New York- Where Dreams are Made

Chapter 30- Night Terrors

I sit quietly by a hospital bed. I see my once beautiful, lively, caring mother hooked up to several tubes. "She can go whenever she wants. It's all up to her. Talk with her. Persuade her to come." They said. The doctors. I hate doctors. My father never entered the room. He didn't want to see her. "Mom..." My tiny high pitched voice said. "You can let go. I will miss you. I want you to stay. But you don't have to. If you want to let go that's ok. You can be with grandma, and with aunt Violet. I'll miss you momma." Her finger twitched ever so slightly. IT TWITCHED. I called for the nurse. "She moved nurse Nancy!" I called. She shook her head and left the room. I sat back down. "I don't think papa wanted to see you today. He is kinda sad. I don't like it when he's sad." I held her hand. "Please don't let go." I heard a consistent beep and saw her chest deflate like a balloon. Nurses filled the room and I let out a small scream. BOOM!

"Charlotte? CHARLOTTE!" Someone yelled my name. I screamed, "MOM!" My breaths were shaky and I was sitting on something cold. I'm on the floor. "CHARLOTTE OH MY GOD ARE YOU OK?!" Katie rushed to my side. She called for someone but I put my head in my arms and blocked her out. I wanted to block the world out. I wanted to never see or hear the world again. Tears rolled down my pale cheeks and onto the dull hospital floor. "Katie what's going o- CHARLOTTE!" Mitch and Angel knelt beside Katie. I tried so hard to breathe. I heard Mitch call for Anthony and Anthony call for the doctor. Don't call anyone. Let me just sit here. I let out small chocking sobs. I whispered to myself. "mom...mom....don't let go." I begged for her to come back under my breath. Strong arms lifted me back onto the white bed. They talked to me or tried at least. "Charlotte..." Everything was quiet except for this one voice. "Charlotte you need to talk to me." I listed my head from my arms and felt more tears come down my face. You're being ridiculous. I saw my friends in their pajamas with messy hair and tearstained faces. "I'm sorry..." I said putting my head back into my arms. A warm hand grabbed mine. "It's ok Charlotte but are you?" I looked back up. Anthony had tears in his blue eyes. I whimpered weakly. "Anthony I saw my mom..." His face turned from worry to sadness. He hugged me gently. "I'm sorry..." I took a deep breath and buried my face in his shoulder. Soon I felt more arms around me. Everyone had enclosed me in a warm embrace I had never felt before. The warmth, the strength, I felt Anthony's arms tighten around me. We sat there for minutes just trying to shield each other from the past that haunted all of us. We eventually broke free. We let go too soon. The words still rang in my head,

"Don't let go...."