It Must Be Your Faith

Philippians 4:6-7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7
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The next couple of minutes passed by in a blur. All Zach could remember was Lorraine's cries, and Richard yell down the phone receiver. He barely noticed when the ambulance came and when they tore his body from hers as they placed her on the stretcher. Zach came to his senses after one of the paramedics called out to him. "Hey kid, we're taking your girlfriend to the Lincoln Memorial. She's going to be okay." He told Zach reassuringly, not fooling him since his smile didn't reach his eyes.

    Zach ran the ten blocks to the hospital. His thoughts only on Cammie. The receptionist did a double take at his appearance. "Can I help you, sir?" She asked politely, patiently waiting for him to catch his breath. "Camille Morgan. Sixteen. Hit by a car." was all Zach managed to say his voice shaking. The lady's expression fell. "Oh yes, the poor thing. She's on the third floor in ICU." Zach was already running towards the elevator before she had finished. This couldn't be happening. Not her. Why couldn't it have happened to someone else? Him for example. Zach would have moved the heavens and earths himself if it meant switching places with Cammie.

"She's in critical condition. Prepare yourselves for the worst." Zach was able to hear those last few words the doctor said as he burst into the waiting room. "NO! No! Not my baby! Not my Camille." Lorraine sobbed as she fell to her knees. Richard braced himself as he caught her weight and sunk down onto his knees with her. He held his wife close to his chest as her sobs shook her entire body. Zach could have sworn that her cries could be heard throughout the entire hospital.

    Zach leaped forward and reached for the doctor's arm. "What room is she in?" Zach choked out, trying to be strong for Cammie. The doctor glanced at Cammie's parents behind him. "I'm sorry, but only family is allowed to see her." Zach opened his mouth to demand an answer, but Richard beat him to it. "It's okay. Camille would never forgive us if we didn't let him in." Zach whirled around to stare at him in disbelief. Richard's eyes were rimmed red, his face as pale as a sheet. With a start Zach noticed he looked a lot older, weary, and beat down than he did earlier. As if he had the weight of the world on his shoulder. He nodded towards the hallway. "Room 119."

"Thank you sir." Zach said after he cleared his throat not wasting another second before running down the hall. Zach's heart stopped as he walked into Cammie's hospital room. She looked peaceful, as if the many tubes didn't bother her. Even all beaten and bruised Zach still thought Cammie was the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. He sits on the plastic chair, and very carefully reaches for her hand. His breath hitches as he feels the familiar sparks he always feels every time he touches Cammie.

    "You captured my attention so easily. I don't know what it was. Maybe it was the way you talked, or how you laughed, or the way you smiled. Maybe it was your eyes, or how excited you got when you talked about something you liked. Maybe it was your unwavering faith or the fact that you were the first person who has ever prayed for me. Whatever it was, I realized I was falling in love with you." Zach shut his eyes and leaned his forehead against their clasped hands. "Please don't go." He said brokenly. "I need you Cammie. I can't lose you. If I lost you, I'd have lost my best friend, my soulmate, my smile, my laugh, my everything. I couldn't live in a world without you Cammie. Please stay."

    Zach kissed her knuckles, which were wet with his tears. "I love you Camille Elizabeth Morgan. More than life itself." Suddenly the monitor besides Cammie bed changed its tone. This time the sound was constant. No breaks in between the beeps. Just a long flat piercing sound that penetrated his ears. The monitor had flat lined. Zach stared at it in horror, the sound all too familiar. "Not her. Please anybody, but her." Zach cried out as he stood up so fast he knocked down his chair. He bolted towards the door and called out for help. "HELP! Somebody please! She's dying!" Suddenly the room was bursting with activity. Doctors were barking out orders, nurses were gathering supplies and using medical terms like, "defibrillator" and "cardiac arrest". Zach stared in horror as the doctor ripped Cammie's shirt apart and cut through her bra, leaving her chest bare. He placed the paddles on her chest. "700 volts! 3, 2, 1! Clear!" Her upper body rose as the volts charged through her body.

Zach came to his senses and reached towards her. One of the nurses grabbed his arm. "What are you doing here?! You have to leave!" "She needs me! I have to be by her side!" Zach yelled as he pushed her away. "Get him out of here!" One of the doctors yelled out. It took three male nurses to drag Zach out of the room kicking and screaming. Cammie's parents rushed towards him. "What's happening to my daughter!" Lorraine cried out as reached him. Zach swallowed hard. "I-I don't know. One moment she was fine and the next she... she was flat lining." Zach finished in a whisper. Her face paled and tears started to rapidly fall down her cheeks. "My baby. My baby is dying." She whispered heartbroken.

Richard had a knuckle pressed against his mouth as he desperately tried to contain his sobs. Zach couldn't bear to see them, especially Lorraine who looked so much like her. Zach ran in the opposite direction, no destination in mind. With tears covering his vision he fell down to his knees and started to sob into his hands. His whole body shook with each sob. Zach glanced up and noticed his surroundings. The last thing he expected to see was a large cross with a man hanging from it. Instead of a pure white color, the walls were a light brown. Pews were lined up on either side of him and stained glass windows lined up along the wall. A chapel Zach thought. I ended up in the hospital's chapel.