Thanks so much for the reviews! You all rock! You've been so great through
this story! Read all the way down to the bottom!
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Lizzie returned to the room with everyone else, her nerves were one edge, Gordo was looking calmly around. She waited for something to say something but when no one did, she blurted out, "What happened?"
Gordo licked his lips and looked at everyone, he picked up Lizzie's hand, then looked straight at his parents. "I want to go home."
No one reacted to the statement at first. It seemed like a logical statement, he was at the hospital, of course he'd want to go home. Lizzie looked down at him and caught the gleam in his eye. "Is that what you talked to the doctor about?"
He nodded.
Mrs. Gordon stared at her son. She, like everyone else, knew what kind of physical state he was in, leaving the hospital would mean he would be away from emergency care.
"I don't want to spend this time in the hospital. It's really great to be surrounded by my family and my friends and I want you all to come home too. I don't want to stay here anymore."
Lizzie bit her lip in an attempt to stop the tears forming in her eyes. She knew what this meant. Gordo was getting tired of fighting the disease, he knew time was wearing down, and he wanted to spend his final time at home.
Mrs. Gordo stepped forward and placed her hand on her son's leg. "Howard, why don't you go on home, and get out some cookies. Everyone, you are more than welcome to go back to our house, please. David and I will meet you there."
There was a brief round of goodbye, then the room quickly cleared, Mrs. Gordon went to fill out his release papers. Lizzie sat down on the bed, not caring that the tears were slowly falling down her cheek.
"Are you sure you want this?" she asked.
Gordo smiled at her, her leaned up and gently kissed a tear streak on the right side of her face. "I need to be home," he replied gently.
She sniffed and nodded, lightly kissing him. "I'll see you there okay?"
He nodded.
Lizzie started for the door and stopped when she heard him softly call her name. "Yeah?" she asked turning quickly around.
"I love you," he smiled. "More than you'll ever know."
"I love you too," she echoed, running back over to the bed, and kissing him passionately. When she pulled back, she gently squeezed his hand. "I'll see you at your house."
He nodded and waved.
***
It seemed liked an astoundingly long time before Mrs. Gordon's car finally appeared in the driveway. All the visitors from the hospital were in the living room. The lights to the Christmas tree shone brightly and Lizzie couldn't remember ever feeling more unity in a room.
The door opened and Gordo walked slowly through. He smiled broadly at the sight of everyone. "Look at this," his whispery voice proclaimed as though he were surprised anyone showed up.
He made his way over to the couch and sat down. His breathing was rapid, his skin possibly paler than it had ever been before.
"Thank you all so much," he stated. "It means so much to me."
The room was tense, nerves were high. After he'd managed to catch his breath, he looked over at Miranda. "Under the tree, are two presents with your and Lizzie's name on them, will you get them please?"
She nodded silently and fetched the gifts. Once she'd found them, she gave Lizzie's hers and then sat down with her own.
Gordo looked up apologetically around at everyone else. "Sorry that those are the only ones I have, but you know how things go." There was a rippled of nervous laughter, someone called next year, and he only smiled in response. "Miranda, Lizzie, open them now please."
The girls complied and opened their gifts. Both received a scrap book. A quick flip through revealed several of the same pictures, but also other pictures of things they'd done separately. Like in Miranda's, there was a bowling picture, a commemoration of the time she'd helped him overcome his bizarre fear of bowling. In Lizzie's, there were pictures from a class trip to Rome.
"Gordo, they're great," Miranda smiled, giving him a quick hug.
"Thank you," Lizzie stated softly, kissing his cheek.
He smiled from his leaned back position on the couch, his head tilted to the side as he half closed his eyes. "Can I ask a favor?" he asked softly.
"Anything," his mother stated.
"One of my favorite parts of the holidays are the carols, can everyone sing some?"
"Sure," Miranda stated quickly. "Do you have a request?"
"Jingle Bells," he replied.
Someone sang the first note then the room quickly filled in. Lizzie held his hand as she looked around. The parents were standing around the room, her father had his arm around her mother's shoulders. Mrs. and Mr. Gordon were on the other side of Gordo, their hands intertwined. Mr. Sanchez was his wife's support as she leaned back against him.
They song after song, every time one finished, someone else would call out their favorite carol. Gordo kept slipping off into a light sleep and would wake up whenever the song would change.
His raised his head and smiled at everyone as they finished a round of 'Noel.' He let out a soft sigh. The singers turned their attention to him. "You guys have been so great, and I've loved my private concert, but, I can hardly hold my head up."
