Before You Say Goodbye

CHP 30: WITHERED

Catherine was sound asleep on the hospital bed, unaware of the time passed, unaware of the eternity of time yet to pass; as her soul slowly and gently escaped from her body. Death's cold embrace took away the warmth of her life, everything was dead silent, no sound was heard, nothing mattered anymore, her final exit had its own doors. Her chest remained still with no flicker of life, cold as the weather her body became tight. She suddenly collapsed like the leaves in autumn, leaving behind everything, everyone else, to go to a better place, alone. She had left forever. There was a surefire sign showing that she was indeed gone. FOREVER GONE.

Catherine Shawns had left behind everyone. Once the news was heard, there was endless sorrow, incessant tears, forlorn and melancholy in the background with her loved ones begging her to come back, but despite all their tears and insistence, what had happened couldn't be undone now. Right there, in front of their eyes, lay cold the body of beloved Catherine Shawns (15th February 2001 to 3rd November 2020 AGE: 20)

As Catherine began her journey to abode; leaving behind her family, friends, with nothing but a corpse, in which there were organs and flesh, but no soul. The cause for her death was said to be Cancer. The exact reason for such a sudden demise was not known. Maybe the cancer cells duplicated at an abnormally rapid pace, maybe the cancer was detected too late, maybe the treatments never worked. Countless questions were arising in everyone's minds, but, there were no answers. All we can say is, God's plan worked, just like it always does.

A look of horror was evident on Mr. Shawns' face as he picked up the call from the hospital at 3 a.m. He knew that there was definitely no good news, but this...this was agonizingly devastating! As they rushed to the hospital, they saw Cheryl in tears and Michel completely expressionless and in a clear trauma. Mrs. Shawns collapsed even before entering the room and Mr. Shawns felt his knees buckle right below him. There was no way! This is certainly a horrible nightmare and nothing else!

What a vicious game fate plays! There stood in front of her lifeless body, the parents of Catherine. Her father who had opposed her from following her passion, her mother who was unable to give Catherine the happiness and luxurious life she deserved. There stood her parents, regretting the decisions they had made, crying their hearts out in despair, questioning their own ability to be good parents.

Mrs. Shawns had almost become like a flower which is mere seconds from withering away. She couldn't bear to even look at anyone, she refrained from speaking even a word; and just sat there, motionless. Her Father regretted every single of his decisions with respect to Catherine and her future, every restriction he put on her, every mistake he made was flashing before his eyes.

Despite all this, Catherine loved her parents a lot, and she always will. They always did their best and hoped and wished that Catherine be happy in life. Not only this, but recently, her father had finally accepted Cat following her passion for music and making it her profession. Her parents had even decided to gift her a very high-quality, branded guitar. They had planned on surprising her with it once she had cleared 2nd year of graduation and had been selected by an internship training program. Her parents had accepted her pursuing music, but the guilt of not being able to say all these things, the guilt of not having understood her emotions before, stood right in front of them, questioning them, burning them inside out. The entire atmosphere in the hospital felt pitch black, dull, and hopeless. Who knows what the Almighty had decided when he just took Catherine away; but then again, this is how death is...you know it will come one day, but when it does, it's always sudden and you are never ready for it, You never will be...