Chapter 45: Chapter 45

Austin

My mind went all over the place when I saw the ambulance from Austin

"One, two, three, four; One, two, three, four; One, two, three, four."

My head turns to Miles counting while puffing air in and out. His own way of regulating hyper nerves in check.

"Thank you lord for yet another beautiful day, a grateful heart for the life of my teammates and I, I thank you for the victory you have given us yet again. I…"

My eyes search for the voice saying that simple prayer landing on Xavier, another of my teammate and a friend. His hands join together in a prayer looking up. Darting my eyes away from him to the rest of the team either hopping on each foot or getting their spirit high in

gyration. The call of our school team had our crowd and supporters screaming, Xavier gave a loud roar hyping the rest of school team who return his cry. Coach causally walks in with a stoic face reaching me. Only difference is he faced the field while i faced my team.

"Show those panthers who is truly the king of the jungle." he commands sternly. A crazy smirk draws on my lips. With that he left to his position. I turn to my teammates who have the primal look reflecting mine. A look saying we are hungry, hungry for victory and we will get it at all cost. I gave a loud roar and the followed in suite. Soon our roar and growls got to the crowd outside and right then we made our entry running to the field. Our school gave a loud cheer as my eyes scanned everyone smiling already feeling victorious. Finally catching her in the midst of the crowd in my jersey, my heart skip at the small smile she gave. Beside her is Bailey screaming and jumping enthusiastic. Beating my chest thrice, I point my index to her giving my famous smirk. She blushes a beautiful shade of pink.

This is for her.

I run along with my teammates towards coach, Now forming a circle with him in the middle briefing us again of the best tactic on how to win the game and beat the reigning champions. Leading the last prayer of our season, we hoot going to our positions watching as the referee place the ball in the space between Xavier and the opposing team member. My eyes went for Snoopy one last time giving her a wink before the loud whistle went off.

Snoopy

I don't understand anything about the game but I watch with earnest interest as the ball flew from person to person in the field. My eyes trained solely on Austin who seem like a whole different person in the field. Precise, tactic, calculative. He made the game his, becoming oneness with it. It was a beautiful sight to see.

At some point he got tackled to the grass plenty a times. It was like the other team were scared to let him get the ball using brutal force on our team. Coach kept calm while our side of the bleachers kept screaming at the referee to either give them card or caution them. I sat there tapping my foot on the wood, antsy and tensed because it looks so tough like the gladiators battle in a Roman stadium.

Suddenly as the game went on, Austin jumped and caught the ball meanwhile the captain of the other team purposely kicked Austin in air causing air to fly out of his lungs as he fell with a loud thud. Our team was transfixed in silence for the moment Austin will regain his stance and get up. And when he did, Austin held a deathly glare I knew all too well rushing the smug looking captain giving his chest fast punches hammering the poor soul. Both teams pounce on each other trying to separate their captains and themselves. Few officials came to separate the fight as the crowd watch the outburst.

The other team captain growl and thrashed around while rubbing his hurting chest looking deathly at a smirking Austin who held back himself watching him in a dark glint. I couldn't say if I blame Austin or not. But he started it and got Austin's wrath in return.

After that the game went smoothly for more minutes till Austin scored the first goal. We all cheered. As I watch the game, my eyes begins to water, seeing things double. I had perspiration dripping down my head and the sound in my head feeling like its going to explode any minute. Shakily, I reach for my phone behind quickly dialing my mum which is on speed dial. It rang and went into voice mail. I held the painful moan standing up staggering to get my balance.

"Babe? Where are you going? Shit! Are you okay?"

I force a small smile. "Need to make call to dad. I'll be right back." She looks at me sceptically and not giving her the chance to fight me, I pass through saying sorry and excuse me to whomever I stepped on while trying not to fail my step. Grumps and mutters came from the benchers but my worry wasn't them, I needed to call my mum and dad, quickly.

The moment I was in a safe zone the pain came back in full force and I cry falling to my knees clutching my dialing phone. I groan, and moaned painfully waiting for the pains to fade but it didn't. It kept on increasing and I was helpless. The noise from the crowd and drums didn't help at all, increasing my dilemma.

"Honey?"

"Mom...I-i need you." my voice breaks. Suddenly feeling choked and hammered at the same

time. I moan crying in pains my phone long forgotten on the ground.

"Babe!!!" I feel my head picked up resting on her thighs. I kept groaning in pains crying for it to stop.

"911, What's your emergency?" she clutch me tighter speaking to the speaker phone.

"My friend is dying please send an ambulance to..." that's all I could get groaning in pains feeling my eyes roll to the back of my head.

I fell in and out of consciousness. Next I opened my eyes mum and dad were with me. Mom crying and saying what I couldn't decipher. Dad's lips moving. Next again, I'm being lifted onto a gurney feeling Austin's hand clutch mine tightly, a tear stained Bailey beside him crying profusely. I tried to give a soft smile but my head hurts so bad, I groan moaning in pains. Slowly I watch as my hand was separated from Austin who looks second away from running into the ambulance with me. Everyone's lips kept moving in the moving vehicle; mum, dad and the staffs who fixed oxygen on my nose but I couldn't get a word out of them because of the loud ringing in my head.

