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"That is a very pretty dress," Sabastian said to Susan. "May I ask the occasion?"

"I have to visit someone today," Susan answered.

"Who?"

"My Grandpa."

Sabastian looked over at Claudia. "She have me call cab already. We going to White Plain Hospital."

"May I go with you?" Sabastian asked.

"I want you to go," Susan answered.

"How do you know your grandfather is in this hospital?"

"I just do."

"Is he sick?"

"Yes. His heart and soul are sick."

"Soul?"

"Yeah, he thinks he killed mom. But he didn't. I need to tell him that before he dies."

"Is he going to die?"

"Yes, soon."

A honk came from the front and the three of them went out to the waiting cab. Susan sat in the back with Sabastian and Claudia sat in the front with the cabby. Susan held Sabastian's hand as they pulled away from the house.

"How do you know your grandfather is going to die?" Sabastian asked, as the cab pulled onto the Post Road.

Susan looked at him, smiled, and then looked out the front window.

They pulled into the front of the hospital and filed out. Susan marched right in, as if she had been there many times before. The front desk directed her to the intensive care unit, where she was directed to her grandfather, Bill Angle. Claudia waited outside.

His eyes were open, but he had tubes in his nose and neck so he couldn't speak. He was visibly frail. He watched as Susan and Sabastian entered the room.

"Hello grandpa," she said, walking up to him and placing her hand on his arm. His eyes went wide and his monitor indicted that his heart rate had jumped.

"I want you to know that I love you. I remember the days we played together when mommy and I stayed with you.

"I don't want you to blame yourself for what happened. For what is happening. It's not your fault. You did what you thought was right.

"This is all in his plan. You, mom, me. You know what's going to happen, don't you?" she asked.

Bill blinked his eyes in an attempt to say, "Yes. I know I'm going to die." Then started to tear.

Susan wiped away a tear and said, "It's O.K."

Feebly, Bill took a pad of paper that was on his chest and gave it to Susan, who took it and held it for him. Then he took a pen and wrote something. He dropped the pen to the floor and ripped the sheet off. He folded it to the best of his ability. He then turned his head to the floor and reached his arm down.

Susan picked up the pen, but, instead of giving it to him, she wrote on the outside of the paper. She turned it to him to see and he started to cry again. He looked past Susan at Sabastian and put his hand on his granddaughter.

"I will take good care of her," Sabastian said.

Bill blinked to thank him, just before his body tensed and his eyes went wide. His monitoring equipment was going nuts. Susan touched his hand and said, "It's O.K., you're free." His body relaxed and the monitor began a high pitch squeal. Shortly afterward, a team of doctors rushed in. Susan took Sabastian by the hand and they left the hospital with Claudia close behind.


[Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005. All rights reserved.]
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