On The Run: Part Two

Chapter Fifty - "Goodbye"

My heart sunk.

He slowly walked over to my bed, his eyes filled with tears.

“I’m so sorry,” he choked, as he reached my bed. He held onto the bed and hugged my lifeless body to himself, as he cried into my hair, “I’m so sorry.”

What the hell was he sorry for? I was the one dying.

Jay got up and left the room, his expression grief-stricken. At least now I knew, right?

*

Vinnie showed up next. He’d been to visit a few times, but now he came with Courtney.

Did she leave Australia for me?

Her face was simply hard to look at.

“Oh God!” she exclaimed as she walked into the room. Jake and Caroline got up as she walked in, leaving her alone with me.

“Oh my God, Chloe,” she cried, her blue eyes leaking with tears.

She said nothing for so long, and then slowly, she climbed onto the bed next to me, and cried onto my shoulder. Trust Court to use me to her advantage.

I walked over and ran my hands soothingly down her back.

“It’s okay,” I murmured. It wasn’t.

“You’d better wake up. I did a whole itinerary and everything for Europe. We’re going to go shopping for cute English guys for me, while you lord your intelligence over anyone we don’t approve of. So, wake up,” she whispered.

I smiled sadly. “Oh, Court. I’m so sorry,” I murmured, holding onto the bed rails for composure. I felt like I was dying a slow, painful death.

Well, I was. Literally and metaphorically.

The nurse walked in right then.

“Hello Miss, I’m going to need to change her dressing.”

“Is she going to be okay?” Courtney asked, as she sat up.

The nurse gave her a sad smile, “I don’t really know much, but if it’s any consolation, she’s not getting any worse.”

I snorted.

So did Courtney.

She headed for the door, and turned back to look at me, “Bye Chloe. Wake up soon.”

Would that be the last time I ever saw her? Would it be the last time she saw me?

I felt the waterworks begin again and I shut my eyes tightly, slowly but surely, feeling the environment transform.

*

I looked up to find myself in a church. An actual church. Who knew the last time I’d been in one? It might have been my baptism, maybe – a day which of course, I don’t remember.

“Lord please, bring her back to us; heal her so that she might wake up soon.”

I looked over at the pews at the sound of Ricky’s voice. It was almost a whisper, but I could hear him.

Fitch was sitting next to him, staring up at the stained glass window.

I looked over at her, “What are we doing here?”

“You wanted to see him,” she replied, sitting down.

I slowly walked over to Fitch and crouched in front of him, as I took his hands and held on so tight, I was surprised he didn’t feel it.