The Wings

Why Zac? Why?

Brina

IT WAS no use. There was nothing we could do. We stood quietly outside of the ICU hanging on a thin thread of hope that there would be news. We had been there for three days straight just waiting and watching. Finally, the parents came out. The father shook his head and the mother fell into the bosom of her sister. She sobbed quietly and I watched. A tear trickled from my eyes as I sat down on a hospital chair in the hall.

I realized that he wasn't going to make it. It was too late and there was nothing anybody could do for him. The doctors were just keeping him comfortable until his last breath......

The circumstances surrounding the injury of my cousin Issac or Issy weren't comprehensible. It happened so fast. I received a call from my father that worried me one afternoon when I had just left lessons. His tone of voice was solemn but shaky. It sounded like wavering hope. From the tone of his voice I thought that someone had died. But when he proceeded to talk I thought it was my mom or Zoya, that was in trouble. But when he said Issy, I felt a little better; not knowing how serious it was.......

Now I regret ever being happy that it wasn't mother or Zozo that was in the hospital, I feel terrible for even thinking about his unimportance that day. More tears fell and I quickly swept them away hoping that uncle Vince would hear better news than the thoughts I had swirling in my head.

He slowly headed up to the group of family and friends who were concerned about Zac's health. His eyes were bloodshot and had dark circles. He looked like a tired bandit. His brown skin has an unhealthy look. He sighed heavily and leaned against the wall placing his hands behind his back.

 "So," he began, " There will be no Martinique. We can't move him. If we do he is going to die. His eyes have stopped responding to light and his brain activity has significantly decreased. He is bleeding from his ears, nose, mouth and anus because his body is not accepting the blood. " 

He paused for a minute trying to console himself and look strong. But I knew he wanted to cry hell I wanted to. Right now I just wanted to wake up from the horrible nightmare that was unfolding before my eyes. He pressed both lips together and batted his eyes.

 "The doctor says there's nothing they could do for him anymore. They're just keeping him comfortable until they can't anymore. It doesn't look good. The doctor said to prepare for the worst."

That was it I looked into the distance. Castries below were lit up brightly and shine as usual. Life doesn't stop when people are dying or dying. Nor did it care. I walked over to the railing overlooking the Castries basin and I let the tears flow. I cried as the realization but me like a tidal wave. Issy was dying and I'll never see him again.

I cried, cried and cried for hours. I moved from place to place. My mother didn't want me crying by her so she shewed me away, for fear she would start crying. So I resorted to my father for comfort and cried in his arms.  

"I-t's n-not fair!!!!" I sobbed softly while he rubbed my back in soft circles.

I could see he wanted to cry but he sucked it trying to be strong for all of us. I hugged him tighter as I rested my head on his chest and spotted my sister seated down on the hospital provided chairs with her head down. I knew she was crying but she didn't want anyone to know. My little sister was like that, sometimes private, sometimes loud and boisterous.

We stayed at the hospital for another three hours then we decided to leave. It was midnight. On the way to the jeep I was feeling a little better, still sad but alive. I decided to share my theory with Daddy.

 "Dad..remember when Mike died along with the three other people that Easter weekend? Or when the two girls from Sir Arthur Community College died? The Three Winds were there. Something just isn't right about these two situations."