U.S.S Hope

Chapter 14

Mike looked around the room that Dr. Matthews had led them to. It was homey and decorated with calming colors. It was a room he was not in favor of being in but he knew that Katie had to get everything off of her chest before she could ever hope to recover, and maybe part of the healing process for him was to hear it. Closure, perhaps. He helped Katie settle on the couch and sit down next to her, while Dr. Matthews carried in coffee and tea cups. She sat them down on the coffee table and sit down in an armchair.

"Alright; a few ground rules. Relax. Give each other a chance to speak. Understand how painful this might be for the both of you. Katie; you witnessed something terrible but your dad also lost a beloved daughter and why don't you start at the beginning? You mentioned your mom telling your dad that your brother died. After that phone call would be a good place to start." Dr. Matthews said.

"And remember; I do love and trust you." Mike added.

"After you and Mom spoke; the safe zone was…taken over by these guys. They are called Immunes now but they had sick people with them…Mom got sick and she sent Hannah and I away so we didn't get it. We walked a few miles but winter was setting in. We found this abandoned house but there was no heat. I tried to chop wood but…it was harder than I thought." Katie said as she shivered.

"Katie; keep going." Dr. Matthew encouraged.

"It got really cold. There were blankets but that was it. Hannah started coughing really hard. She was feverish and was having a lot of trouble breathing. That went on for a few days…then her skin and the whites of her eyes turned yellow. She was jaundiced; which happens when someone becomes septic. She…lost consciousness. Within a day or so…she had died. I knew she had died because she quit breathing…but before she lost consciousness, she kept crying for you and Mom. I told her…I lied and said you would be there soon." Katie continued.

"I don't think this is the end of the story." Dr. Matthews said. Mike was having trouble keeping it together and wasn't sure how much more he could hear. What bothered him was how clinical Katie was being.

"I…wrapped her in a blanket and found a big wood box in the basement. It was really hard but I was able to get her into that wood box. It took me days to dig a hole big enough. The ground was frozen. And then I had to drag the box out and bury it. I made sure there were rocks on top so an animal couldn't get to the box. Finally; I put this little cross with her name on it on it. I stayed there until spring and when there were flowers, I put them on the cross." Katie said. Mike could tell she was exhausted but he was trying to reign in his own emotions.

"Mike?" Dr. Matthews asked. He shook his head, not wanting to trust his voice. He was not ready for Katie to squeeze his hand.

"Do you remember where she's buried at?" Mike asked finally.

"I…can try." Katie answered.

"It might help to find that grave and to give Hannah a more proper burial. A casket, funeral, headstone, but more than anything closure for both of you. Katie; you did nothing wrong by giving Hannah the burial you did, but I think you would both feel better with something more permanent." Dr. Matthews said.

"Could we put Mom and Lucas' names on the headstone?" Katie asked. She looked towards her dad and saw the tears streaking down his cheek. Mike wasn't even bothering to wipe them.

"Sure." Mike answered in a shaky voice. Instead of saying anything else; Katie put her arms around him and pulled him into a tight hug. She hung on as tight as she could and for once; Mike felt no shame in the tears rolling down his cheeks. Now they just had to get past Hannah's 'funeral.'