Chapter 4: Why?

After some time, Erica walked into the room where they had placed Kendall. Bianca had also entered the room. It seemed impossible that they were looking at Kendall so lifeless. Hours before she was with Bianca, talking about the endless possibilities of her future. So full of life, now she was this pale shell. Bianca sobbed quietly and Erica cautiously approached her. Erica remembered that she had cancelled a breakfast with her two days earlier because she was so wrapped up with an important project. If only she had known, she quietly thought to herself. Kendall laid there so still, everything was so quiet. The ventilator tube was still attached to her mouth. Her body was draped with a sheet to her chest and she appeared pale. Erica stroked her cheek softly and kissed her forehead. She held her lips to her forehead for a few moments. Erica's eyes remained closed as she started to talk to her. Bianca walked along the other side of her sister and stroked her hair, still in disbelief that this was her sister. The same sister that earlier that morning had shared her fears about motherhood yet was excited about the possibilities.

"Sweetheart, why did you go, why did you leave us…." Erica's tears began to fall freely. ."Oh, I wish I could have had more time, so much wasted time…I'm so sorry I wasted so much of this second chance with you." Erica was trying to come to grips with the reality that lay before her. She moved away from her forehead and kissed her daughter's hand. Unable to stay there any longer Erica rushed out of the room. Bianca ran after her mother.

Erica stood in the middle of the ER waiting room with her tear stained cheeks. Everything seemed unreal to her. She could see that all eyes were upon her. She felt as if she was in a fishbowl. Many wanted to approach her, but did not know what to say to her. She surveyed the room. She turned to look at Bianca who was clearly devastated, as was everyone else. Jack tried to reach out to Erica, afraid that she was not yet taking in the news and believing it, even after seeing Kendall for herself.

"Erica, honey." He tried to hug her, but she pulled away. "No, Jack, No", Erica ran out of the hospital. Jack wanted to run after her.

"Uncle Jack, let her go," Bianca grabbed his arm in an attempt to stop Jackson from going after her mother.

"She shouldn't be alone right now Bianca. If anything, she needs us now more than ever." Jack explained to Bianca his reasoning.

Bianca looked at her uncle with tears still rolling down her cheeks, "I know she does… but right now… let's give her a bit of time on her own, just for a while."

Every part of Jackson wanted to run after her, but he knew that Erica was going to have to accept this on her own terms. That was Erica's way of dealing. "Okay, for now. How Bianca… how are we ever going to get through this, how are we ever going to get your mother through this?" Jack's voiced quivered with uneasiness.

"I'm not sure. I guess minute by minute, hour by hour." Bianca tried to choke back the tears but was unsuccessful and tears flowed freely between the two as they embraced each other.

A/N: This is a short chapter, but there will be more to follow. Thanks for the reviews, hang in there with this story.