27. Noah
Chapter twenty-seven
Noah
Sweet dreams, precious Sleeping Beauty.
~ Three Days Later ~
Three days.
That’s how long it took for her body to fully give out.
For her lungs to stop breathing.
For her heart to stop beating.
Three days of coming to see her every day.
Watching her body weaken.
Watching her complexion die.
Watching her fade from existence.
Three days…
Veronica stands at my side, holding my hand as we watch the nurses remove all wires and equipment from the room.
It might be a beautiful August morning, but nothing about this day feels beautiful.
No matter how bright the sun may shine through those curtains, the room has never felt darker than it does at this moment.
Everyone works in silence, but I don’t miss the small sniffles every few seconds as they try to compose themselves.
Despite them not knowing Trinity personally or her knowing them, she became a part of their everyday life.
They all talked to her daily, even though she never responded. She became a friend. She became family.
And now it’s time to say goodbye.
I knew this moment was coming; I’ve known it for a while. Even though the staff tried to keep my hopes up, telling me that some patients just need more time to wake up. I knew deep within my soul that my sister was gone.
The truth is, she’s been gone since the moment she fell.
I just wasn’t ready to let her go.
I look down at my beautiful girl, who stands so tall beside me, unshed tears in her eyes that she desperately tries to hold back.
There’s a slight tremor in her hand, her throat working constantly to swallow the cry that’s begging to break loose.
But she won’t let it. She’s keeping it together for me, being strong for me.
My brave, brave girl.
I bring up our joined hands and kiss the back of hers. Her gaze falls to mine, and a weak smile forms over her lips before vanishing once more when her eyes return to my sister who lies so peacefully in her bed.
I watch as they finish putting everything away, preparing to leave this occupied room for the very last time until someone else comes in to take my sister’s place.
I’ve already removed all the picture frames and things that belonged to Trinity from the room, leaving nothing behind but the vessel that no longer holds life.
I clear the thickness in my throat before addressing them all.
“I’d like to thank you all for everything you’ve done for Trinity.
I’m deeply and will always be grateful to every one of you.
” I look from one face to the other, recognizing every single one of them.
“Trinity’s funeral will take place next week, and you are all welcome to attend.
So again, thank you. Thank you for being here when I couldn’t.
Thank you for treating her like a friend, like a sister, like family. ”
They all walk out, squeezing my arm and hugging Veronica, offering us their condolences. When I look back at my sister, I find Jannice at her side, holding her cold hand. “Goodbye, sweet angel,” she whispers, then steps back as tears roll down her cheeks.
Everly steps up next, doing the same. “Rest in peace, beautiful soul.” She releases Trinity’s hand and puts her arms around Jannice, guiding her out of the room.
I stop them just as they come to pass us, letting go of Veronica and taking Jannice into my arms. She crumbles against my chest, tears soaking through my shirt as I pet the back of her head. “Thank you, Jannice. Thank you for everything.”
Despite her constant obvious flirting, she’s the one who’s been most involved with my sister. Whenever I had long away stretches during hockey season, she would spend time with Trinity, even coming in on her days off to talk and read to her. She’s been a real friend through it all.
She nods against me and steps out of my hold, wiping her wet cheeks as Everly comes in for a hug as well.
“I know you have no reason to come back here, and probably don’t want to, but know that you’ll always be welcome here, Noah.
” She smiles, taking a step back and looking over at my Kitten. “You too, Ronnie.”
Veronica hugs them both next. “Thank you.”
“We’ll leave you to say goodbye. Take all the time you need,” Everly says as they exit the room, closing the door behind them.
Veronica steps into my arms, pressing her cheek against my shoulder. “You ready?” I nod, and she laces our fingers together and walks us over to the bed.
She lets go and takes my sister’s hand, then passes her fingers through Trinity’s hair as a lone tear finally falls.
“Hey, girl, I’m going to miss seeing you, talking to you.
But this isn’t a goodbye, Trinity. I know we’ll see each other again someday, and then you’ll finally get to tell me all those stories you’ve been dying to say about your brother.
