The Last Year of Her Life

The sounds of monitors beeping and medical personnel talking panicked Mona. In the span of time they worked, Billie dreamt of heaven.

"Welcome to Heaven, Puddin'."

Her mother, Beatrice, welcomed Billie to the gate of heaven.

"Am I dead?"

"That depends on the Boss. He decides who stays and who goes. Personally, you have a life worth living down there. Your friend is praying you live. I like her."

"Mona is ferociously protective and loyal. She is everything a sister is and then some."

"I am sorry that his kids never loved us."

"No worries, Mama. It's okay."

"I know what he did and I'm sorry you're alone now..."

The doctors tried to bring her back.

"Two Migs of Atropine, Stat!"

"Mama, I don't know if I want to go."

"Honey, I love you. He says it's not your time yet. You have more to accomplish. I love you."

 "I love you too, Mama."

"I'm here for you always."

She went to kiss her mother and awoke with a gasp. Monitors that flat lined started again. Doctors saw her blinking.

"She's coming back."

Mona and Andy sat outside the room where they heard all the chattering and clamour. Mona wept in Andy's arms. She looked at him, eyes soaked and pleading.

"Did she die?"

Andy looked at Mona.

"God didn't want her. I hear monitors beeping again."

"Praise be to Jesus. I will kill Tom and Josh and whoever else hurts my precious Billie. She's the bestest friend I ever had. I'd make them realize that taking a sweet soul like hers should be reason to kill them and get away with it."

Andy smiled and wiped her eyes before kissing her cheek.

"You wouldn't be the only one in that firing line, darling. Dan, you, me and some other people would be in the firing line for that."

The doctor came out to talk to Andy and Mona.

"I want to tell you that Miss Lind had flat lined for a few seconds. We brought her back and she's being moved to ICU. Her doctors have been notified and they're consulting a neurosurgeon. Something on the MRI they did a while ago troubles me so we're consulting a Doctor Bartlett."

Mona and Andy worried. Dan sat in the chapel as Tom entered,

"How is she?"

"What do you care?"

"I care more than you think."

"That's why you told her about your girlfriend."

"Ex girlfriend now. Only thing she wanted was my money. I don't need that."

"Well, you almost killed Billie."

Tom looked at the cross.

"I did a lot of messed up things in this life."

"Your drugs, your drinking, you're constant with women thing; yeah, you messed up."

'I should go for a while. You treat her better than I ever could."

"Damn Straight, I do. She loved you until you almost killed her. What the hell was wrong with you?"

"I honestly don't know."

"I could tell you."

"Go ahead and tell me."

"You're high all the time. You drink when you're not high and if it has two legs and is vaguely female you chase it. How about you stop chasing? What made you like this?"

Tom, looking upset, glared at Dan.

"Nothing made me like this,"

"That's a lie in a sanctuary of God."

"Let Him take me. I deserve it."

"Tom, we both know that's not true."

"I don't deserve to have my life ended because I hurt the one woman who loved me no matter what idiotic, foolish, dumbass thing I ever did. That there sounds twisted. I'm sorry but my stuff is goin in storage and you can rent my room at the end of the week. Tell her I love her."

Tom started walking out of the room. Vikki, his boss's wife, stopped him.

"Where the hell are you going?"

"I'm leaving."

"The hell you are!"

"Stop me."

"Thomas Capiati, you don't deserve her love. You never did. Thing is though, she does love you. Somehow, somewhere, some way, she loves you. You, however, are the reason she is gonna get help."

"What do you mean get help?"

"She had an MRI done. They found a tumor on her brainstem. You're lucky."

"How am I lucky?"

"You were given a chance to fix things. Now, fix them. Don't move out, don't get involved with Billie. Just be there for her when and if she needs a friend, and one other thing."

"What?"

"Quit everything cold."

"I can't do that."

"Start praying, amico."

Vikki, Dan and Tom all look at the crucified Jesus in the chapel.