The hardest goodbyes – Chapter 2

The heart monitor beeped violently, and the nurses rushed to the bedside. Will's body convulsed and writhed on the bed knocking the journal to the floor.

"Anti-convulsion meds stat" shouted one nurse

"Quick tilt his head, he is swallowing his tongue" shouted another

All the while William hovered in a smoky white room, feeling his life drain away from him, he felt calm and somewhat peaceful, yet he felt unfinished, his mind began to focus on his family and started to draw him back.

His eyes flickered open to see several nurses around all sigh with relief "Page Dr Evans and Dr Johnson, we got him back, hey there William, my you gave us a scare."

"s…ooo…rrrryyy?" Will said both questioning and as a statement. A nurse picked his journal up and placed it to the side of him as he could hear a commotion outside him room, the door swings open and Sonny who is breathless is standing there.

"Oh god, Will, you, you…" Sonny stumbles forward and encases Will with his arms

"I know, I know darling, love you too" Will whispers in response, shakily gripping as tight as he could muster against Sonny.

"How you doing now, do you need anything?"

"wat…water please." Will asked

Sonny turned and found a plastic cup and the jug and poured him some and held Will's head as he took gentle sips before being laid back. Sonny now perched on the edge of the bed held his hand and Will lent his head against him, he felt safe as his eyes heavily drooped and he dozed back off.

Swirls of colour and sounds swept Will's consciousness and he enjoyed the comfort until he felt a nuzzling to the point of being rocked back and forth, his eyes open and he is back in the hospital room and Arianna is sitting patiently on the bed

"Hey princess."

"Daddy" Ari squeals and with spread arms plops against Will. Will looks around for Sonny and sees the door is ajar and he is talking with nurses.

"How long you been here"

"Ages, you wouldn't wake up and daddy told me not to wake you, but I wanted see you, sorry"

Will hugs her more "don't be, I want to see you too, love you."

"Love you too daddy."

Ari looked to his bedside and saw the journal "Can I draw in that?"

Will saw his journal and reached across and took it and a pen.

"Well my sweet this is a special book and holds lots of things in here. But perhaps you could make a special picture in there for me."

She smiled and nodded "Yay, I draw you me mommy and daddy with errr a dog, a big house and swings"

"That sounds perfect."

Will opened the journal and it landed on the page he had started the letter to Gabi

"Dear Gabi,

My dear friend, my family, I love you whole heartedly and I sincerely wish I wasn't leaving you with so much to comprehend whilst you are dealing with your own trouble, I didn't want to put more onto your plate."

Will flipped the page and handed it to Ari to allow her to draw carefully with his pen. He watched her intently as she drew, her tongue poking out to the side of her mouth as she concentrated on the drawing, a trait that Sonny made fun of Will for having when he concentrated too hard on a piece for the Spectator.

Will kept one hand on Ari tethering him to his surroundings and the other occasionally held against his head or gripped the bedsheets, the pain was starting to come in waves and he really didn't want to worry Ari.

Eventually Ari finished and held the book to Will and he smiled and a tear began to fall, because this picture to him now would be the only chance to see this future, his life so close to the brink and he had so much to say and do.

"Hey sweetie, come on we need to let your daddy get some rest." Sonny chimed as he had re-entered the room

Will could barely bring a smile to his face, but Ari kissed his cheek and jumped off the bed and ran to collect her things.

Sonny came to the edge and whispered" How bad Will, scale 1-10?"

"I've lost count, Sonny I'm scared" tears started to flow more freely, and he gripped Sonny's arms. Sonny held him tightly

"I know my love, I am trying to be strong for the both of us, but you know inside this is killing me so much, I don't want to lose you, I can't lose you."

William pulled back slightly and was the one now wiping away Sonny's tears "Ari is waiting for you, I adore you." And Will took hold of Sonny's chin and brought him close and gently landed his lips on Sonny for a chaste and loving kiss. When they parted Sonny reciprocated with a second kiss and held his hands in Will's hair, holding onto every moment, every touch, as if they were his last.

As Sonny left Will brushed away the last remaining tears on his face and grabbed his journal. He needed to write

"where was I? Oh right as you may have seen you are now the proud owner of a one of a kind artwork by Miss Arianna Grace, she sat with me in the hospital and it made me think of all the times we have been in this hospital, right back when I took you to your prom, can you remember that.

Your appendix scuppered our plans and so I made a prom happen in the hospital, you in that yellow dress, and I even had a matching tie. Simpler times, right? Well may be, anyway I look around the hospital room and remember all we have lost here and gained, and I am sorry that I am about to become another one of those statistics.

I want and wish you all the success in the world, Gabi Chic is definitely going to rule and you as an owner, I am so proud, you know that right, not just in the business world but as Ari's mom, I am blessed to know that she will be safe with you and Sonny when I am gone.

Please forgive me for everything

Yours

Will."

Will closed the journal and placed the pen down, 2 letters down 3 to go, he was unsure if he was going to be able to complete them all before his time, either way he was going to try

He opened a new page and began to write and speak aloud at the same time

"Dear Mom and Dad

How do I begin, where do I begin?"

To be continued