Sheldon: There we are. I cannot believe to be back here.
Amy excited: This is amazing. Oh I cannot believe that I am finally where you grew up. This will bring us so much closer together.
Sheldon: Amy, don't forget why we are here. This is just a house, where I spent most of my childhood. Meemaw never wanted to sell it, not even when mother moved out next door after father died and we all went away.
Amy: I know. I am sad and happy at the same time. Let's get in and see how she is doing. She is so lucky to still be in her house.
Sheldon: Mom moved in a while ago to help her, but she also kept her apartment.
Amy: She probably needs somehow a place for herself that doesn't remind her of what's she is going through right now.
Sheldon: Meemaw is dying, not my mother.
Amy: Mary will lose her mother. Have you ever asked her how she feels?
Sheldon just looks at her.
Amy: This is hard for everyone, Sheldon. Not just for your meemaw or you.
Stephen: I want to meet meemaw. Let's go in.
Stephen drags Amy to the front door, and starts knocking. Mary opens the door.
Mary: Oh, wonderful that you are here. How was your flight?
She hugs Stephen who runs into the house.
Amy: It was okay, but now my feet hurts.
Mary: Come in and sit down.
Mary hugs Amy, and then Sheldon.
Mary: I knew you would come. I prayed to God He would convince you, and I am glad His message arrived. I know this is not easy for you, Shelly, but this is important, and I know that you know.
Sheldon: There is nothing that I don't know, mother. Only maybe some irrelevant stuff.
Mary: Let's go and say hi to your meemaw.
Mary leads Sheldon and Amy to Meemaw's bedroom. Stephen sits next her on her bed. She talks in a quiet voice.
Meemaw: My sweet little Sheldon. I am so glad I can finally see you again.
Stephen: I am Stephen. But I love to finally meet you, meemaw.
He hugs her and she smiles, hugs him gently back.
Meemaw: Oh my sweet boy. You are adorable.
Mary smiles: I haven't seen her this happy for a while.
She turns to Sheldon and Amy.
Mary: She talks a lot about you, and asks when she will see you again. She said it felt like an eternity for her since she had seen you. She misses you. Last week she said, there is not much time left and she needs to see you one last time before she can go.
Sheldon: What? And you let me come here? Now she thinks it's okay to die. It is not okay, and I don't want to be responsible for her going.
He runs into the living room.
Mary follows him: Shelly, she will die, no matter what you do. It's her last wish to see you again. Go to her room and talk to her, please.
Sheldon: Stephen is now talking to her. I am glad they could meet.
Mary: See, I knew that this will already make you happy. You know you would have been mad at yourself if you didn't come.
Sheldon sighs: You are right. I know she cannot be here forever, no one can. Usually, I do not care about people dying, but Stephen Hawking, Professor Proton and now Meemaw. Why are they leaving me? What cannot bad people die instead?
Mary: They die too. The Lord takes whoever he decides it's time to come to Him.
Sheldon: He is very greedy. And shouldn't he ask for permission? Why can't I decide when it's time? This is not fair. Every time I took anything from someone, that person was angry with me.
Mary: And you have all the right in the world being mad at the Lord. He takes care of people who only suffer here on Earth. He takes all their pain away. Meemaw will be in heaven. She will be released. Don't you want that for her?
Sheldon: Why cannot she live without pain? Well, now that I said it, it doesn't make sense. Life and pain are always linked. So, we all suffer, that is life. Then why are we living at all?
Mary: It's a present, Shelly. You have been given this life, and have to make the best of it. There is so much joy, so much worth living for. You have an impact and meaning to so many people, more than you think, and make their lives better. Everything must come to an end that has a beginning. Otherwise nobody would appreciate it. As long as you feel, no matter what it is, sadness or happiness, love or hate, you know you are alive. Who knows how heaven looks like? It is a magical, wonderful place of happiness. That is what I believe.
Mary smiles. Sheldon tries to smile as well.
Sheldon: I don't believe in heaven. It is just the end of everything. The vast, cold darkness. It's like a string floating in the never ending universe. After one's death, all the memories and everything will be just gone.
Mary: Well, that is what you believe then. But no matter what will happen, you still have your memories of your meemaw. And you will never forget them. Do you remember all the rides with her?
Sheldon: She loved driving me, not like you and father. I even brought love to her life again when I introduced her to Professor Sturgis.
Mary: You did not introduce them, you only wanted her to drive you and they met and talked.
Sheldon: She found love, didn't she? I bring love to people. I also brought Penny and Leonard together. They bonded because both love me.
Mary: Oh Shelly.
Amy rushes into the living room.
Amy: Sheldon, come fast. She closed her eyes, and I am not sure if she just wants to sleep or might... well.. you know.
Sheldon runs into meemaw's bedroom, looks at her, then pulls a chair close to her bed and sits on it. He reaches for her hand, and holds it tightly. Meemaw opens her eyes, turns her head in Sheldon's direction and smiles.
Meemaw: My cute little boy. You were just so small, and sat here on my bed, and now you are all grown up. Why does time run so fast, my dear? You know even that answer, don't you?
She and Sheldon both smile.
