Darkness Falls



"Richie, darling, what happened?" Marion shrieked as she saw the blood on his shirt. There was also a rather large bruise on his head and his arm was in a sling. Everyone huddled around him, fear in their faces

"Where's Fonzie? Is he all right?" Joanie asked in a panic-stricken voice. When Richie didn't answer she felt as if her heart had stopped beating.

"Richie?" she asked again, her voice taking on an edge of desperation

He couldn't say anything, his mouth opened, but nothing came out. Eventually Joanie turned around when Lori Beth pointed a finger behind her.

Joanie turned around slowly, or at least it felt like an eternity to her. Through a large looking glass she could see him. Lying on a hospital bed, unconscious.

It was too much for her; she could feel her knees buckle. Howard quickly caught her before she hit the floor.

"What's wrong with him?" she demanded.

Richie finally found his voice, "the other vehicle reamed us from the side. There was so much blood...." he trailed off, but then found his place again. "They said he would make it, but he's..." he broke off again. It was too painful to look at her in the eyes. Instead he looked down the corridor. The doctor was coming their way. "He's paralyzed" he uttered, his eyes closing the moment the words left his mouth. He felt Joanie faint and Lori Beth's and his mother's shriek of agony.



"I have been reviewing Mr. Fonzarelli's injuries and I'm afraid that there's nothing that can be done. The injury to his spine was far too great. We were able to repair a good portion of the damage, but he'll never walk again", the doctor explained in a caring voice.

Joanie could feel the blood draining from her face, but she wouldn't cave! Not this time, she had to be strong for Fonzie and herself.

"For the time being we are going to keep him elevated in a particular angle in order for him to heel fully", he looked at her, ready to answer any questions she might have. The last thing he wanted was for her to have any confusion about her husband's condition.

"How long is he going to be elevated?" she asked, her voice slightly quivering.

"Two months", her face twisted in agony at his answer. Why was this happening to them? What had they done to deserve this? Everything had been so wonderful just a few hours ago and now she was here, in the hospital, being told that he would never walk.

Slowly she got up and politely excused herself. She had to be by his side, soon he would wake up and she needed to be there.



Minutes turned into hours and hours into days. Joanie sat by Fonzie's bedside. She couldn't help but stare at him; it had been two days since he had been brought in and he still hadn't awaken. Long past the point of worry, she was going insane. The desperate need to touch him overwhelming her. The odd angle the bed was positioned in making it difficult for her to touch him, make sure that this wasn't all some horrible nightmare.

Joanie could feel her chest tightening the tears she had been holding for the last two days threatening to spill forth. Finally she gave in; tears flowing freely down her face.

"God" she whispered looking at the cross over the hospital bed. "Please give me strength", her simple plea surprising her. She never considered herself the religious type. Sure, she attended Sunday mass when growing up, but it never meant much. Not until now though, not until her other half was in such jeapordy.

Her tears began to subside, her breathing calming down. Joanie wiped her tears with her sleeve. The priest of their church had once said, that before there is light there is darkness. She desperately hoped that he was right, that better times would be ahead for the two of them.

A small noise caught her attention, he was awake! Immediately she sprang from the chair and came close to his side. "Fonzie?" she asked in a soothing tone. His head turned toward her, a groggy look on his face. A small smile began to form on his face, but immediately it turned into a grimace of pain. That filled the room, bouncing back and forth between the white walls.
TO BE CONTINUED