Why me?
1188 Words
Fred got to the hospital and hurriedly got out of his car. He rushed to the reception area and found Linda sitting on one of the chairs, looking dejected. He walked over to where Linda was sitting. When Linda saw him, she quickly stood up.
" Linda, where is he?" he asked her.
" They took him to the emergency ward, but no one has come out to tell me anything", Linda explained.
" What really happened?" Fred asked again.
" He said he wanted to play with some friends after he was done with his homework. I told him not to go out, but he sneaked out. A boy brought him back home. He could not breath and I tried to look for his inhaler but I could not find it..."
" Wait! What do you mean by you could not find his inhaler? He always keeps it in his back pack", Fred cut in.
" I opened his bag and brought everything out, but I could not find it", Linda repeated.
" Okay, let's calm down. I'm sure everything is going to be fine", Fred hugged Linda, who buried her face in his chest.
The doctor walked into the reception area, looking around. He noticed Fred and Linda and walked over to them.
" Are you the parents of the little boy who was brought in a while ago with breathing problems?" the doctor asked, carefully.
" Yes. I am his father. Please doctor, how is my son?" Fred replied.
The doctor shook his head lightly. He composed himself and looked at Fred. He eyes held some sadness or maybe pity in them. Fred was confused by his expression but he kept calm.
" Doc, please, tell me. How is my son?" Fred repeated again.
The doctor breathed in.
" I am sorry, sir. We lost the boy. We tried everything we could but we were late. I am very sorry", the doctor announced.
Fred was in total shock. His heart felt like it was about to come out. He breathing changed and he suddenly felt dizzy. He shook his head, hoping what he was hearing was nothing but a dream.
" Doctor, please. Please, tell me it's not true. My son is alive. You are just pulling my legs, right?" Fred said.
" I am sorry sir. I really hope it was not true. Please take heart", the doctor said, and patted his shoulder. Then he left.
Linda was already sobbing. Fred, on the other hand, could not utter a word. This still looked like a dream to him. They both sat down on the chair.
" Fred, I am so sorry. I really did not mean for this to happen. I am so sorry", Linda continued to cry.
A stray tear fell from his eye. Then, another fell from the other. Fred rocked himself in his chair while he rubbed his palms on his trousers. He started shaking and whimpering. He shut his eyes, trying so hard no to scream his head off.
Linda held his hand. " Fred, Fred...i know how much this is hurting you. I don't even know what I can say to make you feel better".
" Why me? Why does this always happen to me? Why do all the people I love keep leaving me? What did I do to deserve this?" Fred cried out.
His cries were so heartbreaking. He cried so hard. He was hurting, he was hurting very bad. He felt some pain in his chest. It was not physical pain, it was an emotional one. Linda sat closer to him and held him. He kept rocking his body to and fro.
" Fred, I know this is painful. It really hurts me to see you like this. But, please, don't blame yourself. This is not your fault", Linda tried to console him.
" First, it was my mother. Then Martina. And now, it is Junior. How many people do I have to lose? Why is life treating me this way? What did I do?" Linda hugged him as Fred continued to cry hard.
Then Linda's phone began to ring. It was her mother. She picked the phone from her pocket and put it to her ear.
" Hello mother", Linda said. Fred leaned back on the chair, crying silently.
" Linda, how is the boy doing? Have you been told anything about his condition?" her mother asked.
" Mother... Junior... Junior is dead. He is dead, mother", she said as fresh tears streamed down her face.
" What?! No, please tell me it's not true. Tell me it's a joke, please", her mother sat down.
" It is true mother. Fred is here with me. I-I ... I don't even know what to say", Linda's voice broke.
" How is Fred? How did he take the news?" her mother asked, wiping the tears from her face.
" He is broken, mother. You should see him. It breaks my heart to see him like that, ma", Linda said.
" Please stay with him, okay? He needs you", her mother advised.
" I know, mother. I might not be able to come home today. So, please lock up, okay?" Linda said.
" Don't worry dear. I will do that right away. Tell Fred to accept my condolences", her mother said, and hanged up.
Linda cut the call and shifted closer to Fred, whose eyes were already swollen from too much crying. He leaned onto Linda's shoulder and Linda placed her head on his head. A nurse walked up to them and asked them to fill up some forms for them so that Junior can be taken to the morgue.
Fred could not control his emotions, so he ran out. Hearing the nurse refer to his son as a 'body', broke him. When he got outside, he knelt down on the pavement and cried some more. It was such a heartbreaking scene. Linda joined him later, after she had filed the forms in Fred's place.
" Fred, let me take you home. You need to rest. This has been hard for all of us. Tomorrow, we will let the rest of the family know", Linda said.
" I can't. I can't face anybody, now. It hurts so much. Just after I thought I could finally have a new start, this happens. I-I can't deal with this. I really can't", he continued to cry. Linda hugged him hard.
Later, Linda helped him up and took him to his car. He sat at the passenger seat. Linda took the keys from him, sat at the driver's seat. She drove off, away from the hospital's premises.
I needed to say something about this chapter. I know I did a very bad thing yeah. I just killed my young character. Don't hate me, please. I promise it will get better. For now, it's going to get more depressing in the upcoming chapters. Sorry guys.
Maame Efua Quainua
- Writer