Sheldon: That was Stephen who just sat on your bed and the velocity of time never changes. It remains constant. Always has and always will. No one can stop, slow it down or accelerate it. It can only feel like it passes by faster when one enjoys what their doing and forget about time. Then it feels like a moment happened in only a blink of an eye. But when one is bored and focuses too much on time, it feels like it barely passes. It is just a feeling. So I think you enjoyed your life.
Meemaw: I had 96 birthdays, Sheldon. I lived longer than most people. Do you remember when you lost your father? You were a kid. He was way too young to die.
Sheldon sighs.
Meemaw: He wasn't my son, but he felt like it. I never really showed how much I missed him. It was a hard time, especially for your mother. And I guess just then, I realized how much she loved him. I was such a fool, wasn't I?
Sheldon: No, you are great. Father was often rude to me, and you defended me. You did so many fun and amazing things. You laughed at my jokes and sometimes I felt you were the only one who actually saw me. You never judged or made fun of me.
Meemaw laughs: Oh sweety, keep believing that.
Sheldon looks at her slightly irritated.
Meemaw: Your mother truly loved you, and never judged you. She is the angel in this family, not me. But you were a good boy. You brought me so much joy, and always made me laugh. You had so many creative ideas, and came up with things unimaginable to me. There were several moments I thought you were crazy but I loved your extraordinary crazy. And when you won the Noble Prize, I could not believe that this was my little Sheldon. You have achieved so much. And I am still sorry I could not attend your wedding. You exceeded all my expectations. I am so proud of you, moon pie.
Sheldon sniffs: Thank you.
Mary walks in with a pill case.
Mary: You have to take your medicine, Mom.
She hands the pill over to her mother, but she refuses to take it.
Meemaw: I do no longer need them.
Sheldon excited: You feel better? See, I make her feel better. Now dying is off.
Meemaw: No, sweetie, I will die, very soon. I feel it. The medicine will no longer work, so there is no reason to keep taking it. Give it to someone who can be saved and released from their pain.
Sheldon: How do you know?
Meemaw: When the time will come for you, you will know it, too. That is why I wanted to see you for one last time. Even when I will probably forget everything when I drift off to wherever, but I saw you again, and I could thank you for all the fun and crazy years.
Sheldon: I don't know what to say. I love to entertain people and you were the best meemaw I could imagine.
He wipes away a tear and hugs her. She hugs him back. Mary puts the pill back in the case, and sighs. Amy and Stephen enter from the living room.
Meemaw: Now, let me sleep a bit. I am tired.
Sheldon: But you promise me to not die.
Meemaw smiles: I promise. I won't die yet. Just sleep.
She turns her head to the right side, and closes her eyes. Sheldon was feeling her pulse in her hand.
Mary: Let's go to the dining room. I have made us spaghetti with meatballs.
Stephen: Yes, that is my favorite food.
He runs out of meemaw's room, Amy follows him.
Mary: Come, Shelly. Eat something. Give her some rest.
Sheldon: Shouldn't she be at a hospital? They can take care of her. She is not safe here. You are no doctor, not even a nurse.
Mary: Well, you and Amy are here now. That is all the doctors we need.
Sheldon: We are no medical doctors. But I probably know more about medicine than some actual physicians.
—-
A couple days later, Amy is sitting on the couch, watching Stephen and Sheldon play.
Amy: Ouch. The cramps get worse.
Mary comes to her with a glass of water.
Mary: Lay down, honey. Try to rest.
Amy: It hurts so much. Why is she kicking me? I cannot raise a football player.
Mary: I am sure she won't become a punter. But, I would love to see women playing football and being as successful at it as men. Women can do even more than men. Like they could never give birth to a child.
Amy: Ouch. No, they could not.
Mary: Try to breathe. And calm down. Talk to ten, and take deep breaths. Inhale, and exhale. Slowly. Yes, you are doing it right.
Amy: I am so glad you are here. I feel much calmer than with only Sheldon around.
Sheldon: This is one of the irrelevant things that I don't have to know. This is a woman's thing.
Amy: And who put her in me?
Sheldon turns back to Stephen.
Sheldon mumbles: You wanted me to do it.
Mary: It's normal for men, and just proves what I said: they cannot handle pregnancy and hormones and all the pain women go through. I mean it is like carrying a half turkey nine months around, and then press it out of your body. Men already complain about carrying a turkey from the grocery store to the car.
Amy blushes: Oh...
Mary: What is it?
Amy: I think I just peed. I am so sorry.
Mary: That is alright. I will bring you some towels.
Mary goes to the bathroom, brings back a towel, helps Amy to get up and try to dry her.
Amy: I cannot stop it. It's like... shortly before Stephen was born. Oh my...
Mary: I think your water broke. We have to get you to the hospital. Shelly, you have to drive Amy. I will stay here with Stephen and Meemaw.
Sheldon: Why do I have to drive? My brain is...
Mary: I don't want to hear about your brain right now. You are getting your second child, so will either drive your wife to the hospital or you will have to deliver your daughter right here.
Sheldon gets up, takes Amy's hand and helps her into the car.
... to be continued.
—-
Thank you so much for reading. I'm sorry I had to stop here, but otherwise the chapter would have become too long. Next Friday, I will continue right here. Hope to see you then.
Please leave me some reviews. I love reading them. Thank you so much.
XO Sanny