Several people gave him some kind of reassurance as he stood up. "I have one more request before I go to bed," he stated, standing up, looking straight at Miranda. "Will you sing 'Silent Night?'"
She smiled and nodded, she coughed softly then her beautiful voice filled the room. "Silent night, Holy night, All is calm, All is bright, Round yon virgin, Mother and Child, Holy infant, So tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace." Others began to join in. "Silent night, Holy night, Shepherds quake, At the sight, Glory streams, From heaven afar, Heavenly hosts, Sing alleluia, Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born, Silent night, Holy night, All is calm, All is bright, Round yon virgin, Mother and Child, Holy infant, So tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace."
Miranda smiled at him, he gave one fond look around the room, then waved and went on upstairs.
Several people finally let their tears fall then, Miranda wrapped her arms around herself. Several silent minutes passed until Mrs. Gordon wiped her red eyes and picked up a tray of cookies. "Please help yourself. Thank you all for coming. You can't understand how much it means to him."
Lizzie stood up and walked over and hugged her as tight as she could. "This is the place we want to be. With him, and his family."
***
Somehow, that night, when Lizzie went home, she fell asleep. She woke up the next morning, quickly got dress, roused her family and they all loaded up and went to his house. Mr. Gordo was shoveling the walk when they got out. Lizzie looked at his face and knew.
It had happened.
Her hand flew to her mouth. She shook her head. Her mother wrapped her in her arms. Tears fell. She wasn't sure they would ever stop. She bit down on her lip. She heard another car approach. Then Miranda was at her side, the hug turned into a group hug.
Lizzie's mother kissed her head gently, then slid away, leaving the girls alone. Together they cried.
Lizzie pulled away saying nothing. Talking hurt. Thinking hurt. Breathing hurt. She looked at Miranda for a moment then stood up and started down the street.
"Where are you going?"
"Tell my parents I'll be back," she replied, walking down the street.
She wasn't sure where she was going, she just had to go. She walked down the snowy sidewalks, taking random turns. Head down, she stepped forward, but felt an odd feeling. What it was, she couldn't say, but she stepped backwards. She glanced around, there nothing and no one. She started to step forward, back onto the street, but that same feeling pushed her back. Confused, she backed up until she was leaning against a fence. She rubbed her head. "It's just a street, you've crossed plenty of them before."
But something was holding her back. She started forward again, but that feeling shoved her back. Holding onto the fence, she closed her eyes for a second, then suddenly a car appeared. The wheels spun wildly on the snow and ice and the driver lost control. The car flung forward, across the crosswalk and embedded itself against a telephone pole.
Lizzie felt her breath fly out of her mouth in a woosh. That would have been her. She would have gotten hit in that car.
The driver climbed out of the car muttering angrily, he pulled out a cell phone and started dialing numbers. Shaking her head, Lizzie turned around, starting in the direction which she'd came.
Her mind still nagged at her because she knew she could have been hurt or worse. She wondered what had stopped her. That feeling, why had she gotten it. Then, she knew. Gordo. Some wouldn't believe her, some she'd never bother to tell, but she knew he was the reason she had stopped. Tears fell gently down her cheeks, she had lost her best friend but had gained a guardian angel.
The Gordon household came into view. Miranda was still where she'd left her. Lizzie ran over and threw her arms around her best friend's neck. Miranda silently hugged her back.
"You okay?" Miranda asked softly.
"I'll be okay," Lizzie replied. "Are you okay?"
Miranda had been crying, her eyes were red and puffy. "What do we do without him?"
Lizzie glanced towards the sky, keeping her arm around her friend's shoulder. "We learn to go on. We'll never forget, but we go on, like he wanted us to. And he's always with us. I know I sound insane, but believe me, he's there."
Miranda didn't question, Lizzie knew she wouldn't. It was one of Miranda's qualities. "Let's go inside," she stated softly.
Briefly, Lizzie felt herself lock up. Was she ready to go back inside the house? She took a deep breath, remembering what had happened moments earlier. Yeah, she was ready. Throughout her life, she was going to encounter things that were difficult, but she was never fully alone, she always had a friend watching, and with someone there, things would never be so bad.
"Yeah, let's go," she smiled softly, walking up the yard. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Thanks for reading. Now this is the ending I had originally planned to post, so read this one. But! I'm like a DVD player, there is an alternate ending, which is the next chapter! I would LOVE for you to review them both and tell me which one you like best. You all have been so great through everything and I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Lizzie returned to the room with everyone else, her nerves were one edge, Gordo was looking calmly around. She waited for something to say something but when no one did, she blurted out, "What happened?"
