The last thing in the world Rudy Stieblitz wanted to do, the day following Louise's accident, was anything. He had picked at his dinner the night before. Even though his mom had made his favorite food and let him have soda. A rarity since it like everything else was bad for his asthma. He went to bed soon after dinner. Well, he couldn't seem to sleep. He just lay awake refreshing Facebook on his tablet. Another rarity. He was never allowed to take his devices to bed, and he was typically only allowed on Facebook for fifteen minutes a day. Not that it took that long to check. His parents had to approve every friend. Meaning he only had family and a few very close friends. he had Mr. and Ms. Belcher, and the school was posting updates on Louise as well. He just lay their refreshing and waiting. His heart broke all over again in the morning. When he received the news that Louise was most likely dying. He turned off the computer and buried himself under the covers. His mom had to keep reminding him to use his inhaler. Finally, Chloe Barbash called crying. Apparently, she desperately needed help studying for a science test on Monday and help with the practice test they had to take beforehand. Rudy hadn't wanted to go. He just wanted to cry for Louise. His mom decided he needed to get out and get his mind off of everything.
Well, it turned out that help studying was Rudy reading the books and taking notes. Help with the practice test was literally just him taking the test for her. While Chloe sat on her bed playing a game on her phone and chatting with her popular friends. halfway through the test Rudy had the nerve to start crying. Chloe had actually pulled the chair out from the desk and screamed at him. If you passed the pretest with a ninety percent or above, you were exempt from the actual test. Chloe wanted to leave early to get a manicure. She needed to pass the test. Rudy finished the test, but he only got a forty percent. He had failed.
"You idiot! I failed because of you! You owe me a manicure! You aren't athletic! You are ugly! I thought you were at least smart! Well, you aren't!" Chloe snapped,
"Chloe, I am smart. I am just sad. Louise is dying." Rudy sniffed.
"Oh, who cares about, Louise? She's just a dumb and poor baby. Plus, she might live, and she would somehow be even stupider. Oh man she would be drooling and pooping on herself like a baby! Man, that's funny!" Chloe laughed.
"Shut-up, Chloe!" Rudy snapped jumping from his seat and running from the room.
Rudy ran out of Chloe's house. He knew she could be mean, and he knew she didn't like Louise, but he didn't think she could be so cruel. To actually make jokes about Louise's condition. To think it was funny that Louise's body was destroyed. Louise may live, but she would never be able to play with him again. It wasn't fair. He just ran through town crying. His chest was getting tight. He collapsed to the sidewalk, took a puff from his inhaler, and continued to sob. He pulled himself up and realized that he was near Millie's house. He was supposed to be gone another hour. He made his way to Millie's and knocked on her door. Millie's mom answered.
"Hello, Ms. Frock is Millie home?" Rudy asked.
"Oh, hello Rudy. Millie is home but, there is only one person she wants to see." Ms. Frock replied.
"She isn't taking it well I suppose?" Rudy asked.
"She's devastated. I don't know what to do. I talked to her therapist. He told me to talk to her, but she won't respond to me." Ms. Frock sighed.
"Maybe I could talk to her." Rudy offered.
"I don't think it would do much good, but you can try." Ms. Frock replied.
Rudy made his way up the stairs to Millie's room. He found her lying on the bed, her face buried in the pillows, her pink bunny costume draped over her body. For a second Rudy thought that she was. She did have to do everything Louise did. He started to back away, wondering how he would break the news to Ms. Frock. When Millie let out a small cry.
"Louise" Millie whimpered.
"Millie?" Rudy called.
"Go away!" Millie demanded.
"I miss her too." Rudy reminded.
"She isn't dead yet! She isn't going to die! She can't! She just can't!" Millie cried.
"Millie she is hurt really bad. Even if she does live. She is never going to be the same." Rudy stated.
"Louise is not going to die! Because if Louise dies! I die!" Millie cried grabbing a knife off her nightstand.
"Ms. Frock!" Rudy cried.
