Once Panic had left Vegas, I felt pressure leave my shoulders. I carried on with my life as normal. Brendon left after I stormed into my bedroom yesterday morning. Was it only yesterday that happened? It felt like it was longer.
I messaged Spencer and told him what had happened. I know that Spence was pissed with Brendon for doing what he did.
Yesterday evening, Spencer called me to tell me he had a huge fight with Brendon over it all. I certainly didn't want them both to fall out.
Anyway, life was normal again, whatever that is. I was working my shifts at the ER. I saw my friends went on a few dates. Yea, life was ticking along nicely.
One evening, I was on the night shift when a trauma was rushed in. I was on the trauma team. As soon as the patient was brought into the trauma room, I knew who it was. Sarah Orzechowski. Brendons girlfriend. I gasped and stepped away. I explained my involvement with her, and another nurse took over. I went to do minors.
Brendon and Spencer were here, along with Linda. I went over to them and led them to the family waiting room. I was carrying a tablet to get Sarah's details.
"What happened?" I asked.
"She fell." Brendon said. His face was so pale.
"We were rehearsing for this last show. Sarah was up in the nose bleeds. I have no idea why. She fell over the balcony. Landed on the mezzanine floor below." Brendon was sobbing now. I put an arm around him. Spencer and Linda were also crying.
"Ok, i will go and see what's happening. The info's been sent across to the trauma room, so they have some idea what they are dealing with." I said and left the room.
Brendon was an empty shell after Sarah died. Her injuries were just too severe for her to survive. She ended up as brain dead.
Fortunately, Sarah was an organ donor and went on to save many lives. It was not much comfort for Brendon, though. He totally went into himself. He wasn't writing music or anything right now. Spencer was very worried, as was I. I hadn't seen this side of Brendon in a long time. Since we were kids.
I went to see him one evening. I came straight from work. He answered the door. He looked terrible. Unshaven and drunk. His hair was a mess, and he stank of unwashed.
"Oh, it's you." Brendon snarled at me. He was trying to pick a fight to chase me away. He forgets I have known him a long time.
I walked in and threw myself on his couch. My head rested on the back of his couch. I closed my eyes and exhaled. I was trying to breathe the day away. I opened my eyes and saw the mess the house was in. Beer bottles were everywhere, empty takeout and pizza boxes. The house smelled really bad, too.
Standing back up, I marched Brendon to the bathroom.
"Why am I in here?" He asked.
"B, you need a shower, shave, and brush your teeth. Get in and I will get you some clean clothes. Then tidy the house and cook you some dinner."
"Guilty conscience making you do this, Lulu?"
"Why would I have a guilty conscience, Brendon?" He shrugged at me. I left him to have his shower. I rooted through his closet and got him some fresh clothes. I placed them on his bed and went to tidy the house. I opened some windows to air the house out. I picked all the trash up, dusting hoovering, and I even changed his bedding. I was mid stripping when Brendon walked into his bedroom, a towel around his waist. He looked better now he had had a shave. I smiled at him and carried on taking the sheets off. I carried them through to the laundry room and washed them.
I vacuumed whilst Brendon got dressed and then made us a stir fry for dinner.
We sat at the dining table.
"Are you feeling better now?" I asked.
"A little." Brendon admitted. He took hold of my hand. "Thank you, Lulu."
"You are welcome, B."
After that evening, I started visiting Brendon on a regular basis, along with Spencer Linda and Dallon. Bit by bit, Brendon was working through his grief. Spencer also suggested grief therapy. Brendon agreed and started seeing someone once a week.
When Brendon felt like he could, I took him to see Sarah. He hadn't been since the funeral three months ago. I hung back to give them some privacy. Brendon sobbed, apologised shouted swore, blamed himself, and then finally sat and talked to Sarah. When he was ready to go, he walked towards me. He looked spent. Brendon hugged me. I held him tightly.
