeting the security guard as he always did each day, heading for the elevators.

"Evening, Barry."

"Evening, Professor."

Egon pressed the up button and waited for the elevator to come down to the ground floor. Taking off his overcoat, Egon was getting worked up over what he was going to find when he got to his daughter's room. What was so bad that the nurses had called the firehouse for? As Egon placed his coat over his arm he could only imagine the worst things in his mind as the doors to the elevators opened up. Egon stepped in and pushed the button to the neurosurgical ward, his daughter's floor. The suspense was killing him. He all but bolted out of the doors when they opened onto Echo's floor. He went to the nurses' station first, as it was before Echo's room anyways.

"Someone called me?" Egon asked the nurse on duty.

"Yes, Professor Spengler. Doctor Moyle wants to see you. I'll page him." said the nurse as she picked up the phone and called Doctor Moyle's name over the intercom to come to the nurses' station.

Doctor Moyle came out of Echo's room down the hall from the nurses station. As Doctor Moyle started to walk towards the nurses' station he saw why the nurses had called him. Doctor Moyle stopped in his tracks and beckoned for Egon to join him.

"Professor Spengler! I'm so glad you're here. I have good news. Come." Doctor Moyle said as he turned around and walked back into his daughter's room.

Egon quickly walked the short distance to Echo's room. His heart was doing somersaults. Good news Doctor Moyle had said. As Egon walked into the room he stopped dead. Doctor Moyle was checking over his daughter as Daniel was standing in a corner of the room. Daniel saw him and rushed over.

"Professor Spengler. Echo's breathing on her own." Daniel told him.

Sure enough as Egon looked, the ventilator that Echo had been on since the accident a week ago lay silent in the corner. On a tray, on the hospital bed, lay the endotracheal tube that had been placed down Echo's throat to help her breathe. Egon also noticed that the catheter in her left arm had been removed. Only her central line remained.

Doctor Moyle took the stethoscope out of his ears and wrapped it up before placing it into his lab coat's pocket.

"Start reducing her fluid rate in an hour." he told the nurse helping him.

Doctor Moyle turned to face Egon. "Professor Spengler come." he beckoned Egon over to the bed. "Daniel here noticed that Doctor Spengler was breathing on her own without the ventilator doing it for her. He summoned the nurses who called me in. When I came down I could see her taking breaths between the ones that the ventilator was giving her. When I removed her from the ventilator she was breathing on her own and swallowing too. I made the decision to pull her endotracheal tube and as you can see, so far so good. No swelling of her throat to prevent a relapse. She is still unconscious but is responsive to stimuli. We have to give Doctor Spengler some more time but I am pleased with her progress."

"That is good news Professor Spengler." Daniel said taking Egon's hands into his and giving them a squeeze. "If you don't mind I am going to go make some calls to let President Goldman and General Manager Peter Gelb know. Excuse me."

Egon watched as Daniel all but skipped down the hall to go outside to use his cell phone.

"Professor Spengler. I need to go for now. Please spend as much time as you can talking to your daughter tonight. I know it will help bring her around." Doctor Moyle said as he and the nurse excused themselves and left the room, the nurse taking the tray with the endotracheal tube with her.

Egon tossed his overcoat onto the couch and crossed over to his daughter's left side, pulling up the armchair as he had done the whole week. Sitting down he took a hold of Echo's left hand in his. As he squeezed it he could feel Echo pull away slightly. So he hadn't imagined it yesterday! Egon smiled as he watched his daughter's face and her breathing. It wasn't forced anymore. Echo was relaxed and calm. Releasing a breath he didn't know he had been holding in Egon felt relieved. His daughter was getting better. The tension that was in Egon's body was being released. Egon bent over his daughter's ear and started singing softly as he had done many nights to her.

Tonight he was singing songs from the musical "Children of Eden." When Daniel reappeared in the doorway of Echo's room Egon was just finishing the song, "The Hardest Part of Love".

"Good choice Professor Spengler." Daniel said.

Egon had gotten over being embarrassed by the second night of singing to his daughter and the nurses telling him that he was good.

Daniel gathered his violin from the chair where he had placed it and kissed Echo on her forehead, wishing her well, and bid Egon goodbye.

Both Egon and Daniel noticed that when Daniel's lips had touched Echo's forehead that she had moved slightly.

"I believe she will pull through this Professor Spengler. Call me if you need to." Daniel had said as he left for the night.

Ray came at one in the morning to find out the good news too. Egon, not wanting to leave Echo's side had not called the firehouse to let the others know. Egon gave Ray permission to leave and let the others know what was going on. Ray decided it was too late to call on the phone and had left to take the news to the team directly.

After Ray had left, Egon placed his head down onto Echo's hospital bed. He was tired. It was one thirty in the morning. Egon had only meant to close his eyes for a moment. Someone running their hands through his ponytail had awoken him. Who was doing this? The nurses didn't wake him up this way. They usually shook him gently and called his name. Half asleep, his brain wasn't working properly. Wait. Someone had always woken him up this way, many years ago.