Calvin Fishodor had no idea how long he had been asleep. He had a vague memory of hearing the news of Louise's accident. Judging by the empty bottle of bourbon that lay beside him. He must have given up on a glass. He sat up in bed and gazed at himself in the mirror. His hair a mess, his clothes disheveled, his face red and puffy, stained by tears. He had to make a run for the bathroom and Felix was waiting for him when he returned.
"Calvin! We had a day planned! Its half passed four!" Felix cried.
"I am sorry Felix. Louise Belcher was in an accident yesterday. It hit me hard. We can still go out. Just let me freshen up." Calvin replied.
"I heard she is going to die because her brain died. If my brain died, would you use your money to buy me a new on?" Felix asked.
"Louise is brain dead?" Calvin gasped.
"Yes! Now answer my question! Would you buy me a new brain if mine died?!" Felix demanded.
"Felix! You nit wit! You can't buy a new brain! When it dies! You die!" Calvin snapped.
"But we have money!" Felix whined.
"Shut up! You jackass!" Calvin cried punching his brother in the stomach.
The Belchers were once again gathered around in Dr. Moore's office. The necessary tests had been run. Soon the family would learn if their fears had been confirmed or if their would be a miracle. Louise was mostly gone, but they still hung to a fragment of hope that she would manage to pull through. If anybody could beat the odds and survive such catastrophic injuries, it was Louise. Once again Bob and Linda were in the chairs, Gene sat on Linda's lap, Big Bob had his hand rested on Bob's shoulder, Teddy stood against the wall, but this time Tina stood close to Bob.
"I am sorry. I am afraid our suspicions were correct. Louise is in fact brain dead. The only thing keeping her alive are the machines. Her heart is beating, and she is trying to fight the ventilator, but every other part of her brain is destroyed. She will never recover." Dr. Moore apologized.
"So, if we turn off the machines she will die?" Tina asked.
"Yes, and at this point that would be the kindest thing to do." Dr. Moore replied.
"My parents will be here soon. They haven't said goodbye yet. My sister is here but I don't think she understands. Can we keep the machines on until then?" Linda asked.
"We can keep the machines on but if Louise's heart stops before they arrive. We will not revive her." Dr. Moore explained.
"We just have to let her die?! How can you be so cruel?!" Bob cried.
"Bobby she is already gone." Linda whispered.
"Her heart is beating! She is trying to breathe! How can you say that she is dying?!" Bob demanded.
"Mr. Belcher, you have to understand. Louise's heart is the only part of her functioning on its own. She is trying to breathe but she is not strong enough. Her lungs were heavily damaged in the accident. Her remaining kidney is dying. We have her on dialysis, but it will only work so long. Everything we do is just a delay. Even if you refuse to turn off the machines. I do not see her living more than a few months." Dr. Moore explained.
"So, she has months left?! Months where we could love her and care for her!" Bob cried.
"Yeah, maybe it is wrong to end her life just because she is disabled." Tina admitted.
"But she won't be Louise anymore." Gene whispered.
"Yeah, Bobby, we have already lost her." Linda replied.
"Bobby, I had to make the same decision with your mother. It isn't easy but to force somebody so vibrant to be trapped in their body. That is just cruel." Big Bob whispered.
"No! I am not giving up on Louise! I am not betraying her the way you betrayed mom!" Bob cried, smacking his father's hand away.
Bob stormed out of the doctor's office. He could not believe his family was doing this. He could not believe everybody was so eager to give up on Louise. Sure, she was different now, but she was still alive. She was fighting to live because she wanted to stay. They didn't care about Louise. They were only thinking in their own best interests. They did not want to have to care for Louise now that she was disabled. She was still Louise, and he was going to prove it. He stormed into Louise's room and took a seat beside her bed. Her head was bandaged, her remaining eye drooped down, her mouth did the same. Her legs and right arm were gone. Her left arm remained but it was wrapped tight in a bandage. What remained of her tiny body was covered in tubes and wires. She was surrounded by what seemed like a million machines, they beeped in unison and spat out random numbers. Without even one of these machines Louise would die, but she was living. She was fighting because she wanted to live.
