Anchor *scomiche*

Chapter 2 - Family Together

I'm depressing even myself but it will get better. It's the ol' it gets worse before it gets better cliché. 

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"Mitch," says Jess as she gets off the plane. As soon as they hug, she begins to cry. Mitch held her tight and felt his own eyes get wet. He had already been home two days, which had given him some time to adjust. He and Jess had always been very close, and she knew from the look on his face that he would have nothing encouraging to say. Her face crumpled as the tears kept flowing. People gave them a wide berth, looking almost uncomfortable as they passed by. They had no idea that their world had just tilted on its axis.

"Come on, we can talk in the car." Mitch wrapped his arm around his sister's shoulders and led her to the luggage area. She sniffled and clung to his arm. Even though Jess was older than him by a couple of years, he felt like older protective brother right now.

"I haven't heard anything other than he collapsed and was in the hospital. Where's mom?"

"She's at the hospital with dad." He dreaded this. He didn't think he could handle her reaction to what he was about to tell her. He'd been able to mostly keep it together but could feel the enormous internal tidal wave approaching. He just wasn't sure how much damage it would cause, and it scared him.

His dad had said in the past that when he died, they could mourn but for just a little while. He'd made them promise that they would not linger in their grief, and that they would go on with their lives. He said it so matter of fact that they just rolled their eyes at him and said okay to appease him. No one imagined that this day would ever come, and none of them weren't sure they could keep this promise.

After they retrieved her luggage, they walked to the car hand in hand. "Mitch, just rip the Band-Aid off, I know it's bad. I can't imagine what mom is feeling right now."

They got into the car, but Mitch didn't start it. He turned to her and grabbed her hands. He couldn't look her in the eye at first but fixated on the glove compartment instead. The rock that had taken up space in his stomach grew bigger if that were even possible. He drew in a shaky breath.

"Jess... it's not good. The doctor came into the room shortly before I came to get you. He has no brain function and won't survive this. His brain was without oxygen too long." As he said this his sister broke down and he pulled her in for a tight hug. "I'm sorry." He apologized like the doctor had apologized to them, but he didn't know what else to say. He couldn't fight the tears that fell down his cheeks. They cried together. Cried for the unfairness of it all, their mother, them, and their dad laying in the hospital bed.

After a while they let each other go and sat in silence, each within their own thoughts. Mitch swallowed the lump in his throat as he recalled another conversation with his dad. It was shortly before he had broken off his most recent relationship.

"Dad, I think there's something wrong with me. Matt and I have gotten along so well the last six months. We've been more on the casual side, but he's been hinting at wanting to go to the next level. I don't know if I'm ready for it. I'd die before I lead him on. I really like him, but the thing is he's not the first person I've broken up with because they've wanted to get serious."

"Son, I can't tell you what to do, it's solely your decision. Ask yourself questions and be honest with the answers. Do you want them to stay when they leave to go home? Do you truly look forward to seeing and talking to them? Does your heart speed up when you touch or are looking at them? Do you feel happy when you think of getting serious or even just being with them? If you answer no to any of them, or are even doubting, then you have your answer."

"The thing is that he wouldn't be the first person I broke it off with. Try the fifth. For some reason I can't get past the casual stage, I'm starting to worry there's something wrong with me. You met mom in high school and that was it for you."

"It's rare that people meet someone the first time, or even the second or third, and can see themselves having a future together," his dad had said with conviction. "Don't settle until you DO find that someone who gets your heart going. You might feel like there is something wrong with you, but you're doing the right thing for you and the other person. It will happen when you least expect it."

Jess broke Mitch out of his memory. "Come on, I need to see him and mom." She blew her nose and sat stiffly with her head turned away as she stared out the window. This was his queue to turn the car on and start heading to the hospital.

*****

"Oh, God, Jess," his mom got up from her chair to give her a tight hug. "You're here." She sniffled. "Both of my babies are here. I don't know if I could get through this without you. Mitchy, come here." She pulled them in until they were in a hug. Mitch felt like he and Jess were children again. This is what their mom would do when she said good morning and good night, without fail.

Jess broke from the hug and sat down on the bed beside their dad. She took his hand and just sat there quietly while tears fell down her face. "This can't be." She squeezed his hand, expecting him to squeeze back. All she got was nothing. His hand was cold and lifeless. She wanted his eyes to open and for him to look at her with a smile. The whir of the ventilator was the only sound in the room as the other two stood back to give Jess some space.

Her and her husband had gone to Okinawa four months ago. She talked to her parents on the phone of course, but it wasn't the same as being able to see them. "I just want you to wake up, dad. It's Jess, and you need to wake up so we can visit. You can't die on us! This is so unfair!" She leaned over and cried. "Just wake up."

His mother was faced toward the wall crying. Mitch walked over and laid his hand on his sister's shoulder. He felt sick to his stomach with anguish; he knew there was nothing he could say that would help, so he said nothing.

"Kids, I need to talk to you about something." His mom turned after wiping her nose with tissue. "The doctor came back in after you left, Mitch. Your dad is a registered organ donor, and she talked to me about him becoming one. I... I can't think rationally right now, but you two need to know that this is what he wanted." She swallowed as though she were going to be sick. "They don't know what can be donated until tests are done."

"Organ donor? He's really not coming back is he," Jess whispered.

The door to the room opened and Scott entered with some supplies. He saw Jess and introduced himself. "Hello, I'm Scott, your dad's nurse. You must be Jess... your mom told me you were coming all the way from Okinawa."

Jess nodded but didn't look at him. "Yes, I'm Jess." Her gaze remained on her father's hand clasped with hers. "Scott... um... I guess my dad was... is on the organ donation registry. How does that work?" She looked at Mitch and he gave her the smallest of smiles.

"Yes, so the registry for Texas is called Donate Life. They have their own specialized team that coordinates everything once a patient's medical team has signed over care. In your father's case, he will still be cared for by hospital staff. A critical care nurse will always be taking care of him, and doctors will be here to write orders as necessary. They are here around the clock until they have determined what is viable, and that recipients have been secured."

Mitch stared at Scott the whole time he spoke but not really hearing what he was saying. He looked over at his mother and sister, both having similar looks. It's not that he didn't understand what was being said. There was a part of his brain that was still in denial and wished that it wasn't his father Scott was talking about. He cleared his throat and looked at his mom. "We need to carry out his wishes, mom." He looked to Jess, and she nodded without looking at him.

Scott nodded in acknowledgment. "I can get this started for you. Someone from Donate Life will be here tomorrow morning just to talk and answer any questions you have. I will leave you alone for a bit, I know that this has been a very hard day for all of you. I'm so very sorry for your loss, he sounded like an incredible man. Your mom has been telling me stories about him," he said with a smile to her. He glanced at Mitch since Jess hadn't looked up from her father's hand clasped with hers. "Ring if you need anything."

"Thank you," said Mitch with a half-smile.