Serendipity - a fortunate happenstance |✔

Chapter 22

I was homesick a little more than I was, after coming back from home. We all had a great time at the game. It was no surprise that they won. He was good. We had dinner together after a long time at our usual grill back in home. Mom packed me some crab-cakes. Obviously I finished them on my way to Wilmington.

I spent most of my time with Travis. Liam too paid constant visits, Mel tagged along. Even Tia and Devin visited him to play cards. Though Travis was a few years older than Jesse, he reminded me of him a lot. He was far too weak to breathe even. But his face was still full of life every time I walk through that door. It made us easy to cope with the situation. We all knew that we're the ones gonna miss him. That was the beauty of death. It is painful only to the ones who were left behind.

It was rainy morning. Even the atmosphere was just too dull that I kept thinking whether I must attend classes today. I didn't miss the call from Dr. West this time; I was on my way to College. Behind her hesitation, I found the answer. When I got off from the bus, Liam was at the college entrance. His face was clouded. He didn't talk all the way to the hospital, neither did I. Melanie, Devin and Tia was already there at the hospital.

I entered Travis's Room. His room was darker without his smile. He was lying calmly. Beside him was the huge machine which kept his body running till I arrive. Yeah, he was comatose again. We all knew this time there is no hope, not only because he was far too weak, because it was his will. He wanted us to let him go this time. That was all he asked from Dr. West. He had asked me to be present when it's time. And I am here for it.

I hugged his weaken body for one last time "Goodbye Travis" I whispered in his ear. With my shaky fingers I touched his cold cheeks. "I'll miss you buddy". I didn't cry, because I'm sure that he was happy to leave. I closed my eyes and pictured the way he smiled at me the last I met him while he was conscious. That would be my last picture of him, I smiled at the thought.

"Curly..." Liam came behind me and turned me around pulling me into his chest.

"I'm fine...really..." I said, hiding my wet eyes in his jacket "...I know he's glad that he's finally free."

"Sure he is... you'll be the only thing he would miss." He murmured softly.

"You too..." I corrected.

"I doubt that" he chuckled in a low tone, pain was obvious in it "I annoyed him most of the time remember?"

I smiled "Yeah, you did....but he will forgive you"

The day after Travis's funeral, Liam came to pick me up as Dr. West needed us to meet her. She was there waiting for us in her room. "I know it is not a good time to ask you kids to visit here" she said as we entered "But there is something Travis asked me to do." She placed two envelopes on the table. One addressed for me and the other for Liam, I took the one addressed to me. "And here...he asked me to give this to you Mayumi." It was his pack of cards.

"Thank you Dr. West" It would remind me of the good times.

"Thank you kids....if not for you he would've become the worst memory of my carrier. You healed him when medicine couldn't." she smiled softly.

I came out of her room and took a seat in the lobby. Liam was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he went to Travis's room one last time which now was empty. I took Travis letter out and start reading it.