A/N: hey hey hey! it's me (Mimi) again. this is the last chapt. of my part of the story. Kaitlin (rentislife0619) will update her 3 chapts. soon.
A/N 2: don't hesitate to r/r! you can also PM us at Roger Davis' Song of Glory (me) or rentislife0619 (Kaitlin)
CHAPTER NINE
(chapter title – Or Live In Fear)
I exited the hospital room and went to sit with Mark, Maureen, Roger, Joanne and Mimi.
"How's he doing?" Maureen asked.
"Not good." I told her. Turning to Mark, I added, "he wants to see you, Mark."
"Thanks, Mary." He got up from his chair and walked to Collins' hospital room. I sat down in his chair next to Maureen and let out a little sob. She pulled me into a hug and stroked my hair. Just then, there was a huge cry of "Collins!" from his hospital room. Without hesitation, the six of us jumped up and ran to Collins' hospital room. We found Mark holding Collins' hand and crying. We knew that Collins was no longer with us.
"Oh my God!" I gasped. I could no longer hold in my tears and started bawling like a baby. Mark came over to me and held me close. I could feel his tears dripping onto my forehead. Mimi was sobbing hysterically into Roger's shirt; Roger was crying, but not as hard as Mimi or I were. Joanne and Maureen were sobbing, holding each other close to them. I pulled away so that I could call Benny on my cell phone. I got the answering machine.
"Benny? Alison? This is Mary Sheppard. I'm just calling to let you know that Collins died at." I looked at my watch. "Twelve thirty this afternoon. Bye." I hung up and turned my phone off. Mark walked over to me and put his arms around my waist and drew me close. I cried into his shirt and wrapped my arms around his neck. He led me over to a hospital chair so that we could sit down and be held in each other's arms. I buried my face in his shirt and just sobbed. Mark rubbed my back and soothed me. Other than the sounds of crying, there wasn't another sound in the room.
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Benny and Alison came to the loft around two to say their condolences. I had only met them once and they seemed like the kind of people that could've been Collins' friends. Mimi and I stepped out of the loft to go out for a bit – just to give Mark, Benny, Alison and Roger some time to themselves. Maureen and Joanne had left shortly after Benny and Alison had arrived. Mark had told the story to me, so I don't feel like repeating it. We didn't talk very much, which was okay with me. When we were two blocks away from the loft, Mimi started sobbing. I joined her shortly. We stopped walking and held each other close, too afraid to let go.