Gordo licked his lips and looked at everyone, he picked up Lizzie's hand, then looked straight at his parents. "I want to go home."
No one reacted to the statement at first. It seemed like a logical statement, he was at the hospital, of course he'd want to go home. Lizzie looked down at him and caught the gleam in his eye. "Is that what you talked to the doctor about?"
He nodded.
Mrs. Gordon stared at her son. She, like everyone else, knew what kind of physical state he was in, leaving the hospital would mean he would be away from emergency care.
"I don't want to spend this time in the hospital. It's really great to be surrounded by my family and my friends and I want you all to come home too. I don't want to stay here anymore."
Lizzie bit her lip in an attempt to stop the tears forming in her eyes. She knew what this meant. Gordo was getting tired of fighting the disease, he knew time was wearing down, and he wanted to spend his final time at home.
Mrs. Gordo stepped forward and placed her hand on her son's leg. "Howard, why don't you go on home, and get out some cookies. Everyone, you are more than welcome to go back to our house, please. David and I will meet you there."
There was a brief round of goodbye, then the room quickly cleared, Mrs. Gordon went to fill out his release papers. Lizzie sat down on the bed, not caring that the tears were slowly falling down her cheek.
"Are you sure you want this?" she asked.
Gordo smiled at her, her leaned up and gently kissed a tear streak on the right side of her face. "I need to be home," he replied gently.
She sniffed and nodded, lightly kissing him. "I'll see you there okay?"
He nodded.
Lizzie started for the door and stopped when she heard him softly call her name. "Yeah?" she asked turning quickly around.
"I love you," he smiled. "More than you'll ever know."
"I love you too," she echoed, running back over to the bed, and kissing him passionately. When she pulled back, she gently squeezed his hand. "I'll see you at your house."
He nodded and waved.
***
It seemed liked an astoundingly long time before Mrs. Gordon's car finally appeared in the driveway. All the visitors from the hospital were in the living room. The lights to the Christmas tree shone brightly and Lizzie couldn't remember ever feeling more unity in a room.
The door opened and Gordo walked slowly through. He smiled broadly at the sight of everyone. "Look at this," his whispery voice proclaimed as though he were surprised anyone showed up.
He made his way over to the couch and sat down. His breathing was rapid, his skin possibly paler than it had ever been before.
"Thank you all so much," he stated. "It means so much to me."
The room was tense, nerves were high. After he'd managed to catch his breath, he looked over at Miranda. "Under the tree, are two presents with your and Lizzie's name on them, will you get them please?"
She nodded silently and fetched the gifts. Once she'd found them, she gave Lizzie's hers and then sat down with her own.
Gordo looked up apologetically around at everyone else. "Sorry that those are the only ones I have, but you know how things go." There was a rippled of nervous laughter, someone called next year, and he only smiled in response. "Miranda, Lizzie, open them now please."
The girls complied and opened their gifts. Both received a scrap book. A quick flip through revealed several of the same pictures, but also other pictures of things they'd done separately. Like in Miranda's, there was a bowling picture, a commemoration of the time she'd helped him overcome his bizarre fear of bowling. In Lizzie's, there were pictures from a class trip to Rome.
"Gordo, they're great," Miranda smiled, giving him a quick hug.
"Thank you," Lizzie stated softly, kissing his cheek.
He smiled from his leaned back position on the couch, his head tilted to the side as he half closed his eyes. "Can I ask a favor?" he asked softly.
"Anything," his mother stated.
"One of my favorite parts of the holidays are the carols, can everyone sing some?"
"Sure," Miranda stated quickly. "Do you have a request?"
"Jingle Bells," he replied.
Someone sang the first note then the room quickly filled in. Lizzie held his hand as she looked around. The parents were standing around the room, her father had his arm around her mother's shoulders. Mrs. and Mr. Gordon were on the other side of Gordo, their hands intertwined. Mr. Sanchez was his wife's support as she leaned back against him.
They song after song, every time one finished, someone else would call out their favorite carol. Gordo kept slipping off into a light sleep and would wake up whenever the song would change.
His raised his head and smiled at everyone as they finished a round of 'Noel.' He let out a soft sigh. The singers turned their attention to him. "You guys have been so great, and I've loved my private concert, but, I can hardly hold my head up."
