Chapter 5

JEFF'S POV

I hurriedly rushed to the hospital. I heard the commotion outside, but i didn't bother as my mind and my heart were completely somewhere else. On my way I got a call from Alisha saying that my aunt had fainted all of sudden and was taken into the ICU.

As soon as i rushed there, i went directly into the room only to my aunt unconscious. I went upto her bed as fast as I could, because my steps became so heavy, i could hardly move them. I felt my body getting stiff. Thousands of thoughts flooded my mind and tears started welling up in my eyes. It hurt. My heart hurt. I felt an unspeakable pain in my heart.

Slowly I took her hand in my hand and whispered, "Mom". That was the first time I ever called her Mom. She would really die of happiness if she were to hear it when she was fine. I regret it.. I regret not saying it earlier.

"Mom, U have to get well, you know right?" I whispered. "You can't just leave me all alone on my own here. You know I barely managed to survive after my parents died. I strived hard and endured all the bullying in school when they called me 'an orphan' or 'fatherless'. I never told you, 'cause I knew you would get worried. I did everything you told and obeyed your every word. Even when you set me up with Elena, I did not like her, but for your sake, I did get myself to like her. She is a good girl, she cares about you alot, she loves me genuinely, and i can feel that too. I tried telling her that I don't feel the same for her, but it broke my heart everytime I thought of her breaking down. I hate to see her cry or sad just like how to hate myself right now feeling helpless. I really can't take it anymore, Mom. I just can't take it anymore.." I sobbed holding her hand against my cheek.

Alisha came upto me and hugged me from behind.. "Honey, be strong. Celia's a fighter, you know it. Or else how could she raise you? Everything's gona be fine. hm?" she tried to comfort me..

No. Not anymore. I did not want to understand anything. I just wanted her back laughing and scolding me. Running behind me and teasing me all the time.

"Want to be alone Alisha. Please." I did not even look at her and left.

I opened the door and saw it was the stairs way. I went and stood there. Making sure there waa nobody, I let myself out. I could not take it.. My heart hurt. I held my chest with both hands nad cried.. Yes, when it came to Celia or Alisha, I cried like a kid. I am 26, but I don't mind being a kid to both of them.

I stood there crying and was about give up when i felt my legs go numb. Alisha rushed and held me. She hugged me and started patting my head. "Honey, she just fainted. Stop crying and lets meet Agnel, he sure will find ways to help her get better." She tried comforting me.

I pulled out from her hug and looked at my feet. "Alisha, I lost my both parents at 8, I barely managed to cope up with it. I can't lose her now." I said crying. Tears had no way to stop. They flowed and flowed till my eyes becam puffy and my face reddend.

"Jeff" she called me Jeff. For the first time after 18yrs somebody called me by my real name. It felt nice and more tears started coming out. "Jeff, I know Celia is like your mom. And I know what you have been through. So I need you to calm down and let's go to Agnel. Let's see what he has to say." I nodded.

I told her about my job and the Hellsman and that i signed the contract. She froze at first. I know she was worried for me. I assured her that nobody had recognized me, not even Jake himself.

I tried wiping my face with a wipe that she gave me, when----

"Hey, Jonathan.. right? yeah.. its you." It was Jake Hellsman.

I looked upto him wiping my tears.

"Mr. Hellsman.. um.. you? How come..? Hospital? All ohkay?" I asked him only to see him spaced out. I thought he really wasn't well.

"Are you fine? Do u need help? Should I call the doctor?" I asked him again a little louder this time.

"No.. no.. I am fine. But, are you alright?" he asked looking at me and Alisha.

I introduced Alisha and Jake to each other. I did not expect him to be so polite towards Alisha. Alisha even asked him to take care of me at work.

While we were talking, there was an announcement on the speaker.

"Code Blue! Code Blue! Room no.1609 Room no.1609 Code Blue!"

Alisha and I looked at each other in fear. 1609 was Celia's ICU room.

"Noooo... F*ck!!! Its Celia." We screamed and rushed to her room leaving Jake behind, only to see a doctor on his knees on the bed giving her a CPR. I stopped in my way. I could not move further. Alisha rushed in. By then, Dr. Agnel Thompson who qas in charge of her came running. He saw me and nodded and ran to the bed.

