Billy the Kid ~ imagines

003: Sickness

The worst thing to ever happen was when Kathleen married Henry, or so you thought. That was until Joe fell ill with consumption.

Consumption which was also known as Tuberculosis was a deadly disease that overtook its victims lungs causing them to cough and cough and cough until they finally were consumed by death.

After learning of Joe's sickness Billy did everything in his power to find a way to pay for a doctor to help nurse Joe back to life. But to no avail, Joe passed before Billy was able to help and the guilt he felt was almost unbearable.

When it came time for Joe's funeral Kathleen was a mess, her youngest son, her baby boy, had left this world. But her faith was still so admirable even in her darkest hour. Billy and I were the only things keeping her going in this world and we did everything in our power to help her through while also struggling ourselves.

As we stood over where they lowered Joe into the ground the three of us picked up a handful of dirt and spread it over his casket, a way to honor the boy we all loved. After standing over him for a bit longer we decided it was time to head back home.

We turned to leave and I intertwined Kathleen and I's arms while Billy wrapped an arm around his mother's shoulder and we began our walk. That was until we were stopped by filth walking the earth, Henry.

My heart began to beat quickly as rage bubbled in my throat. The audacity he had to even be here.

It wasn't long before he decided to speak, and I wish he hadn't, "I'm here to pay my respects". He quipped. Before Billy or I could say a word Kathleen rebottled, "What respects? You are too late. He is already buried". She spat at him.

"He's still my so-" He tried but was quickly cut off by Kathleen once again, "He is not your son! You barely knew him!". I was in awe of Kathleen's strength to put him in his place while she was barely able to stand. Then he attempted to pull the husband card, wrong move Henry.

Billy was furious.

Without making a sound he stepped in front of his mother and I, silently challenging Henry to come any closer to us. He didn't. He backed away like the coward he had always shown us he was and the three of us walked past him and continued on our previous task.

As nightfall approached we decided to gather around the kitchen table and tell about the good memories we had with our sweet Joe. How he was shy at times but once he was comfortable with you it was hard to get the boy to stop talking.

We laughed as we reminisced but as the reality set in that Joe was no longer with us the mood became somber as sadness overtook us once again. Kathleen was the first to speak and though her voice was laced with sorrow she was still filled with hope.

"Though times are rough right now we have to believe that all will be well and that we will get through this".

She always knew the right things to say. She stood and walked over to stand between the chairs that Billy and I occupied and she hugged both of us from behind. The child that was her blood and the one she raised as if she was.

Billy and I both leaned into her as her hug was warm and comforting and for a moment, it felt like everything really would be alright.

Oh how wrong we were.

Not long after Joe's passing Kathleen went back to work and I with her. It was another normal day of serving when out of nowhere Kathleen fell to the floor, weak as can be. I was by her side in an instant and my face paled at the thought of losing yet another mother figure.

"Someone please! Get a doctor!" I yelled, tears brimming my eyes, my voice laced with fear.

A doctor arrived shortly and examined Kathleen, I held her hand as he did so, softly rubbing circles with my thumb onto hers. Once the examination was completed the doctor stood, his face told me everything I needed to know before he even said a word.