Another, I'm in the hospital, hearing distant scream and shouts and after that it was all darkness I saw. Darkness alone.

I just want to say this with a broken heart to the black folks out there. I'm sorry for the murder of a fellow brother. It's 2020 and I don't believe in what the forefathers say regarding black people because we all are human beings. As a racist you don't deserve to live. Death is the best place for your soul. Injustice is a depravity of law to them all over the world. If the persons in justice can't bring justice to those who cry for it. You are not only a shame but a disgrace to mankind. Murder is murder. No sugarcoating it. Rip to George Floyd. We pray justice is served.

too early and not on this day. Scared, I walk over touching her hand, it felt cold making me

almost cry, panicked. As if sensing me, her eyes snapped open just as the staffs began rolling her into the vehicle. Our eyes never left each other as I stood rooted in shock at the spot I last held her hands till the ambulance drove off. Not realizing everyone went back to their positions after the host of the game ensured everything was alright. But it wasn't.

"Austin? Austin!" Bailey screams in my face as I blink trying to get what she's saying. Something cold press against my palm and I look down at my hand to see her charm bracelet I gifted to her on her birthday. She never took it off ever since that day. A sad feeling washes over me as I choke on my tears. Please don't tell me it is what it is. Don't tell me this is a sign. No! I won't accept it. She fucking promised!

I move to sprint after the far off moving vehicle just as a small set of hands stop me, placed firmly on my chest.

"Austin! Stop it! You are not thinking rationally."

"She going to leave me Bailey." I say to her tearing up watching the ambulance thin by the seconds. I have to see her.

'No, she's not."

"She going to leave me. See!" I scream to her face showing her the bracelet I gifted to her, but it didn't affect her one bit or she didn't want to show it. But I don't care. I have to be with her. I promised.

"She's not going anywhere and you better believe it because, I do." She pokes sternly at my chest as tears stream down her face profusely. She sniffs wiping her wet cheeks. "Now you are going to go back to that field, give your best shot and win that trophy. For her!" My anger weakens. I sniff. My eyes left her to the field and back at her. I nod.

She exhales as a sign of appreciation that I didn't fight against her. "I'll go now." She turns already walking away, stopping she faces me with pleading eyes. "Please behave." I didn't give a promise I will so she sighs and left. The whistle blew for the last hour left to know which team will get the cup. If I played for fun before that got aside as now I played with aim.

An aim to win the game and get back to my girlfriend who's waiting for me.

It wasn't long that that aim paid as our school won the last seconds in the timer defeating the last champion as we took the cup as the reigning champions. I didn't wait for the snaps, college reps and cheers from everyone as I ran hastily towards my car reversing and speeding out of the driveway while calling Bailey to send me their location. Flinging my phone on the empty passenger seat as I drove like a madman to the hospital, I held her bracelet tight. She's not leaving me tonight, today, not ever. I look swerving on the road glancing a bit at the mirror going past speed limits.

It's a good day to go to jail.

***

"I'm looking for a patient that was admitted a couple of hours ago." rushing to the help desk, I breathed out while my eyes kept searching the hallway for a sign or anyone.

"Excuse sir can you calm down?" the little nurse says in a frown.

"Dammit! Where is my girlfriend?" she flinches at my outburst already reaching for the desk phone.

"If you don't calm down sir. We'll have to call security on you." glaring threateningly at me. I saw red.

"Sorry nurse. He's with me. I'll take it from here." thankfully, Bailey came to her rescue taking me away which I followed her but not without leaving a mean glare at the nurse.

"What wrong with you?"

"Peachy. Fucking peachy." she rolls her eyes taking me to the room well hallway her parents where seated waiting anxiously. Her parents acknowledge my presence with a soft smile on

their faces and I sat beside Bailey who fiddles with her neck cross muttering what I presume to be a prayer in Spanish.

"Will the family of Mary-Vienne Whyte please identify." we all stood rushing to the black hair doctor. "Uhh okay, mom and dad please follow me."Bailey and I went back sitting as her parents went in with the doctor. My football boot tap on the tiled floor restlessly as I wait outside with Bailey waiting for any news at all.

"Will you relax. You're making me scared." she size me up scrunching her face. "And did you have to come here in your Jersey?"

"Sorry."

"Look the doctor said the operation was successful. Difficult, yet successful. So for the past hours they've been watching and studying her, waiting for her to wake up and she just did. So stop making me scared and calm your nerves." she huffs angrily.

Two things I got out of her ranting. One, it was difficult but successful. Two, she finally woke after hours of the operation. I should be happy right? It's a successful one but why am I feeling there's a 'three' to this even situation. I groan scrubbing my face hoping it helps. Not good enough. I stood up pacing back and forth causing Bailey to glare sternly at me before rolling her eyes. As sly as she thinks she is, I didn't miss out the way she fiddles with her fingers, tensed.