He removed a small pen-like torch and checked her pupils, then he looked up to the doctor who was still giving CPR and said "Change". The doctor giving CPR stopped immediately and moved aside and Dr. Thompson started himself.

"Get the Defibrillator and ready for shock, 200J. Now!!!" He screamed at the doctor. A nurse was at the head, holding a ballon like thing and a mask on Celia's face, which seemed like she was giving her oxygen.

The other doctor rushed in with the machine. He started it and handed the paddles to Dr. Agnel.. He took it and rubbed them against each other and shouted, "All Clear?!" the other doctors one by one said, "Clear!" "Clear!" "Clear!" the Nurse also let go the thing in her hand and said, "Clear!"

Dr. Agnel then pressed the paddles against Celia's body and she was rocked up and then fell down to bed. I could not see that. He did it again. "All Clear?!" others responded saying, "Clear!" After that he started with the compressions.

Unable to stand that I screamed, "STOPPP". All heads at once turned towards me. I fell to the ground holding my chest and cried, "Please stop it. Let her be.. Let her be." Alisha and one doctor both rushed and knelt in front of me..

"Jeff.. Jeff.. Are you okay honey? Talk to me, my baby.. please." Alisha cried.

"Tell them to stop please.. Al.. they are hurting her.. let her be..she.. she.. she would never want this.. please.. let her.." I cried hugging Alisha. She held me close to her chest. I could feel her heart racing wildly. Just like me, she too was scared to lose her only best friend.

All the past 18yrs passed in a flash in front of my eyes. I could feel another part of me leaving me.. I knew she leaving. She was leaving me alone. I signed the DNR form which the nurse handed over to me and gave it to her.

As the realisation hit me, I ran to Celia's bed and hugged her, "Mom" , I said and cried. I was a kid right now.. I screamed and shouted.. I did not have the heart to let her go. I begged her to stay. "Mom, you gotta stay, mom. Please. I dont know what to do if you leave me." I felt Alisha hugging me from behind. I felt warm in her embrace but, my heart was still breaking to see my second mother leave me.

There was a long beep sound and the screen flashed a flat line. Agnel rushed and checked on her. I looked up at him shaking my head while sobbing.

He shaked his head and looked up at the clock and said,

"Celia Crawford, 46yr, Brain Tumor last stage. I hereby declare her dead at 4.45pm. I am sorry Mr. Jonathan and Miss Alisha. Our deepest condolences to you."

I let out a cry "Mom....." Alisha started crying too.. I was broken.. completely broken. I don't remember who called Elena.. I saw running over to me.

"Baby, shh... i am there with u" she said in a low voice hugging me, "Cry as much as you want today, baby. Its ohk.. I wont leave you. I won't let u break down alone.." She comforted me as I cried burrying my head in her chest and holding her tight.

After a while, when everything was calm, Alisha walked upto me where was sitting with my head still burried in Elena's chest. She patted my head and shoulders and carefully said "Jonathan, we need to prepare for her funeral. Let's go home." And she held her hand out to me.. I took her hand and we both left.

Two days later, we gave Celia a good funeral. I placed her favourite flowers, the Blue Bouganveile at her tomb. I specially asked to bury her next to Mom and Dad. I wrote on her tomb,

"TO MY SWEETEST ANGEL, CELIA CRAWFORD, ALSO MY BELOVED MOTHER."

TWO MONTHS LATER

Finally, I was the only member of my family left in this world. Alisha got married to Dr. Agnel Thompson. It was not a grand but very simple, with only Me, Elena, Alisha, Dr. Agnel and his Mother. I finally bid her goodbye.

Elena suprisingly told me that a guy proposed her for marriage.. I felt bad at first, but knowing that her husband-to-be was a school friend of ours, I was relieved. I wished her well and even asked to be in touch.

My heart was broken.. but i tried my best to be fine. I called up the Hellsman Mansion and told them I would rejoin from next week. Fortunately, John was ohkay with and said i can join from next week.