Waiting With Death

Chapter 6:

Cassedy led Grim down the road from her house in the opposite direction from the hospital. He followed her curiously. She had offered no hint as to where they were going but Grim agreed anyway. She had had a hard day and this seemed to give her hope. Or at least something to distract her. Cassedy look a left turn at the corner up ahead and stopped. "When I was alive, my mom would only let me walk so far by myself. I discovered this place about two years after my diagnosis," she said. 

Grim looked around with a smile on his face. It was a small pond with a wooden bridge going across it. The water was so clear that you could see that little fish swimming around in it. Trees surrounding the pond threw shadows from the setting sun. Cassedy watched him for a reaction, nervous. Grim grinned, "It's beautiful." Cassedy smiled at him and walked over to the bridge. "This is my favorite spot to watch the sunset. I was always focused on seeing as many as I could, never knew which one could've been my last." Grim followed her to the middle of the bridge. If they faced away from the trees, they could see the sun's light slowly disappearing. Orange, pink and purple colored the sky as it slipped lower and lower. Grim looked over at Cassedy. The sunset lit up her face, her eyes were shining with a light he had never seen until now. 

Cassedy looked over at him to find him staring. "What?" she asked. He shook his head. "Just....nothing." She turned towards him, curious. "No, tell me. What is it?" Grim looked down at the water. Little fish were gathering under the bridge, splashing the water slightly like they were watching the sun set, too. Cassedy nudged him when he didn't say anything. "Noah?" He looked up at her, surprised. "Should I not call you that?" she asked, concerned. He shook his head, "No, it's just most people don't call me that. I haven't heard that name in so long, it's...nice." Cassedy looked out at the sun that was almost gone. "Do you tell most people about that?" she asked. He looked over at her and she avoided eye contact. "I've never told anyone about that," he said, quietly. "Oh," she replied, just as quiet. 

Grim looked around and smiled. Cassedy looked at him, "You like this place, don't you?" He looked at her. "As silly as this sounds, this place makes me feel...alive," he said. Cassedy looked down at the water and shook her head. "That's not silly, Noah. It's the same way it made me feel. When I found this place, it gave me hope somehow. Even if it was false hope, I was glad I had this place," Cassedy said. Grim moved closer to her, "This place, it's like we're in another world." She glanced at him, "Well, we kind of are..." He looked at her confused, then realized what she meant. "Oh well, yeah. I guess we are," he laughed. Cassedy looked down, laughing. "I'm sorry, I know what you meant," she said. They last bit of light from the sun finally disappeared. The water cast up a little light from lights around the outside of it. 

Cassedy looked over at Grim. "What are you thinking about?" she asked. He looked over at her, "Why?" She leaned against the railing. "The look on your face, I've just never seen it before. Can you tell me?" she asked, softly. Grim took in a deep breath. "I was just thinking about how you looked when the light hit you...," he said. Cassedy looked surprised. Grim looked over. "Should I have not said that?" Cassedy looked at him, "No, that's okay. I just don't know.." He looked down. "Damn it, I made it awkward." Cassedy laughed, "No, it's okay." He shook his head and looked at the water. "We should probably get back to the hospital." She nodded. "Alright." Cassedy started to walk away from him but he pulled her back. "Wh-" He cut her off by kissing her. After the shock wore off, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed back. After a minute, he pulled away and smiled at her. "Now we can go to the hospital," he said. 

Cassedy followed behind him, quiet. She was wondering if her parents would bring Aiden to see her, maybe they thought it would be too much for him. When would the scan results be back? How long would she be here but not here at the same time? Grim looked back at her. "You okay?" She nodded as they approached the hospital doors. "Just thinking." He nodded before looking forward again. Cassedy's doctor was standing by the reception desk, speaking with the lady behind it. The male nurse from the lab the other day walked up and whispered something in the doctor's ear. The doctor looked at the nurse then followed him down the hall. Grim turned to her. "You're results came back, they're going over them now. It's only a matter of time now.." 

When they got to her hospital room, Cassedy sat on the bench outside the door. "I just, I can't be in there right now," she said. Grim sat next to her, letting her lean against him. "It's okay. This hasn't been easy for you. Most people aren't forced to stay around for this long after they pass." Cassedy looked up at him without pulling away. "Can you tell me some of your stories?" she asked him. He smiled, "Sure." He thought for a minute before starting his story. "I had a little sister, Lucy. One time, my family went to the beach and I remember the waves." He laughed as he talked. "She was convinced that the waves were hurting the sand."

 Cassedy smiled as he told the story. "So every time a wave came in, Lucy would just kick at the water until it went back out. She'd be convinced that she had solved the problem and she'd sit down on the blanket only to have the next wave. Lucy would have to get up again and defend the sand. It was the purest thing I've ever seen, she spent the whole day trying to keep the waves off." He smiled as the story ended. "She was five at the time and she never really got rid of that 'try to help everybody' attitude." Cassedy looked up at him, curious. "Have you had to...," she trailed off, not sure if she wanted to ask. Grim knew where she was going with the question and he shook his head. "Lucy is living down on the coast, by the ocean. She just turned 30, she's married to a nice guy and has a little boy she named after me." 

Cassedy smiled at him. "She's doing pretty good for herself," she commented. He nodded and looked up the hall. "Look, Cass," he whispered. Rosanne and Aiden were walking up the hallway towards her room. "She brought him...," Cassedy said. "I wasn't sure if they'd let him see me." Rosanne stopped just outside the door, blocking Aiden's view into the room. "Are you sure you want to do this, honey?" she asked. She was clearly worried about the effect seeing his sister like this would have on him. Cassedy knew he was strong enough to handle it, that it was something he needed to do. Aiden nodded and walked around his mother, into the room. Cassedy followed him, wanting to see this. 

Aiden was standing next to the bed, on the toes of his feet to be able to reach Cassedy. He was brushing her hair. She realized he was brushing her hair the way she used to to comfort him. Cassedy felt her eyes flood with tears and she let out a soft, sad sound. Grim reached out to her and she let him pull her to him. Rosanne stood in the doorway, watching over him. Aiden turned to his mom, keeping a hand on the railing. "Can I have a minute with her?" he asked. He sounded so grown up that it took Cassedy back. Rosanne hesitated, "Are you sure you're ready for that? I mean-" The look on his face must have showed her that he needed this. She nodded, "Okay, baby. I'll be right out here if you need me." She ducked out of the door and left him alone with his sister. 

Aiden turned back to the hospital bed. "Cassi, I don't know if you can hear me but I hope you can." Cassedy watched him from her spot near the foot of the bed with Grim. "I love you, Cassi. You were always there for me, even when I wasn't there for you. I'm sorry for every time I was mean to you and I hope you come home soon so that I can make it up to you." A tear ran down Cassedy's face and Aiden reached over to stroke her hair again. "I remember when you used to do this to calm me down. I hope it works on you.... Mom and Dad are weird now, they don't talk a lot at home. They must miss you, too." 

He stopped for a minute and turned around to make sure that his mom wasn't there listening. "If you don't make it home, I love you and I know that it wasn't your decision to go. I know you're sick, the kind of sick that you can't get better from. That's what you always told me. I still hope you get better, Cassi." Aiden pulled his hand away from her and walked out of the room. When Rosanne noticed him the hallway, she stood up. "Are you okay, baby?" she asked. She hugged him close and he hugged her back. "Can we go home now, mom?" he asked. She nodded, smiling. "Of course, let's go." She grabbed his hand and started walking down the hallway towards the exit.