✔️| Stand By Me: Imagines and Preferences ('86)

#29 - Ace Merril (pt. 2)

"W-what?"

"I'm so sorry, my dear. His heart can't keep up with his body. The only way he is still living is with the oxygen tank that's next to his bed."

You look away from the doctor's heavy gaze and try to contemplate what to do next. The fact that Ace has one hour to live is just plain stupid, but it's the only thing that you can think about.

I need to see Ace, where is he?

"You, on the other hand, are free to go, Miss (Y/L/N)."

You get up and make your way towards the door. The only thing racing in your mind is the time you have left with him. 55 minutes until he dies.

"Doctor, where is Ace's room?"

"433. Down the hall, to the left."

Almost slipping on the shiny hospital floors, you run as fast as you can to Ace's room. Your franticness earns a few odd looks from other people waiting to be checked in or out, but you don't care.

All that runs through your mind is Ace. When you wrap one hand around the golden doorknob, your mind sparks a new thought.

Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit.

You walk cautiously to Ace's bed. He looks nothing like himself. His usual tan skin is now as white as the walls surrounding him. His body is covered with tubes, and the giant oxygen tank that the doctor had mentioned rumbles, giving Ace the little life he has left to hold on to.

"Ace..."

No sign of life comes out of Ace's figure. 

"Ace?"

You talk in a whisper, as if someone could overhear the conversation. Taking his shoulder, and shaking him slightly, Ace slowly wakes up, mumbling as he does.

"B-babe?" Ace says, his eyes adjusting to the light, "What happened?"

"Oh my god..." Ace doesn't remember anything about the crash. You had to be the one to tell him.

"Ace, we were in a car crash. You were the driver and I was the passenger and we crashed into a lumber truck going at 125 an hour."

You say all of this in a rush, unable to even look him in the eye, knowing that you know something that he does not.

"And...Ace, you only have an hour to live."

The tears are already rushing down your face. It's bullshit, but you couldn't help it.

Ace doesn't seem to express any emotion for minutes, taking in all that he has heard.

He then takes your hand in his pale, blood-drained one and slowly opens his mouth to reply.

"I...am...so...sorry...for...everything," says Ace. You try to turn his apology down, saying that it wasn't his fault, but he quickly holds up his hand to stop you.

"I...have...always...been...a...bit...wild...haven't...I?" He smiles, sadness crossing over his face as he tries to make you feel better.

Nodding furiously, you start to feel a tightness in your throat and your cheeks flushing. You can't take this anymore.

"Ace. Eyeball and Charlie are dead too."

They have always been the closest of friends, mainly speaking because they all had alcoholic fathers that would join each other at the local bar just outside of Castle Rock.

Ace's smile falters, and he looks down at his hands, now resting on top of the white sheets. He closes his eyes and takes a few deep breaths.

"All...because...of...me..."

No matter how many times your instincts have pleaded for you to tell Ace that it wasn't his fault, there was always the one voice in your head denying your cries.

"Yes, I guess so. But we were all drunk, Ace, and we didn't know that we were in the wrong lane. There wasn't a sign, only the truck helped."

"I...see."

He tries to smile again, but curses through the pain. The doctor had said that his whole body smashed against the steering wheel and caused him to pause frequently and have daily shocks.

You glance up at the clock that hangs above as on the white wall. 20 minutes have passed. You only have 40 minutes with Ace now.

"I don't know what to say, Ace. Castle Rock won't be the same without you."

He nods, and with all the strength he has left in his body, smiles once more.
Ace lays his head down on the soft pillow, and exhales, letting out the breath of air he had been holding.

Letting him rest, you take a moment to acknowledge his features. The wind-tossed hair that used to make everyone fall in love with him has lost its touch, and his skin has an inhuman color tinted within.

But even with these flaws, does Ace still make your heart speed up.

Doctor Bennet eventually comes into the room to check on Ace, and write on his clipboard.

"Ms. (Y/L/N), we're going to have Ace take a few shots. It would be best if you took some time to eat and drink some water before coming back to the room. I'll call you over the loudspeaker when you can come back."

As if on cue, your stomach starts to rumble, satisfying Doctor Bennet's request. You nod, and exit without another look at Ace's dying body.

The sound of the heels of your shoes clatter on the shining floor, filling you up. You want to turn back and sit with Ace, but that's out of the question.

"Miss?"

You snap out of your thoughts and see a nurse standing in front of you. It's pretty clear that she doesn't like you stumbling and staring into space.

"I️...was looking for the cafeteria?" You say, carefully trying not to get on her bad side.

The nurse gave a smile, and beckoned me to come forward. You followed her.

"Keep going straight. You'll come to the end of the hallway, and make a right. A ramp will lead you down to the cafeteria."

Taking the route the nurse had given you, your stomach continues to growl. You haven't eaten anything since before the crash.

When you arrive at the line to order, there's only one person there.
Before you know it, the lady cries "Next!"

You order a small sandwich and a water. The lady hands it all to you on a tray, smiling while she does it.

"Have a nice day."

Thanks a lot.

You force a smile on your face and spot an empty table. The plastic tray hits the table's surface and you sit down carefully.

The chicken salad sandwich you ordered is hard to stomach, yet you do it anyway for the sake of Doctor Bennett.

When you finish, you get up to place the empty tray on a pile, just before hearing an announcement over the loudspeaker.

The minute you heard a panicked and urgent voice crackle through the metal speaker, you knew exactly who was speaking.

It was Doctor Bennett.

"(Y/N) (Y/L/N), come to room 433 immediately. There is an emergency. Miss (Y/N) (Y/L/N), to room 433."