The Navigator

Part IV

Chapter 4 

It wasn't until I had come home from work the next day that I heard the news.  

I entered the apartment and throwing my bag down on the couch, walked over to the side table where a tank sat full of water. I leaned down and put my eye to the glass, grinning as my goldfish spun in a circle, flapping his fins at me. "Oh, hey buddy, I'm happy to see you too." I straightened and grabbed his food off of the window ledge, leaning over to add a few flakes to the water. "There you go, Bandit. That's my good boy. Were you hungry?"  

I stepped away from the table and strode into the kitchen, grabbing a granola bar off of the counter as I walked by. I was about to go into the bedroom and watch TV, when the flashing light of my phone module stopped me. I had missed messages.  

Crunching on the dry granola bar, I walked over and pressed the speaker button, listening as the first message came on. It was from Angie. "Hi Jax. I was just calling to tell you thanks again for the flour. My cookies turned out great and my sister's wedding reception was really...." I skipped to the message. That one wasn't drastic. I could listen to it later.  

The next message was from Chance inviting me to attend a party at his apartment that evening. I couldn't help but laugh as he said, "Come on Jax! You know you want to. There will be lots of hot babes.....and guys....if that sparks your interest more. Just come ok? Ok, bye."  

I reached the third message and was surprised to hear my mother's voice come over the phone. It sounded like she had been crying. "Hi sweetie, it's your mom. I just wanted to call and tell you that Janie was put in the hospital again last night. They think the cancer will finally win this time. Your father and I were just wondering if you could come down and see her before....well, you know.......anyway, let us know. We love you." 

The phone beeped, signaling the end of the messages, but I barely heard. I was still thinking about my mom's message. Janie? In the hospital again? And she was going to die this time, the doctor's were pretty sure. I ran a hand through my dark hair and blew out a long breath. Janie, my little sister, was dying. It wasn't like all of the other times when I didn't know the person who died, at least not on a personal level. This was my sister, and if I went to see her, I wouldn't be in control like I always was in those kinds of situations. I wouldn't get to see her soul. Another Navigator would come and take her and I would be on the mourning side, not knowing where she was or if she made it up there safely.  

I tried to calm myself down and think clearly. It would hurt. That was for sure. I would have to watch my little sister die, but I couldn't just not go. They were my family and I owed them everything. I would have to go...regardless of the pain of seeing what dying was like from the other perspective. 

Chapter 5 

I pulled up at the hospital in Pennsylvania and turned off my car, but stayed sitting behind the wheel for a moment. I took a few deep breaths to calm myself before I went in and then reached into the backseat to grab the present I had bought and wrapped for Janie.  

After I had entered the hospital doors, I headed straight for the service desk. The girl behind it looked me up and down on approach and seemed to see something she liked because she batted her eyelashes and asked, "Can I help ya, doll?"  

I ignored her attempt at flirting and asked quickly, "Do you know what room Janie Davis is in? It would be in Oncology."  

The nurse let out an irritated sigh at my lack of flirting and began to flip through the room number charts. Finally locating it, she tapped her long red fingernail on the number and said, "Here it is. Janie Davis. Room 223, 4th Floor."