A New Pair of Wings

Part 10

Many days pass. Hailey is slowly growing weaker in the hospital. Her breaths become shorter and shorter. She finds it difficult to do a lot of things by herself. Carson and Belle visit her on a daily basis to help take care of her. Her mother came on a few occasions as well.

Carson looks at her with concern as she lies on the hospital bed, breathing hard. "How have you been feeling?" He asks.

Hailey slowly opens her eyes to look at his dear face. "I...I'm alright," she answers with a tiny smile. Carson gulps and purses his lips together.

Suddenly, the door opens and in comes Belle. She is holding a bag of fruit and vegetables in her right hand. Her long, brownish blonde hair flies into her face. Sweat is visible on her forehead.

"Hi, guys," Belle says, panting. She walks to Hailey's side and places the bag on the bedside table, "I just bought some fruits and vegetables for you, Hailey," she says.

"Thank you," Hailey says, touching Belle's hand. Belle smiles back in response.

"How have you been doing so far?" Belle asks.

Hailey sighs. "I'm doing fine," she says, not wanting to say more. Belle looks at her with worry.

"If something's up, you can just tell us," Belle says reassuringly, "Hiding won't do any good."

Hailey sighs again, then she speaks. "The doctors said I'm getting much weaker, and...well, I might not be here tomorrow."

Carson wraps his hands into fists and places them firmly on his lap. He tries to mute the sobs coming out of his throat. Tears begin streaming out of his eyes.

"Don't worry," Hailey says reassuringly, putting her left hand on Carson's lap, "Be happy."

"How?" Carson manages to let the word escape from his trembling lips.

"You don't need me to be happy," Hailey says, "Remember what I said?"

"I...guess yeah..." Carson says.

Belle looks at him with deep concern. Poor thing, she thinks, I can sort of feel what he's going through. Maybe it was kinda selfish of me to want him all this time. She looks down at her lap with guilt.

"Just stay strong, and someday you'll find your way through," Hailey says with a smile.

  Carson breaks into quiet sobs. Hailey squeezes his leg reassuringly. Belle looks at them.

  I feel so bad for him...

  The three of them sit there like that for a sober moment, Carson quietly crying, Hailey trying to reassure him, and Belle looking down. No one could say anything.

  After the moment passed, Belle looks up at Carson to see he has calmed down a bit. He wipes the tears from his eyes ans says, "I sure will miss you, but...I'll try. I'll try to stay strong for you."

  Hailey smiles at him with a huge smile on her face. "That's my husband," she says.

  The day passes all too quickly, and soon, it is time to say goodbye. Hailey lies in her bed, breathing very hard, struggling to keep her eyes open. Carson and Belle are seated on her sides, both tearing up.

  "Goodbye," Hailey whispers, before her eyelids slowly drop. Soon they are both shut, and she slips away into space.

  Carson is trembling with tears pouring out of his eyes. Belle looks at Hailey's face, peaceful and undisturbed, sniffles, and wipes away a tear. All the times she and Hailey spent together in the past year really hit her in the head.