We’ll finally be able to get those mani-pedis like we talked about. ” She laughs sadly through her cries.
“Sweet dreams, Trinity. Watch over your brother from wherever you are.” She kisses her forehead and turns, wiping away her tears as she walks over to the door, giving me space.
I step up closer, my fingers trailing over the features of her face, down her arm, to her hand, then back up the same path. Something inside me breaks as I realize this will be the last time I’ll ever get to touch her, to hold her. To look at her beautiful face.
I take a deep breath and lean in, cupping the side of her face as I plant my lips over her forehead, my thumb strokes back and forth along her cheek. “Goodbye, baby sis. I’m sorry it took me so long to let go, but you’re free now… Say hi to Dad for me. I miss you both... I love you, Trinny.”
I give her one last kiss and straighten, taking one final look at the little girl I’ve loved since the day she was born. Then join my girl by the door, take her hand in mine, and walk out for the very last time.
We make it to my car and Veronica stops me at the hood. “I know no one drives your car, but let me. You might look put together, but I can see it in your eyes that you aren’t. Let me drive us home.”
I don’t even fight her on it, simply nod and climb into the passenger side. She’s right, I’m not okay. I feel… hollow, empty, numb. I haven’t cried, and I won’t. I never cry. I didn’t when my father passed, I won’t for my sister either despite the pain and heartache I feel inside.
The last time I did was when my mother walked out on us. And I swore I’d never do it again. People die and leave all the time, why waste my time crying? What good does it really do? Nothing. So instead, I hold it together and move on.
Tomorrow is Maddison’s funeral, and we all promised Emma we would be there. Even if we didn’t know her, we’ll attend to support our friends, our family. The only one I have left. I don’t know how I’ll sit through that after everything that happened today.
Two days ago, I made all the funeral arrangements for Trinity. Veronica told me I should have spaced it out a little longer, given myself time to grieve, but I wanted it over and done with as soon as possible. It’s easier that way, and it’s not as if we’re making a big event out of it.
The only people outside of me and Veronica that will attend are those who knew of her existence at the facility.
Even when she was living her life, my sister wasn’t very social.
She didn’t have any friends she kept in touch with or any boyfriends.
It was just the three of us. Then my father died, and it was only her and me.
Veronica takes my hand once we’re seated in my car, and given her height, she barely has to adjust anything in my car to fit her. She offers me a tender smile, kisses my hand, then pulls out of the parking lot and drives us home.
VERONICA
~ The Next Day ~
Noah hasn’t been the same since yesterday.
When we got home, he excused himself to his room and hasn’t left it since.
I brought him food and asked him to come watch a movie with me and Gabe, but he wouldn’t.
Just shook his head and went back to drinking in one of the chairs and watching the TV in his room.
He’s barely spoken since either, and it has me worried.
Gabe knows something happened, but he doesn’t ask any questions like I asked him not to.
He’s trusting me in helping Noah, but I don’t miss the worry and pain in his eyes for his friend.
We’ve been busying ourselves with a Harry Potter marathon and Gabe trying to teach me how to cook.
It’s been fun, distracting. But it’s all hard.
I keep a smile on my face when I’m around Gabriel, but late at night, when I crawled into bed with Noah, I let my tears fall as he held me in his arms. I feel guilty for being the one crying when it should be him. But he tells me it's okay, that I have every right to cry.
Today is Maddie’s funeral and I don’t know how I’ll keep it together, knowing that in just a few days we’ll be attending another. One that belongs to a person that quickly became important to me.
I finish straightening my hair and applying my makeup, then slip into my little black dress. Half sleeves wrap around my arms with the top portion of the dress hugging my chest before flowing down from the waist to my knees, and a pair of black pumps on my feet.
I collect my little black purse and make my way down the stairs to my boyfriends, who wait in the living room. One stands in the center of the room, the other sits on the couch with a drink, both dressed all in black with Gabe’s hair styled backwards with some gel.
I head over to Gabe first, pecking his lips as he tells me I look beautiful, then over to Noah. The second I’m within a few inches of him, I can smell the booze oozing off him, and his eyes look a bit glossy and distant.