STURNIOLO TRIPLETS-one shots

Mary Lou Dies/ Worried About Her

Heyy
This is kinda similar to the worried about marylou one, but this was a specific request from Zoeydannie another request kinda put together. Tysm!!!
TW: main character death, swearing, blood, mentions of a car crash

Ps. I wrote this while listening to Lewis Capaldi so I feel like that explains itself.
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" Matt. Matt, please wake up." Nick whispered, frantically shaking his brother. The only light illuminating the room was from the crescent moon above. The crisp air bit at any exposed skin. Matt rolled over sleepily, shoving his head in the pillow.
" Wh't is it?" He mumbled.
" I-it's mom." Nick's voice cracked, breaking his composure. He felt like screaming and crying at the world, but he knew if he didn't keep it together, no one would
That seemed to wake the groggy boy. He sat up, hair wild. " Whaddya mean?"
" It's- she - fuck. She's in the h-hospital. We need to go. Now." The words were firm but his voice showed a hint of shakiness. " Go get in the car. Chris is already waiting."
Matt tried to speak, tried to say something to numb the rollercoaster his heart was currently enduring. It felt like it was shoving itself up his throat. No words came.
Nick watched him pale in complexion and begin bouncing his leg anxiously.
" C'mon." He grabbed his arm and pulled him up towards the door. For a second Matt stood, frozen on the spot. Then he began to walk, then ran out of his bedroom and down the stairs.
" Fuck." He ran a hand through his hair, eyes wild. " Fuck. What do we need? Medical card-"
Nick shook his head and thrusted Matt's jacket into his arms. " Already got it. It's cold out." The two stepped into the night air and made their way to the car parked on the edge of the driveway. Matt slid into the passenger seat while Nick sat in the back. Chris was at the wheel, gripping it with white-knuckled fingers. He glanced at Matt and nodded, his cheeks flushed. Matt couldn't help but notice the sheen of tears glistening in his brother's eyes.
" Are you sure you're good to drive?" Nick asked. " I can-"
" No." Matt and Chris answered at the same time as the car pulled out of the driveway and down the road.
The silence in the car was thick with worry, an uncomfortable, churning feeling brewing. Matt was hunched over with his head in his hands, mumbling something to himself.
It sounded a lot like breathe.
Chris had his eyes trained on the road, driving with uncharacteristically careful maneuvers. They must have been going at least fifteen over the speed limit.
" What-" Chris gulped. " W-what happened?" It was barely over a whisper. An answer he didn't want, but needed.
" Um." Tears gathered in Nick's eyes as he took a laborious breath. Hold it together, calm down, she'll be ok... " S-she-" He choked a little, nearly losing it right then and there, in the backseat of the minivan. " Car crash." He finally managed. He'd been the one to hear the phone ringing and answer it.
The word sat heavy in the air, one they'd all heard but never related to.
That had changed now.
" What if-" Matt sobbed suddenly, tears trickling down his face. His heart felt like it was running a marathon, going at least two hundred beats per minute.
" Shut up." Chris cut in harshly, anticipating where that sentence was going. " Don't say shit like that. She'll be fine. She has to be fine."
" I know... just..." He trailed off, wiping his eyes on his shirt. " Fuck."
By this point they were pulling into the hospital parking lot. Chris quickly turned off the car and, with a grave look, the three stepped out of the car and walked to the doors.
" Hello, how can I help you?" The receptionist asked, barely sparing the shaking boys a glance.
" We- we're here for Mary Lou?" Nick stepped forwards. The lady looked confused and wrinkled her nose. " S-she was in a car crash? Tonight?"
" Oh." The woman suddenly looked up at the three, her eyes crinkling in sympathy. " Right..."
" Can- can we see her?" Chris piped up.
The lady pulled something up on her computer and read for a couple seconds. Her eyebrows crinkled more and more as she read.
" I'm sorry, boys. She's in critical condition, so it's not safe-"
She was interrupted by a nurse rushing into the room.
" Sturniolo?" He asked, directing the question to Nick.
" Y-yes. What's going on- can we please see-"
" Come back with me." He said, giving the receptionist a meaningful look. " She's been asking for you."
What could that mean?
The three huddled together and walked briskly after him. They were sure if they were to break apart, each would collapse.
" She's in here." The nurse pulled a curtain away from the room in critical care. " You-you should be warned, it's not-"
The brothers were deaf to his warnings and forged ahead into the room. And Mary Lou–
It was a sight so horrific that when they were later asked about it no one could remember. They'd blocked it out to save themselves from the horrible details.
But there was blood. And lots.
Broken bones.
A breathing mask.
The monitor was going off, her heart rate dropping rapidly.
" Mom!" Chris wailed first, running to the side of her bed. " Oh my god, Mom, please no. Oh god please no-"
Matt and Nick followed quickly, surrounding her bed. Tears fell fast down all of their cheeks.
" Why isn't she bandaged up?" Matt demanded. " Help her!"
A doctor had walked in at this point, and was shaking his head sadly.
But everyone in that room knew what it meant.
There was no point trying to save her.
She was too far gone.
" Fuck you!" Nick yelled, grasping Mary Lou's limp hand in distress. He wasn't really sure who he was talking to. The doctors? The other driver? The universe and its cruel fate?
The room exploded in the agony of the brothers.
" Please, can't you try?"
" There has to be a way. Anything!"
" Mom, please."
" Mom-"
The figure on the bed opened her eyes a crack. It seemed to take a great effort.
" My-" She gasped, eyes roaming over the three of them individually, then together. " -boys."
" We love you, Mom." Nick whimpered.
" So much." Chris echoed. He didn't know what to say. What do you possibly say to someone for the last time? Something to sum up the enormity of their life.
" Please try, Mom. You can't leave us here. Please-" Matt begged hysterically.
Mary Lou smiled wanly. " I tried. I tried so hard." She breathed, reaching to stroke Matt's face. " I almost let go, but-but the thought of you three-" Her voice was gravelly. " I couldn't leave without saying goodbye."
" Mom-"
Suddenly the machine tracking her heart dropped quickly. A siren started going off. The three were pushed out of the way and doctors rushed forwards.
What were they doing?
It looked like they were- taking the oxygen mask off?
" Hey!" Chris screamed, running towards them. " What the hell are you doing-" he was grabbed and restrained by a nurse. " Please! Please leave it on her. She can't die. No. No. Stop!" He was hysterical, kicking and pushing to be let free. The nurse just held him back gently.
Matt was frozen in place, his breathing much too fast. He felt dizzy... and lightheaded.
Nick was sobbing into his hands.
Beep.....beep....beep-
The machine went quiet.
Three things happened at the exact same time.
Matt fainted, crashing to the floor.
The nurse holding Chris slipped a needle into his neck to tranquilize him and avoid him from hurting himself. He slipped to the floor to join Matt..
And Nick- Nick just stood there, watching his life crumble around him, wishing he could escape.
For the first time in his life, Nick wished he was a bird. Wished he could take off and fly away.

*
The funeral was supposed to be small but ended up with lots of people spilling in and sharing seats to say goodbye to Mary Lou.
Each of the triplets talked, trying their hardest to do her justice.
It was just so hard to package the huge emotions into the simple lines of words. Sentences.
And when it was over, the family huddled together, an empty space that used to hold a life beside them.
But she was still there.
In some way. Somehow.

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Tysm for reading loves <33
Also 7k views?! That's French toast 🤙🏻
Lmk what u think of this one!!