((*Don't Tell Me Goodbye So Soon*))


Julie stared at the white bed, the white sheets, the white pillows, the white furniture. The white everything. She looked almost as if she were in a white heaven. Of course, it wasn't. It was a hospital room.

Her eyes trailed to the beeping monitor and then to the person in the bed. The precious man in the hospital bed before her eyes.

She scooted towards him and put her warm hand on his cold one. It was almost as if he were dead. His eyes fluttered open suddenly and his pale lips curled into a slight smile.

Julie smiled and squeezed his hand. "Good Morning, honey."

Justin kept the smile on his face and closed his eyes.

"You still sleepy?" Julie asked.

"Not really.." Justin said warily.

Julie had a grim expression on her face. "The doctors said that they still don't know what's going on with your body. They don't know what the problem is."

Justin let out a small chuckle. "They'll never know."

Julie looked down at her hands, as she felt hot tears starting to develop once again for the 10th time that day. "I hope you do get better, Justin... I don't know what I'd do without you."

"It'll be okay. I'll get better. I promise," Justin assured, taking her hand in his.

Julie nodded and studied her shoes. He couldn't promise that. It was too much. They both knew that it was only a matter of time. If the doctors didn't know, what could anyone hope for?

Just then, a nurse came in holding a tray with medicine and needles. "I'm sorry, Miss, but he needs to take his medicine and shots. Visiting hours are up."

Julie sighed and slowly got up, kissing Justin on the cheek. She walked out of the room and sat onto one of the many white chairs near Justin's room. And, as for her time, she spent it staring at the wall and thinking.

Her thoughts on the time she had spent with Justin and how it might be cut short. The problem had all started just only a couple weeks ago. She and Justin were planning on going to some fancy restuarant and then taking a little walk on the beach. Well, the night went on and after Justin dropped Julie off at her apartment, he had got into a car accident. Apparently, someone's car on the other side of the road swerved right into Justin's and they both collided into the woods. It was a drunk driver, of course. Just another one of those stories about drinking and driving incidents. Nothing new. But, it hurt for everyone who was close, like it would if it happened to any other person. Julie was devastated when she heard the news and ran to the hospital where Justin was being put. And then it all went on as it was now. Julie was still in her shocked, sad, and spaced-out state.

Julie sat there for almost 3 hours, trying to gain up her senses and go home for a little bit. But, she couldn't. Not when she was hurting like she was now. Especially when she didn't know just what was going to happen. She wanted to be there.

Then, a doctor walked in Justin's room. Julie assumed he was going there to check up on Justin. But, just then, the doctor burst out and down the hall, calling out doctor names and nurses. Julie gasped and went into Justin's room, running to his bed. He was paler than before and Julie noticed a loud, long beep coming from his monitor.

"Oh, God, no!" Julie cried out frantically. She put her hand on his chest, feeling no heart beat what-so-ever. It was happening.

Suddenly, doctors and nurses ran into the room, pushing Julie away. A nurse pulled at Julie and out of the room.

"I'm sorry. You'll have to wait outside," the nurse said quickly and closed the door in her face.

All Julie heard from the room was people yelling out different doctor terms and the loud, piercing beep from the monitor. Julie staggered down on the floor and began crying right there. What she had thought was really happening... or had happened. And, after what seemed like an hour, the doctors slowly walked out of the room, grim and disappointed expressions plastered against their faces. One nurse walked up to Julie and asked if she would want to tell Justin one last goodbye. It was then that Julie broke down. She slowly stepped into the room and by Justin's body. The nurse left the room and closed the door for privacy.

"Oh... oh, no... this can't be happening...." Julie whispered, covering her eyes from the sight of Justin. He was gone for sure.

Julie let the tears drip on Justin's pale complexion. He hadn't kept his promise. She almost kicked herself for not telling him goodbye earlier. How could have this happened? Why wouldn't God just have let Justin live for a couple more minutes so that she could have said goodbye? It was too late now. He was set free in Heaven. Somewhere she wouldn't be until she completed her life-long journey.

After all was said and done, she sighed and rubbed her tearstained eyes. It would be a long while until she would say goodbye to him in her heart.


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