Simon Says: Final chapter. Took awhile as I didn't want to just throw together a scene and call it a day. Thanks for sticking with Stephen, Jess and me during this little adventure.
This story obviously would make much more sense with the first three chapters under your belt. And a warning -- there is a bit of a flashback thing going on in this story.
Per usual, if your thing is more on the action side as opposed to the thought slow burn side then this will frustrate you.
I love hearing from people. Let me know what it did for you, even if you stay fully anonymous. Knowing this story positively impacted people is my only compensation.
Happy reading. :)
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The bright Spring day would have normally been a very happy one. Diane loved Spring. She wasn't very good at keeping a garden but she loved the smell of fresh flowers and the sight of dainty butterflies as they performed their little dances in the air. Our home sat out past much of civilization, so the chatter of birds remained largely uninterrupted by anything noisy or man-made. Normally this would be beautiful. Today there was an undercurrent of sadness which I simply could not shake. Nor did I feel I ever would.
I pulled up into our driveway and ran quickly around the car to help Diane out. The small army of doctors estimated that she would be with me for just a few more weeks, so they approved her return to her home where she would be the most comfortable. A hospice nurse would visit twice a day to help with medications (mostly for comfort) and any other needs that may have arisen.
I opened the car door and reached down, carefully taking her arm to help her stand. She playfully swatted my arm away. "Now, now, Stephen, I can handle this part." She smiled her sweet smile.
She tried to remain strong for me. I know it. She knew that my strength ebbed with each passing day. Each day that I saw her melting away just a little bit more. Each day that we took a step towards her no longer being a part of my life. Each day as she moved closer to being a memory.
She must have seen my sad look as she punched me again. "Look alive Stephen. I do need you for bell service!"
So I dutifully grabbed her luggage from the back of the car and walked protectively near her as she slowly approached our front door.
Her strength had slipped but she still could move around. She just was weak most of the day.
I dragged her bag into the house. She turned to me and jokingly gave me a dollar tip and not-so-jokingly a kiss. I just held her. "Thanks for that . . . "
"Which one? The tip or the kiss?"
I just smiled, dropping her bag, grabbing her hand and leading her into the living room.
I gently helped her to sit on the couch, pulling her legs up and then laying the comforter on her. "What can I get you?"
"You."
"No seriously? What can I get you?"
She smiled and pointed at me. She then turned her hand and crooked her finger motioning for me to come to her. I sighed, put on my best face and scooted in next to her. Her legs rested on my lap where I gently rubbed them.
"Is this good enough, princess?"
She smiled and nodded. "I am glad to be home. I missed everything here. Mostly the smell! Hospitals smell very mediciney . . . " She laid her head back and rested her eyes.
"Kiss me please."
"Where?"
She raised her eyebrow and smiled a mischievous smile. "Oooooh. I get to pick do I?"
I squeezed her leg with my hand.
She pointed to her lips. "Let's start here for now." And so I did. I leaned over and kissed her gently on her lips. Her lips parted and my lower lip slipped between hers. It was a little wet, very soft and without any concept of time. My tongue touched her upper lip a little, something that I know she loved. She smiled. "Someone is frisky!"
"Always when you are involved."
She kept her eyes closed. "I may sleep a little, Stephen. Would that be ok?"
"Yes sweetheart. As much as you like. I will be here."
I knew that the moving around to get here tired her out. It didn't take much to wear her down as of late. I was going to have be very careful. Somehow the logic in my mind ran that each moment I could spare her exerting energy equated to twice as much extra time tapped onto the end. I am pretty sure that is not how it worked but I needed some hope here.
I stared at her peacefully laying back. I was going to miss moments like this. And moments in the car. And in the kitchen. And outside. And everywhere. Any and all moments with her would be sorely missed.
I needed to keep it together. These would prove to be our final weeks together. I would not have any more time with her than that so each hour, each minute was a precious moment of happiness for us. But of course in the back of my mind all I could think about was what I would lose. And the low simmer of being pissed in general and pissed specifically at fate or God or whatever remained too.
I must have had a very sad expression on my face as she had opened her eyes and had reached up and held my cheeks, "Stephen, all will be fine sweetheart." I smiled but inside I was yelling that she was just saying that. That life was fucked up that the admirable sweet and giving woman before me would be taken by sickness when so many others so less deserving walk healthy and free. Fucking unfair.
And she was comforting me. The sick one. She was leading me into hope. Or at least trying. Hope proved to be a rather rare commodity these days.
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I ran into the hospital and practically barreled into the front information desk. "Where is the ICU??!!" I scared the poor older lady volunteer behind the desk. I made a mental note to go back and really apologize later. Maybe. Some time.
The lady regained her composure and tried to appear pleasant. She pointed to the right. "End of the hall, elevators up to the third floor, turn right and follow the signs."
"Thank you and sorry!" I yelled as I ran down the hall.
All of the awful states of being Jess could be in flashed before my eyes. I only knew she was in the ICU, which told me nearly nothing about how she REALLY was.
There are like six elevators here . . How in the hell is it taking so long??? The trip up could have lasted hours or seconds. My mind could only focus on if Jess was OK until my body could be engaged for movement again.
And engaged it was as I stepped off on the third floor and ran through the hallways until I entered the main ICU entrance. A nice looking woman sat behind the desk as if she was waiting specifically for me. I doubt that.
"Can I help you?" I tried to catch my breath as I placed my hands on the countertop. "Jess Foster please?"
