Knots

This Could Be Heaven.

19. "This Could be Heaven."

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new.
-Steve Jobs

September 8th

10:42 A.M

GRACE YOUNG

Troy Marks.

The name scrawled onto Grace's patient form was one she'd heard for years before even moving to Trenton. The irony however, made itself abundantly clear as soon as she had walked into Troy's room for the first time; he was just a normal-looking guy. Aside from a fullhead of platinum blonde hair and baby blue eyes, she had noted during awareness checkups, Troy could have come across as an ordinary guy. But then again, his family did own more money than she'd make in ten lifetimes, so it was pretty hard to view him as anything other than Mister money bags.

"Okay Mister Marks, let's go through the usual procedures," Grace finally noted as she made her way towards his bed; swinging her stethoscope in sync to the beeps of the machines.

"Can you hear me?" She asked, leaning in close for any sort of low grumble. After several moments, she sighed and checked the 'inactive' box on the daily report. Moving on, she proceeded to check his blood pressure, followed by his heart rate; all the while jotting down any irregularities in a small notepad on hand. This was the grunt work, the job no one else could be bothered to do, and Grace wondered if Avery knew that when he gave it to her. She was essentially guarding the lung, and as equal parts angry as she was glad about the situation, she was also just as relieved that this patient gave her time to think.

The path that she was walking, the one with Riley, was slowly edging its way into her career; and it was time to either draw a line or define their relationship. They had been dancing on eggshells, her hours were insane, and he seemed to be way too accident prone for her to emotionally handle.

"What is it about coma patients that make things so peaceful?" She noted aloud; Troy notably unresponsive.

"Same time tomorrow Troy?"

"Doctor Young?" Another voice responded.

12:00 P.M

REGGIE SIMON

"Okay Sally Wally, you understand how this works right?" Reggie asked from his position at the end of the little girl's bed. The girl quickly nodded in response, already looking worse for ware than the previous day; but Reggie was overwhelmingly excited by the news to come.

Mister and Mrs. Stewart also nodded on opposite sides of the girl, despite the fact that the question wasn't directed towards either of them.

"Listen Doctor-" Mister Stewart began.

"Simon," Reggie noted.

"Doctor Simon," he continued, "when is Doctor Combs going to get here. You tell my little girl you have some important news but won't even give it to her? Do you know how stressful this process is for all of us?"

Before Reggie could get a word in edge wise, a knock on the door startled the group. Reggie turned to see no one other than Andre, beaming like an idiot as he strolled in.

"Sally, Mister Stewart, Mrs. Stewart," Andre began, "I am pleased to inform you that the hospital has found Sally a suitable donor, and the surgery will be undergone as soon as possible. In fact, I believe Doctor Simon here will be taking Sally to pre-op so now would be the best time to wish her good luck."