Chapter Six

Mark got to the house and did something to Cassie. She started looking a little better. He was upset, not knowing what was going on. Dad let him put Cassie to sleep in one of the guest rooms and then I asked to talk to him in my room. I was scared to talk to him, especially since he was already mad and I had done more than my share to piss him off over the years, but I was scared for Cassie. She looked so tiny and frail when he picked her up and carried her out of my room.

"What do you want, Denise? I'm busy right now. I don't have time for your games," he snapped at me, coming back to my room.

"I think I know what happened to Cassie," I said, sounding less afraid of him than I really was.

"What happened, Denise?"

"I think she healed my heart again when I fell asleep during the movie."

"What do you mean healed your heart?"

"Mark, I know what Cassie can do. She told me years ago. I don't understand how she does it, but I think it's cool. But, she's been trying to heal my heart. I keep telling her not to, especially when I saw that when I was getting better she was getting sick, but she keeps doing it. She told me she's scared to lose me. I keep trying to tell her the doctors will find a way, even if I know they won't, but she won't stop."

"So, she's trying to keep you from dying, Denise?"

"Yes. She admitted it to me months ago."

"Why didn't you tell me then?!"

"I thought I could get her to stop! I've been trying to! But today, this is too much! I'm gonna die, I know that, and I know she can't stop that, but I don't want her to die with me! Please, just help her… Do something for her so she can't keep doing this. I don't want her to kill herself for a hopeless cause," I said looking him straight in the eyes.

His face softened.

"I'll find a way, Denise. But you may not be able to see her for a while. I'm sorry. Until I find a way to block her from using this ability on you, this may be the best way to protect her from herself."

I couldn't stop the tears from shedding. Cassie was my best friend. The only way to protect her was to keep her away from me?

"If it will keep her from killing her heart to try to save mine, I can live with that. Just tell her I'll always be her best friend and love her?"

"You're not gonna fight me on this? You've always been so close to her, Denise."

"I want her safe, Mark. She's not safe if she won't stop trying to heal me. She can't die for me."

"You're a better friend than I realized, Denise," Mark said as he hugged me. "I'll see if I can do something so she can get back to see you before things get any worse for you."

"Thanks."

Mark left the room and I heard him tell Dad he was gonna take Cassie home, that there was something that might help there. I watched from my window as Mark loaded Cassie into the back of his SUV and drove off, crying, not sure if I'd get a chance to see my best friend ever again.

Over the next few weeks, as the effects of whatever Cassie had done wore off on me, my body got weaker and weaker. Jeff and the others came to visit. Dad let Jeff redesign my bedroom to make me smile. He went crazy in my room, while I was put in one of the guest rooms for a few days. When I was put back in my room, it was as if I had a piece of the Imag-I-Nation in Texas with me. As Jeff hugged me, I pulled him onto my bed and we just marveled at his work. I soon fell asleep on his shoulder, wearing the WWE Jeff Hardy t-shirt that Jeff gave me and a pair of shorts.

I wasn't expecting to ever see Cassie again. Mark wasn't sure he'd be able to protect her from me. So, when the WWE came to town for Wrestlemania, I expected to see pretty much everyone but her. Ric Flair came and visited, bringing his kids with him. It was nice having him around. He and Paul were two of the only ones who could bring a smile to my father's face half the time. Paul and Stephanie came by.

It was nice getting to see everyone throughout the week. On Friday, the day before the Hall of Fame, I had to go to the doctor's office. Doctor Tristan had more bad news.

"Her test results show that she is on the brink of complete heart failure, Michael," he told Dad.

"I figured as much," I said to him.

"How could you know that, Denise?" Dad asked.

"I just knew. I could feel my body changing. I'm sorry, Dad. I tried to hold on for you."

"Pal, you've held on longer than anyone thought. I'm happy to still have you."

"It might be time to think about hospice care, Michael."

"No," I said. "I don't want that. I don't want to leave home."

"I don't want to let her go. She'll stay at home with me. I've already taken the time off."

"If you're sure," Doc Tristan said.

"I am. If there's nothing short of a miracle that can save her now, I want her to be at home with me."

"I understand," Doc Tristan replied.

Dad and I went to the Hall of Fame Ceremony and Wrestlemania that year. It was great to see things from the inside one last time. Until I had gotten there, I hadn't realized how much I had missed being backstage with everyone. We had a blast, and it was the last night out that Dad and I would have together.