Just then the doors opens, we stood up rushing to her parents. The smile to which they both held calms my heart. It was as if a big bowl of icy water poured on me. A smile crept on my face rolling her bracelet with my fingers. She didn't leave me. My heart screamed to my head. Bailey rushed in and soon I heard sniffles from behind the door paying no mind to it. I laugh softly finally at peace puffing out air. Her parents sat on the chairs by the side talking quietly watching the smile on their faces.

What's taking Bailey long in there? What are the talking about? Ugh girls. I paced about, scrubbed my face multiple times, sat down, tapped my foot repeatedly until her royal pain in the ass decided to come out.

"Yeah. Never knew I got invincible." I shut the door rather rudely on her face after I had already bumped into her out of sheer excitement.

"I always knew you had such a temper." hearing her soft voice, I felt...Stupefied. Nothing. All the millions of words running in my mind seconds ago got locked behind the door. I couldn't say anything, couldn't do nothing. Just staring at her bandaged head and IV wires connected to her. Still yet, she was still the most beautiful girl my eyes gave ever laid on.

"You know, I prefer the cocky and arrogant Austin to this dumbness." I smirk at that. Thankfully, operation didn't take away her bluntness. I walk over to her smiling and welcoming face. Pulling a chair beside the bed, I sat on it taking her hand close to me into mine. Rubbing each other like we always do, she did the same to me. I choke laughing softly kissing the hand. Watching her closely, I see how pale and flushed she is. My girl is so strong to pass through those miserable hours and I'm glad she fought to stay alive. How hopeless I'll become if she was truly gone. I'll be devastated to say the least.

"How are you feeling? Sorry don't answer that. Do you need help in anything, water, fluffing your pillow, say it?" She smiles reaching out to touch my face caressing it lovingly. My hand reach for hers on my face as I held it there before slowly placing open mouthed kisses on it watching her smile. She teared up.

"Here, you forgot this? Also we won the game." My palm opens revealing her bracelet. She just watches it in my outstretched arms finally moving her hand just to close my hand and shifting it back to me.

"Keep it." Her soft voice says letting the tears spill from her glistening eyes. "Austin, I'm so- sorry." confused at first until I grasp what she meant by those words. Like a scene unfolding, her body begins to quake in light tremors. What's happening? I stood up calling for the staffs. Just then her bloodshot eyes meets mine, it begged me to forgive her as she struggled or should I say fight the force pulling her.

"Nurse! Nurse! Doctor!" I watch in horror as her eyes roll into her sockets shaking tremendously on the bed. The doors burst open and in came some doctors and nurses rushing to her. Checking vitals, bp, blood pressure as I stood there watching them shout orders as a few held her body in place.

"She's going into a coma. Someone give me something good." The doctor says looking at the team by the monitors.

"No! No! Save her! Save her!" one of them took notice of my presence picking a wall phone and calling security.

"Security, please come to room 234 immediately." suddenly the doors burst open again as three men dragged me out of the room with me yelling, kicking and struggling to get back in. She needs me. She needs me. I felt tears wet my cheeks as they finally got to pull me out of the room.

My eyes searched for the three persons I left outside the room and they held guilty faces. I seethed in anger.

"You knew?" hurt and accusing. How could they not tell me. Bailey sobs walking cautiously to me while her parents sat where I left them just crying softly watching my outburst. They knew she wasn't alright and they lied to me. The lied to my face. "You all fucking knew and didn't have the balls to tell me?" I hate everyone of them. Gosh I feel like my world finally crashed on me. The tears spilled from my eyes as I screamed in anger and distraught getting stares from people in the hallway. They ones I trusted most lied to my face. She wasn't fine or anything. She's was dying slowly. She's dying right in front of me. I cried.

"Austin calm down. Please. This is what she wanted."

"Fuck you Bailey. I thought you were my friend. I thought..." My outburst got caught short by the loud and excruciatingly long flat lined from the monitor inside. I paused just as everyone. No, it can't be. It can't be.

Coming out of the mini heart shock. I rush for the doors quickly getting tackled almost losing my balance that would have caused a fall but I didn't.

"No! No! Snoopy.! You promised! Snoopy, you fucking promised." tears streaming uncontrollably down my eyes. I struggle and fought with the security men holding me back. She can't leave me. "Dammit! let me go." I cried harder feeling my heart been ripped out of

my chest. "Snoopy come back!" I finally got tackled to the ground as I thrashed around crying her name vehemently only to get answered by the flat line watching as the doctors remove each wires connected to her like she was another death out of the millions the see each day. They weren't even trying to save her, Just accepting that she's dead and gone, forever. Few inches ahead, I see her bracelet lying helplessly on the white tiles floor. My red eyes dart to a crying Bailey at the corner and her parents. No. I won't accept this.

"Mary-Vienne! Mary -Vienne! Mary-Vienne!!!"