Chapter 4- Hope Dies Last
Eric felt all of the blood rush to his head. He starred at his son in horror. "Simon, we're your parents" Eric half heard Annie say in his state of shock. "Oh" Simon said becoming rather interested in his fingernails. "You don't remember anything?" Eric heard himself say. Simon shrugged. "I know that my name is Simon, and you're my parents" he said smiling. Unfortunately this only made Eric feel worse. "Excuse me" he said suddenly as he left the room he looked at the doctor. "You never said he would lose his memory!" Eric spat, suddenly remembering his childhood hatred of hospitals.
"Mr. Camden" The doctor said folding his hands together in a matter of fact sort of way. "These side-effects usually occur with head injury" he finished, as if he knew everything and Eric knew nothing. Eric suddenly snapped. "This is not a side-effect this is my son's memory!" he screamed. With all of this pent up anger Eric suddenly punched out the doctor. Annie ran out of Simon's hospital room at the sound. "Eric!" she screeched. "I'm sorry I don't know what came over me..." Eric trailed off lending out a hand to help the doctor up. The doctor took Eric's hand remaining calm." No, I always have parents punch me out" the doctor said grinning. "Still it was..." Eric trailed off again. He closed his eyes for a second and then said
"I'm really sorry." The doctor smiled again, "I'm sure it's only temporary" the doctor said referring to Simon's memory.
Lucy smiled sadly as she held onto Kevin in a death grip. Her brother currently didn't even know she was his sister. Lucy looked at Kevin and tugged on his shirt sleeve. "He's sleeping, there's no point in staying we should go" she said, not even waiting for him to answer before she left the hospital room. The second she was out the door the tears started to flow. She heard the footsteps of Kevin chasing after her. He touched her arm and gently pulled her toward him in a hug. "Hey, it's going to be okay" Kevin said running fingers through the back of her hair. Lucy closed her eyes and prayed that he was right.
Ruthie picked at her arm cast angrily. The earthquake had caused this. Everything that was happening, everything that was torn apart, had it to blame. She couldn't even go home because there was nothing left of it. She didn't even know about the church. Her entire life was being torn out from under her and she hated it. She tried to call Peter, and of course failed to reach him. Every phone line in Glen Oak was currently attached to someone who could help them. If Mary had seen it that meant it was nation wide news. Ruthie walked over to the pay phone, put in her change and tried Peter's number for the last time. This time though, the phone actually rang. "Hello" was heard from the other end after the third ring. Ruthie knew the voice as Peter's mom, Paris. "Is Peter there?" Ruthie asked fear suddenly overcoming her. "No" Paris said on the other line. Ruthie panicked. Not there, but that would mean... that would mean... "He's in Illinois visiting his grandmother" Paris finished. Ruthie was overwhelmed with relief. Peter was fine and Simon, although short of his memory, would be fine too. Maybe things really were starting to change.
"Nothing's ever going to be the same" Ben looked over at Mary after she said that, seeing the disappointment in her eyes. He wasn't sure if she was disappointed in the doctors, in him, or in herself. "Look out there" she said limply gesturing to the window. Ben stole a glance, suddenly wishing he hadn't. Buildings were knocked over, either partially or completely. People were frantically looking for the people they love. Some of them would never see them again. "There's nothing left" Mary said limply starting to cry a little "no life, no faith, and no hope-""Hey"! Ben interrupted her. "What?" she asked him slightly annoyed that he interrupted her. "You know there was this old guy sitting next to me on the plane" Ben said, his eyes starting to get that far away look. "He had no wife, and no kids they all died at a young age, he himself seemed to be a sick man, he even had an arm missing from World War II." Ben said looking at Mary.
"So?" Mary asked wondering what this had to do with her. "All this crap happened to him and you know what he said to me?" "Get a life and stop asking about mine?" Mary said flatly. "He said hope dies last" Ben stated. "You can lose your family and your faith but you still have hope." He said. Mary was taken aback. She'd never seen this serious side of Ben before. "Be lucky you didn't lose anyone dear to you Mary, did you ever think about that? There are people out there with dead husband or wives or brothers and sisters, so stop feeling sorry for yourself and hope that your brother will take the time to regain his memory, and while you're at it be thankful he has the time to take!" Ben stared at Mary after he finished his speech. Mary looked back at him and out of the blue they kissed.
AN: WANTED TO WRITE MORE BUT THE COMPUTER GOT A VIRUS. WE HAD TO BUY A NEW ONE, SORRY THE CHAPTERS NOT THAT INTERSTING BUT THERE HAD TO BE FILLER BETWEEN ALL HELL AND HAVE A LITTLE HOPE... THE NEXT ONE WILL BE BETTER