Hey everyone. Sorry I haven't posted in a while. School has got me tied up. *Note that the religious views expressed in this chapter are the OC's, not mine. Mine have some similarities, but that's for another time*
A-N-T-C-U is out.
If you're someone doesn't believe there is a god or even an ultimate and higher power, the powers of Deja Vu and coincidence can certainly turn you. For example, when I first found Alvin's demo tapes and CDs, the first one I pulled out was a cover You Found Me by The Fray. Scary right?
Not enough? How about this. Alvin and Brittany were rushed to the hospital one year apart to the day, Alvin for repetitive heart palpitations and Brittany for chest trauma suffered in the accident. So, both for chest problems. I would later learn that Alvin and Brittany were rushed to the same hospital in the same ambulance by the same EMS team. Both incidents were exactly 10 miles from the emergency room lobby, down to the foot, and in opposite directions, down to the degree. Even scarier. And the worst detail?
They died exactly one year apart, to the day, down to hour. Alvin died of cardiac arrest as a result of a tumor in his lung at 3:20 a.m. on May 16, 2012. Brittany died of a hemorrhage in her lungs at 3:39 a.m. on May 16, 2013, in the next room ever.
I was reading Always Looking Up by Michael J. Fox when the news came of Brittany's death. Adding to the coincidence was a section I was reading:
"When going to sleep at night, I'm optimistic that I won't be awoken by a phone ringing with bad news. When the phone does ring, I hope it's a wrong number. When it's not and the caller has the worst news imaginable, it's time for faith to kick in." *Ring*
I myself am not a Christian. Never really have been. I do, however, acknowledge that I am not in control and turn to a higher power, God, as the address where my thanks can be sent. Like Michael J. Fox in a sense. (You'd have to read his book to get it) A tip of the cap if you will. While he certainly deserves respect, and to an extent, be celebrated and applauded, full out worship, to the extent that many have ruined themselves and others in the pursuit of pleasing him seems a bit extreme. I haven't yet found a denomination or demographic that aligns with my views. But then, if you heard some of them, you wouldn't want me to be the one to discuss faith at a coffee shop.
But at the same time, I will send up a quick "prayer", asking for strength. And if that makes me a hypocrite, so be it. But, when you've lost two family members in a year, totaling 3 in 4 years, or in my case 5 in 9, those others being the death of my parents in a plane crash when I was 8, a quick prayer for strength can certainly be acceptable.
I sent one up as I got out of the car, the other 4 behind me. We walked in and were met by Dr. Green, the ER's head. He saw us and his expression dropped. The others were behind me, tears streaming down their faces. The doctor gave his condolences and told us to have a seat while he grabbed the necessary paperwork. I checked the time, 4:24 a.m. Suddenly, I heard a voice. An all too familiar voice.
"Jake?" I turned to see Dr. Martin standing across the lobby, clipboard in hand.
"Hey doc," I said, mustering up a smile.
"What happened?" he asked, almost a look of shock and horror on his face.
"Brittany... was in a car accident. She passed away this morning," I said. His expression dropped more than Dr. Green's. He pulled all 5 of us into a group hug. Dr. Green, who I knew as a friend came back and joined the hug. After about 5 minutes, we unclenched, sat down and really talked for the first time in a year. We talked about how we had been effected by Alvin's death, and now Brittany's. We talked about the support we had gotten from our friends at school and in the music industry. And most importantly, what we were going to do now.