"Oh Louise, my precious baby. I am sorry for everything I said to you. I love you so much. More than I love my own life. I am not going to give up on you. I am not going to let them turn off your life support. I am not going to give up on you." Bob whispered.
Jimmy Pesto sat at the bar in his apartment. Jimmy Junior sat across from him ranting about the football game. Andy and Ollie were running around talking in their secret twin language. He hated his children sometimes. His mind was on going to federal court on Monday. Two years ago, he had joined a Facebook group of like-minded Americans. The group just questioned the integrity of the election and wanted answers. They had just wanted to protest the results. Yeah, he had gone to the capitol, but it was his taxes paying for the place. He should be able to break into the building and write exactly who he thought was gay on the walls. His mind was so caught up in the fact that his lawyer had exhausted every other option and he would most likely be sentenced to prison on Monday. When he got the news the day before he just needed to drink the fear away. Everybody had tried to talk him out of driving home after so many beers, but it was his right to drive home. Yeah, he had gotten going a little fast, but those kids shouldn't have been in the street. Of course, it was the Belcher children. They were so stupid, just like their father and that Louise. Louise was the worst of them. A little psychopath. He had done the world a favor. There was a pounding on the door.
"Police! Open up!" An officer called.
"What the hell do you want?!" Jimmy cried flinging the door open.
"James Poplopovich Senior, you are under arrest." The officer declared.
As devastated as the rest of the family was, it was far easier for them to accept Louise's fate. At this point withdrawing life support was the kindest thing they could do. Every part of Louise's body was heavily damaged by the car. She was so small and had little body fat. There was no defense against the hit. Even if she had defenses, the driver was going at least eighty but probably closer to a hundred miles per hour. Even a body builder would be left severely injured by such a hit. Louise had been moved to a more private area in the ICU, so the family could freely say goodbye. Linda went in first.
"Oh Louise, I am so sorry this happened to you. I love you so much. You were my baby. You challenged me so much. I don't know how I will go on without you. Goodbye my sweet girl. I will see you soon." Linda whispered.
"Goodbye Louise, you were a good granddaughter." Al said.
"Goodbye Louise, sorry Bob failed you. He didn't deserve you." Gloria said.
"Ahem!" Big Bob coughed. If he weren't standing in the room where his granddaughter would soon die. He would have broken his rule about hitting a woman.
"You got something to say?" Gloria snapped.
"Hey! Both of you! Stop! This about Louise!" Tina snapped.
"Right sorry" Big Bob apologized.
"Yeah sorry" Gloria huffed.
"Oh, Louise it shouldn't be this way. You shouldn't be dying so young." Gayle whispered.
"Goodbye Louise, I will look after Bobby for you. Thank you for making my life so fun. If I have kids, I hope that they are like you." Teddy whispered.
"Louise, I love you so much. I would never eat candy again if it meant that you could stay her. Thank you for always looking out for me." Gene whispered.
"Louise you are my baby sister. I am sorry I couldn't protect you. I am sorry that I wasn't paying attention to the street and now you have to pay the ultimate price. I will be more careful now." Tina sobbed.
"I wish I could have known you better Louise. I wish I had been a better father to your dad, and I could have been in your life more. I do love you though. You are so much like my Tina. I can't believe you are dying young too. I guess it's true. The best of us truly do die young. I love you sweet girl." Big Bob whispered.
Zeke collapsed onto his bed. He just wanted to forget this day had ever happened. Finding Louise's foot in the grill of Jimmy Pesto's car. Knowing that his best friend's dad had killed his other best friend's little sister. Louise was not dead yet, but it was official. She was not going to get better. Soon they would withdraw life support, Louise would die, and Jimmy Pesto would be charged with murder. Zeke rolled over on his bed. His eyes fell upon the vent. A small black shoe was wedged between the slats of the vent. Blood was dripping from the shoe and falling onto Zeke's face.
"Aghhh!" Zeke screamed jumping off the bed.
"Zeke! What's wrong?" His dad cried.