Several people gave him some kind of reassurance as he stood up. "I have one more request before I go to bed," he stated, standing up, looking straight at Miranda. "Will you sing 'Silent Night?'"
She smiled and nodded, she coughed softly then her beautiful voice filled the room. "Silent night, Holy night, All is calm, All is bright, Round yon virgin, Mother and Child, Holy infant, So tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace." Others began to join in. "Silent night, Holy night, Shepherds quake, At the sight, Glory streams, From heaven afar, Heavenly hosts, Sing alleluia, Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born, Silent night, Holy night, All is calm, All is bright, Round yon virgin, Mother and Child, Holy infant, So tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace."
Miranda smiled at him, he gave one fond look around the room, then waved and went on upstairs.
Several people finally let their tears fall then, Miranda wrapped her arms around herself. Several silent minutes passed until Mrs. Gordon wiped her red eyes and picked up a tray of cookies. "Please help yourself. Thank you all for coming. You can't understand how much it means to him."
Lizzie stood up and walked over and hugged her as tight as she could. "This is the place we want to be. With him, and his family."
***
Somehow, that night, when Lizzie went home, she fell asleep. She woke up the next morning, quickly got dress, roused her family and they all loaded up and went to his house. Mr. Gordo was shoveling the walk when they got out. Lizzie looked at his face and knew.
It had happened.
Her hand flew to her mouth. She shook her head. Her mother wrapped her in her arms. Tears fell. She wasn't sure they would ever stop. She bit down on her lip. She heard another car approach. Then Miranda was at her side, the hug turned into a group hug.
Lizzie's mother kissed her head gently, then slid away, leaving the girls alone. Together they cried.
Lizzie pulled away saying nothing. Talking hurt. Thinking hurt. Breathing hurt. She looked at Miranda for a moment then stood up and started down the street.
"Where are you going?"
"Tell my parents I'll be back," she replied, walking down the street.
She wasn't sure where she was going, she just had to go. She walked down the snowy sidewalks, taking random turns. Head down, she stepped forward, but felt an odd feeling. What it was, she couldn't say, but she stepped backwards. She glanced around, there nothing and no one. She started to step forward, back onto the street, but that same feeling pushed her back. Confused, she backed up until she was leaning against a fence. She rubbed her head. "It's just a street, you've crossed plenty of them before."
But something was holding her back. She started forward again, but that feeling shoved her back. Holding onto the fence, she closed her eyes for a second, then suddenly a car appeared. The wheels spun wildly on the snow and ice and the driver lost control. The car flung forward, across the crosswalk and embedded itself against a telephone pole.
Lizzie felt her breath fly out of her mouth in a woosh. That would have been her. She would have gotten hit in that car.
The driver climbed out of the car muttering angrily, he pulled out a cell phone and started dialing numbers. Shaking her head, Lizzie turned around, starting in the direction which she'd came.
Her mind still nagged at her because she knew she could have been hurt or worse. She wondered what had stopped her. That feeling, why had she gotten it. Then, she knew. Gordo. Some wouldn't believe her, some she'd never bother to tell, but she knew he was the reason she had stopped. Tears fell gently down her cheeks, she had lost her best friend but had gained a guardian angel.
The Gordon household came into view. Miranda was still where she'd left her. Lizzie ran over and threw her arms around her best friend's neck. Miranda silently hugged her back.
"You okay?" Miranda asked softly.
"I'll be okay," Lizzie replied. "Are you okay?"
Miranda had been crying, her eyes were red and puffy. "What do we do without him?"
Lizzie glanced towards the sky, keeping her arm around her friend's shoulder. "We learn to go on. We'll never forget, but we go on, like he wanted us to. And he's always with us. I know I sound insane, but believe me, he's there."
Miranda didn't question, Lizzie knew she wouldn't. It was one of Miranda's qualities. "Let's go inside," she stated softly.
Briefly, Lizzie felt herself lock up. Was she ready to go back inside the house? She took a deep breath, remembering what had happened moments earlier. Yeah, she was ready. Throughout her life, she was going to encounter things that were difficult, but she was never fully alone, she always had a friend watching, and with someone there, things would never be so bad.
"Yeah, let's go," she smiled softly, walking up the yard. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Thanks for reading. Now this is the ending I had originally planned to post, so read this one. But! I'm like a DVD player, there is an alternate ending, which is the next chapter! I would LOVE for you to review them both and tell me which one you like best. You all have been so great through everything and I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it!