Natural Disasters

Chapter 8: Day 11 ("Good Memories")

When a man loses his wife, He is called a widower. When a woman loses her husband, she is called a widow. When a child loses her parents, she is an orphan. But when a parent loses his child... There is no name for this type of pain. It is hard to live and has no name. ~Major Bloomberg.

There was a voice echoing in my mind "Ellie! Stay with me, please!". I tried to open my eyes, but there was pain that was stopping me. It soon went gloomy.

Heather's point of view:

Something was wrong. I see that our neighbor, Derrek is pacing back and forth, crying. Daddy was scratching the back of his neck. That lady Lory left when this truck with the flashing lights came to pick up mommy. They seem like good people. I see mommy's ma and papa crying into each other's arms. I had no clue where mommy is. I grabbed Ally's hand and walked over to the waiting room. I saw Aprilia and called her over "why is everyone crying?" I asked. "Oh darling, your mother is getting surgery done. Don't worry, she won't die on us" she said. I heard the word 'die' that came from her mouth. Oh no, is mommy going to die?

Jerry's point of view:

This is my entire fault... if I didn't sleep with my co-worker than none of this would happen. No wait? This is Derrek's fault. He was the one who came into her life! He was the one who moved next door to us! He was the one who touched my wife! I see him crying in the corner. He is still a pathetic piece of sh*t like when in high school. I stomped over to him and swung at him. Except he caught my fist "you think this is a time for a fight? You know you may be her husband, but she is still my best friend. She is my best friend who I fell in love with, but you were the one who asked her out first. You tried to push me away so I wouldn't be part of her life. Either get the hell out of this hospital and cool off or leave this hospital to your second family like a coward" he said. I sung my fist back and left the hospital. My daughters ran after me, but I kept on walking without saying 'bye'.

Derrek's point of view:

Jerry stormed out like a quitter. I wanted him to leave before someone got hurt like Ellie did. I should have not told Aprilia about how I slept with Ellie. She ruins everything! Whether if Ellie is alive or not, I'm going to get another divorce. Ellie is going to make it through this. Reminiscences started to go through my mind. Ellie stormed off, but suddenly she slipped on a black ice. Everything just stopped. She didn't scream in agony. I saw her blood spilling out of her body, down the curb. Jerry and I ran to her, but I think I ran the fastest. Ally ran out because she saw something out of the window. She saw her mother on the ground, Jerry panicking, and saw me holding her up, trying to stop the blood from flowing. I yelled to her to get some help. She stood there in shock. I hope this doesn't scar her. Jerry's father ran out and saw us. He quickly ran to the phone and dialed 911. The ambulance got here in about 3 minutes or less. They had to unglue me from her so they could help her. Jerry and I went in the back of the ambulance; which was very uncomfortable. I saw the speedometer said that we were going about 100 miles per hour to the hospital. I hear the electrocardiograph in the ambulance keeping up with her heart. Her heart stopped for a few minutes, but then it came back then went out again till we got to the hospital. I hope she makes it or I'll feel guilty till the day I die. One of the nurses came walking out of the operating room. She called for Ellie's husband. I remember I sent him out of the hospital. I went up to her "her husband left for some air. I don't know when he'll be back, but I'm a good friend of hers". Her parents ran up to the nurse and introduced themselves to the lady. She sighed "well... Ellie took a painful fall on the ice. She is doing well, but-". She stopped, thinking of how she is going to state the bad news. "But-But what? What is the bad news?" her mom asked. The nurse looked at us "she needs a C-section, immediately". Ellie's mother fell to the ground, but luckily her husband and I caught her just in time. "Do what you need to do nurse, just-just do what you need to do" Ellie's father whispered lightly before he walked back to the chair with his wife. I looked at the doctor, trying to hold my tears back "Is-is the baby going to be ok?". She looked at me, trying to hide those words back "I have no idea, but either the child would be in serious condition and need extreme help or—you know, I should get back and help". She rushed back to the operating room. I stood there in shock. How is Ellie going to take it if her child doesn't make it? Aprilia walked up to me and put her hand on my shoulder "Sweetie, let's go. If we leave now, then we can get home soon before rush hour. I have a hair and a dentist appointment tomorrow that I need to get to so I need my beauty sleep". I turned around at her "HOW CAN YOU BE SO COLD-HEARTED! MY BEST FRIEND JUST SLIPPED ON ICE AND NEEDS A C-SECTION! ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE!" I yelled. She looked at me furious "oh you care about her more than me, huh? I've kept you in shape since you had your break-up with; what's her name Dahlia!" I kept telling her to shut up, but she wasn't listening. She kept blurting out things that she knew I would get mad at "When your child died of cancer, that wasn't my fault! It was yours! If you didn't-" I yelled at her louder than my lungs couldn't handle. Her face went white like a ghost. I never yelled at a woman before, but it felt really good that I got that out. The whole hospital stopped speaking and watched us. "Get out of this hospital, pack up your things and go somewhere where you're needed!" I whispered. She grabbed her coat from the chair and ran off. I have no clue why I decided to marry her. Maybe it was because I wanted to get over Dahlia and my child or get over Ellie. Well, I'm glad one of my problems is gone. Heather walked up to me and pulled the end of my jacket to get my attention. I looked at her and squatted down "is mommy going to die?" she said crying. I put my hand on her cheek and smiled "no, dear. She's going to be fine". "What about Derrek?" she asked. "Are you talking about me?" I questioned. "No, in mommy's tummy... our new baby brother" she said. I stood in shock "I don't know, but we have to think positive". She smiled and gave me a hug, crying in my jacket. Did Ellie name her child after me or was it a coincidence?

3 hours have gone by, sluggishly. I told Jerry's parents to go home and get some rest. I have no clue where Jerry went, but I'm guessing he's probably somewhere at a bar or something. Ellie's parents decided to do the same with Heather and Ally. I decided to stay until I knew Ellie was fine and awake. I slept in a chair as her surgery went on. I felt someone tap on my shoulder till I woke up. My eyes opened slightly, finding a nurse trying to wake me up. I sat back up, not saying anything. "Sir, she's awake if you want to see her" she said lightly. We both walked to her room, quickly. The doctor told the nurse to tell me that she may freak out or in pain, but it's not going to kill her. I see her confused, wondering where she was and why she was here. I walked up to her, slowly. She looked a bit different without her large belly. She looked at me, confused "Derrek? Why don't I have something in the way of seeing my feet?". I grabbed a chair and then her hand "Ellie... you slipped and fell on black ice. They had to do a C-section on you". She started to panic "don't worry! He alive" I said. She held her scream back and tried to calm down. A couple of nurses came in with him. He was in a ventilation system, but his heart was beating strong. She started to cry as she placed her hand on the box. He was so tiny. Just like a baby doll. Her other hand grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly. I looked at her and looked at our hands bonded together. I thought of what it would be like if she fell in love with me and not Jerry; however, Heather and Ally most likely would not be here. Of course they may look different, but I think they look perfect. Not everything that you dream will come true. There is the good and there is the bad, but you can't always get what you want. If we didn't have the drama in our lives then I probably wouldn't have the things I have now. Everything would be dull. This moment with Ellie is something I would never forget.