"That!" Zeke cried pointing to the vent.
"The vent? What's wrong with it? The air is flowing fine." His dad asked.
"A foot! There is a foot in the vent!" Zeke cried.
"Zeke there is nothing in the vent." His dad whispered.
"No, you have to believe me!" Zeke cried jumping up on his bed and slapping the vent. Some dust fell from the vent and landed on Zeke's face but nothing else.
"Son? Are you OK?" His dad asked.
"No" Zeke admitted.
Despite the pleas of the family and Dr. Moore, Bob refused to turn off Louise's life support. As of the end of visitor's hours Louise was still alive. Linda had taken Tina and Gene to Ronald McDonald House to get some sleep. Teddy, Gayle, and Gloria and Al had checked into a nearby hotel. Bob still refused to leave his baby's side. He slept on a couch in the waiting room. Big Bob opted to stay by his own son's side.
It was around midnight that Louise's condition began to deteriorate. She had been running fevers off and, on all day, but now it had spiked at one hundred and six degrees. She went into a seizure at twelve fifteen. Clonic tonic and it lasted for forty-five minutes. The doctors were amazed that Louise came out of the seizure alive, but she went into another almost immediately. It was clear that even with life support, her body was giving up.
"Get the father and call the rest of the family. At this point it will be a miracle of she makes it through the hour." A nurse ordered.
The family rushed to Louise's side in record time. They made it in less than half an hour. By the time they arrived Louise was seizing uncontrollably. It was good that everybody, but Bob had said their goodbyes. Because Louise was fading fast. Linda took a seat on the left side of Louise's bed and Big Bob was on the right. Teddy, Gayle, Gloria, and Al gathered around the foot of Louise's bed. Gene again sat on Linda's lap. Tina leaned heavily against Big Bob. Bob climbed into the bed with his daughter. He now saw that she was already gone, but he still was not ready to lose her. He pulled her close no longer worried about breaking her body. He buried his face in her hair and began to cry.
"Oh Louise! Louise! My sweet baby! I am so sorry. I did not mean any of the words I said. You are not spoiled, you are not a baby, you are not a brat. The only thing I said that true is that I wish I had used a condom. God, Louise, I love you so much. Losing you it may kill me. I would rather have never had you than have to go through the pain of losing you. No that's not true because. You gave me the best ten years of my life. I will never forget you. I love you and I am sorry. Goodbye." Bob cried
The moment Bob stopped speaking Louise's body stilled. Her eyes opened for just one short second. In that second, they had hope they had gotten their miracle. The miracle was gone in a flash. The heart monitor screamed. Louise Belcher was dead. Bob again reached for Louise. Her body was warm but completely limp. He bolted upright. Suddenly he remembered what day it was. A doctor and nurse were now in the room. The nurse had begun to switch off the machines. The doctor stood over Louise.
"Time of death one forty-five am." The doctor declared.
"No! No! No! She can't die today! Not today! Bring her back! Please bring her back! Not today!" Bob cried.
"It's his mother's birthday. She died when he was nine." Big Bob explained.
Sometime later Louise's body was removed from the room. The family was taken to a more private room on another floor. Linda bunched up on the floor screaming that her baby was dead. Gloria, Al, and Gayle stood over her trying in vain to console her. Gene sat on the bed that was in the room. Still trying to process what had just happened. Had he really lost his baby sister? Tina stood by the window her eyes fixed skyward. Louise was dead. Where did they go from here? Bob sat alone in the corner clutching "Good Kuchi Kopi" and the blood-stained pink hat a firefighter had walked the street for two hours to find. He could not believe Louise was dead. He had apologized but had she heard him? Was she still able to understand? He was the worst person in the world. Big Bob had stepped out of the hospital. Like Tina he kept his eyes on the sky. He had lost his granddaughter on his wife's birthday. It was almost too cruel.
"Take care of her Tina. That girl was precious. Just like you she was too precious for this Earth. I guess you got one hell of a birthday present. I just wish it didn't have to hurt the rest of us so much." Big Bob whispered.