Egon opened his eyes and sat straight up. No one was in front of him so he turned to look behind him. There she was.

"Hello, darling."

Egon blinked. It couldn't be, but it was. Impossible. But there she stood none the less.

"Eden?" he asked hesitantly.

"Yes. It's me."

Egon's mind was racing. What was Eden doing here? Was he dead? He didn't think so. Then he remembered what Peter had said to him.

"Eden. It's good to see you, I think. What is it that you want?"

"Egon, I need for you to forgive yourself about my death. I need to move on, but you and Echo are holding me back." Eden said as she walked over to the hospital bed where Echo lay.

"I love you Eden. I loved our unborn child. I can't let you go. You left me too soon."

"I love you too, Egon. I am so sorry that you feel this way. Our child is safe in the maker's hands. If I could have come back to you I would have in a heart beat, but it was my time to go. You have raised our daughter well. I couldn't be any prouder."

Eden sat down on the end of the hospital bed facing her husband. She was just feet away. Egon wanted to reach out and hold her.

"How can I let you go? I am afraid that by doing so I will forget you." Egon pleaded with her.

"Egon look into your heart. Remember all the times we spent together. Hold them close. You have always been that special blend of happiness and love for me. I will forever cherish those precious moments together in my heart and I know that you will too."

"I wish I could. I have been so long without your touch." Egon reached out to Eden with his left hand. Eden took his hand in hers. Sighing, Egon continued. "I miss you so much. I just want things back the way they were before the accident."

"Egon, darling, do you know what the rarest part of love is?"

"No."

"It's the letting go." Eden released Egon's hand. "You have to move on with your life. Echo has to move on too. I need to move on. We are all afraid of change, but without it nothing would get done. I miss not being with you too. Egon, know that I am with you always in your heart. I can never leave you there. Even though my body may not be here on earth with you, I am never far from you in spirit. Please find it in your heart to let me go."

Egon ran his hand down the left side of his face where a tear had slid out from his eye. How could he do this alone? He wished Eden could stay, but knew that was impossible. What could he say to her now? Eden must have sensed his doubts because she turned to face Echo.

"Echo, sweetheart. Wake up. Your father needs you."

Egon turned to look and saw that his daughter was trying to open her eyes. As Egon watched his daughter his wife spoke to him.

"When Echo's heart stopped on the operating table she was sent to my realm. I didn't have a choice to come back to earth but Echo did. Echo was able to choose to stay with me or come back and stay with you. I explained to our daughter that I needed to be released by both of you so that I could go on with my afterlife. Echo chose to save me and come back to you."

Echo's eyes opened now. She squeezed her father's hand and tried to speak but her throat was dry. Giving up she used her right hand to place her thumb of her open palm, fingers spread apart, to tap her jaw near her chin. The American Sign Language sign for mother.

"Echo, you remembered what I taught you. I am so proud."

Egon looked at his wife, she was smiling. Eden had taught Echo to sign long before she could talk. Echo was so much like her mother. Maybe he could let Eden go. He had Echo and in her lived her mother. Egon nodded. Yes he could do this.

"Eden?"

"Yes, Egon."

"What do I need to do?"

"Egon, find the words in your heart. They have always been there. Tell me it is going to be O.K. if I leave you both. You will never forget me. Just promise me one thing."

"Anything, Eden."

"Please hold a Christmas Party each year from now on. Christmas was always my favorite time of year and I noticed that after I died you and Echo never held another one at the house."

Egon nodded his head. Eden was right. Echo and him never held another Christmas party after Eden was gone from their lives. He would rectify that today.

Egon took a deep breath. This was it. He could never see his wife again in the flesh but he knew that she was always and forever in his heart.

"Eden. I love you. I understand that it wasn't my fault that you died. Echo and I will go on and remember you always." Egon broke down in tears. He wanted to say something else but couldn't.

Echo squeezed his hand. Egon looked into his daughter's face. Somehow Echo was wanting to tell him or her mother something. Egon released his daughter's hand. Echo positioned her right American Sign Language letter 'I' hand with her palm facing left and with her thumb touched her chest.

"I." said Eden.

Echo then linked both hands of her thumbs and index fingers of the American Sign Language sign for the number 9 together. She then opened and separated them sideways.

"Release." said Eden.

Echo made the last sign. Pointing her index finger at her mother.

"You." said Eden.

Egon looked at Eden. Now he knew what to say to her. Smiling he copied Echo's example but instead of signing he spoke the words.

"Eden. I release you."

Eden started to change. Her blue pant suit with cream colored blouse and brown ankle boots, that she had worn for her interview on 9/11, started to sparkle and dance with light. Echo, watching, smiled. She knew what was coming next. Egon, watching, was a little taken back until he felt his daughter's hand squeeze his. Eden's clothing changed in the blink of an eye to a beautiful white empire gown with long sleeves. Eden looked more beautiful than the day that Egon had married her.

"Thank you." she said and was gone.