ICE ICE COLD

Chapter Four: The Longest Goodbye

By the time Sheila reached Peace Memorial Hospital, her lungs were burning.

She stumbled through the revolving doors, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps as she searched the lobby with frantic eyes.

The familiar scent of antiseptic filled the air. Doctors hurried past. Phones rang.

Wheelchairs rolled across the polished floors.Yet beneath all the movement...

Something felt terribly wrong.

"Nora!"

The nurse turned sharply.

The moment she saw Sheila, relief washed over her face. "Thank goodness you're here."

"What happened?" Sheila asked, barely able to catch her breath. "Where's my mom?"

Nora didn't answer immediately.

She gently took Sheila by the arm.

"Come with me."

Fear tightened around Sheila's chest.

"No... just tell me."

"Sheila."

"Please."

Nora's voice was calm, but urgent.

"Your mother collapsed shortly after you left."

The words hit like ice water.

"What?"

"She went into cardiac arrest."

For a second, Sheila simply stared at her.

"No..."

"The doctors are with her now."

That was all Sheila heard. She broke into a run, subconsciously brushing through anyone and everything in the way. Her shoes echoed against the polished floor as panic drowned out every other sound.

Then...

"Clear!"

The sharp command stopped her in her tracks.

She froze outside Room 224.

Through the narrow glass panel in the door, she caught glimpses of hurried movement.

Doctors surrounded the bed. A nurse adjusted an oxygen mask. Another prepared medication.

Then...

"Clear!"

Sheila flinched as Sarah's body lifted slightly beneath the force of the defibrillator.

"No..."

She reached for the door, but someone caught her arm.

It was Nora.

"Please," Sheila cried, struggling against her gentle grip. "That's my mother!"

"I know."

"Please let me go!"

"I know."

Tears blurred everything.

"Mom!"

Her voice cracked down the corridor.

"I'm here!"

Inside the room, one of the doctors looked toward the door.

The heart monitor gave a weak, uneven beep. Then another, and another.

The lead physician then looked at Nora. Then at Sheila, his expression now softened.

"Let her in."

Nora released her immediately.

Sheila rushed into the room.

The doctors instinctively stepped aside, creating a path to the bed.

Sarah looked impossibly small beneath the white hospital blanket.

Her breathing was shallow. Every breath she took seemed to demand more strength than the last.

"Mom..."

Sheila dropped to her knees beside the bed and grabbed her mother's hand.

It was still warm. Weak... but warm.

"I'm here."

Tears streamed freely down her face.

"I'm so sorry..."

"...I shouldn't have left..."

"...I should've stayed."

Sarah's eyelids fluttered open very slowly. Those old gray colored irises searched the room until they found Sheila.

And then...

She smiled. The same gentle smile.

The one that had chased away Sheila's fears since she was a little girl. That one reassuring smile that meant everything to her.

"You came..."

The words were barely more than a whisper.

"I'm here," Sheila sobbed. "I'm here, Mom."

Sarah gave the faintest shake of her head.

As if to erase every ounce of guilt from her daughter's heart.

"No..."

The single word although fragile, was unmistakable.

Sheila leaned closer. "I couldn't pay the bill."

The confession spilled out between sobs. "I got my salary."

"I tried..."

"...I was coming back..."

"...I'm so sorry, Mom."

Sarah's fingers twitched weakly around hers.

"My Sunshine..."

The familiar nickname shattered what little composure Sheila had left. "I'm here," she whimpered. "I'm right here with you, Mom."

Sarah looked at her with endless love.

"The world..."

She paused, gathering enough strength for another breath.

"...can be..."

Another breath.

"...very cold."

A tear slipped from the corner of her eye.

"But don't..."

Her voice weakened further.

"...don't let it..."

Sheila squeezed her hand gently.

"I'm listening."

"...change..."

Sarah smiled.

"...your heart."

The room fell completely silent.

Even the doctors stood motionless.

Sheila pressed her forehead against her mother's hand.

"I promise."

"I promise, Mom."

Sarah's breathing grew slower.

Her eyes never left Sheila's face.

"I..."

She struggled to finish.

"...love..."

Sheila's tears fell onto their joined hands. "I love you too."

A faint spark of mischief appeared in Sarah's tired eyes, one final time.

"I..."

A tiny smile.

"...love you..."

Another breath.

"...more."

A broken laugh escaped Sheila through her tears.

"That's impossible."

It was the game they'd played their whole lives.

Sarah's smile widened just enough to be seen.

Then...

Very softly...

Almost like a sigh carried away by the wind...

"I know."

Her fingers relaxed inside Sheila's hand.

The smile remained on her lips.

The monitor's steady rhythm stretched into one endless tone.

No one moved.

The doctor stepped forward quietly.

He checked for a pulse.

Looked at the clock.

Then lowered his head.

"Time of death..."

The words drifted into the silence.

Sheila didn't hear the rest.

She simply held her mother's hand, as if that alone would keep them warm. Alive.

Outside the window, the afternoon sun continued to shine over Westbridge.

Inside Room 224...

A daughter said goodbye to the first person who had meant everything to her.