flashback

This couldn't be Mitchie- not this mass of wires, cords, and strange machines. No.

I don't know how long I had stood there, just staring, when a doctor came in.

"Mr. Shane Grey?"

"Y-yes?"my voice shook. I knew he was referring to me, and not my father.

"Your wife...is in a coma."

I took a seat. What does this mean?

"Mr. Grey...there's a small chance of her making it. She's been pronounced brain dead."

"What about...the baby?"Connie asked. The doctor turned to talk to my parents and in-laws, and I just sat there, reaching out and holding Mitchie's hand, which had miraculously escaped all the wires and cords engulfing her small body.

She hadn't even reached 8 months of pregnancy yet...

"Shane,"I heard Connie's voice at a distance. I looked up, and realized she was standing right in front of me.

"Do you want something to eat or drink?"I shook my head no. It wouldn't feel right to eat when Mitchie was like this. Connie sighed, and left the room. I finally noticed that Jason and Nate had arrived.

"Hey Shane,"Nate said softly. I bit my lip and nodded, rubbing my fingers across Mitchie's pale white hand.

"Shane...are you okay?"Jason asked.

"What do you think?"I retorted, in a blank voice. He frowned, then looked down at the floor. His girlfriend reached over and patted his arm. I had to force myself not to roll my eyes, not to mention going crazy and yelling at all of them.

Mitchie was going to die, and all we were doing was sitting here.

end of flashback

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2 years later

I smiled sadly as I hugged Maddi. She was crying.

"I want to go with you, Daddy."

"I'm sorry, sweetie. You have to go to big girl school now,"I tried to convince her. She didn't buy it.

"Uncle Spencer says school is stupid and boring. And that the teachers are mean,"she stuck her lower lip out, referring to Mitchie's younger brother. Way too cute. I sighed, sitting down on the couch and pulling her into my lap.

"Listen, honey, you're going to have a lot of fun staying here with Nanny and Pappy and Uncle Spencer." I felt like a horrible dad, but I just wanted her to have a normal life. She would thank me someday...I think.

"Nu-uh. Uncle Spencer doesn't like me. And who's going to tuck me in without you here? Who's gonna tell me jokes like Uncle Jason does? And who's going to sing to me like Uncle Nate?"

"Maddi,"I sighed. "I promise I'll be back in two months. And you can call me every night. Nanny or Pappy will tuck you in, and Uncle Jason and Uncle Nate can sing to you on the phone. Besides, you love Nanny's cooking."

"But I love you more,"she cried, a tear slipping down her face. Ouch. I think this was breaking my heart.

"Honey,"I kissed her forehead. "Try to be a big girl for me? I'm sure Nanny will let you visit Aunt Tess and Aunt Ella while we're gone." Okay, so Tess wasn't actually an aunt, but Maddi called her that-just to clear things up. Ella was an aunt; her and Jason had been married for about a year now.

"What about Caitlin?"she asked, referring to Nate's fiancee.

"I'm sure she'll come visit you too,"I smiled. Just then, Nate came running down the stairs.

"Hey Shane, it's about time to go. Once Jason gets ready,"he rolled his eyes. I nodded, and Maddi cried more. Nate came over, crouching in front of us.

"Hey, princess, what's the matter?"

"I wanna go with you,"she sniffed, her nose running. I reached over and grabbed a tissue.

"Aw, I know, Mads. But think of it this way-I'll call you every night, and in a month or two, you won't even miss me anymore. Plus, you don't have to deal with Uncle Jason's horrible cooking here,"he scrunched his nose up and winked at her. This emitted a laugh from Maddi.

Connie came in and got Maddi settled down the rest of the way. I checked my watch. 7:00 AM.

"Isn't it time to go, like, now?"I looked over at Nate. Jason came down at 7:05, right on cue. He always had to be 5 minutes late. After saying our goodbyes, I reached down and hugged Maddi one last time. She hugged me back with all the strength she could muster.

"I love you Daddy."

"I love you too, Madison."

And with that, we were gone, leaving behind my little girl.