Chapter 11: Don't Say Never
Chapter 11:
“You’re going to regret doing that Luis,” the man hissed at him.
“Hank, the only thing I am going to regret was ever being your friend.”
Hank tried to punch Luis in the face, but as he swung, Luis caught his fist and grabbed a hold of him. He could smell the scent of vodka on his breath. His eyes were red and Luis knew Hank had been drinking heavily. Despite the rage he felt toward Hank, he didn’t want him dead.
“Hank go on and get out of here, you’re drunk.”
“I’m…not drunk….” He said slurring his words. “I can hold down liquor better…than you can Luis.”
“Just get out of here, or I’ll have to arrest you.”
“I am not leaving until…I see Sheridan.”
“I am afraid you can’t do that Hank she doesn’t want…” before he could say another word, Hank lunged towards Luis and tried to take Luis down. However, Luis grabbed Hank’s wrists tightly and starred at him coldly.
“I am going to have to place you under arrest Hank, for….” Hank interrupted Luis.
“For what Luis? Sleeping with your wife? Having an….affair?”
Luis tried to control himself and was about to speak, but again Hank cut him off.
“Sheridan didn’t sleep with me that night. She would never have an affair….even though you guys had….problems”
Luis thought Hank wasn’t thinking straight and dismissed the idea.
“Hank you’re drunk and you don’t know what you’re talking about. I am placing you under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol, not following orders from a police officer and assault. You have the right to remain silent anything you say will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford one, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand these rights?
“Just listen to me Luis, Sheridan didn’t sleep with me, when she refused to sleep with me, I put her to bed. She was drunk…and….I took off my clothes and hers and….crawled into bed next to her.”
Luis was shocked and he didn’t know what to say or do, Sheridan hadn’t slept with Hank and he hadn’t even listened to her. He started to feel guilty perhaps if he had listened to her she wouldn’t have gotten so sick. He immediately brought his mind to the present and then he recalled what Hank had just said.
“I took of my clothes….crawled into bed next to her.”
“You bastard how could you do this to her?” with that Luis formed his fingers into a fist and took a swing at Hank’s face. His hand made contact and hit Hank just above the cheek bone. All that could be heard, was a loud crack as Luis made contact. Hank’s head went back and after the blow to the face, his back arched back and he fell back hitting the cold hard pavement.
Luis no longer cared about arresting Hank he needed so desperately to see Sheridan, talk to her and tell her how much he loved her. He took one last look at Hank and then turned around and started making his way to the emergency entrance of Harmony Hospital.
As he walked towards the entrance, a light drizzle of rain began to fall. Luis started thinking about all the wonderful moments they had shared. Sheridan would pull through. She had to and with Luis by her side, it would give her more strength to fight and have something to live for. He approached the doors and they automatically opened. He rushed inside and headed to the elevators.
He hit the up button and waited for the elevator to arrive. Even though it was only a few seconds, every second felt like minutes had drifted by. Time had suddenly slowed down, or so it seemed. Luis impatiently waited for the elevator to arrive. Luis heard a faint sound indicating the elevator had finally reached the main floor of the hospital. The elevator doors opened quickly and Luis stepped inside. He hit an elevator button and watched anxiously as the doors closed. He rested his hands, on the elevator bars and he sighed. Two other people were in the elevator with Luis, but it was otherwise quiet. Suddenly Luis heard a song playing through the elevator’s speakers, that reminded him of the time he and Sheridan had gone a picnic together at the beach.
*FLASHBACK*
Luis had taken Sheridan to the beach and had surprised her with a picnic, that sunny day in August. The cool ocean breeze cooled them down, despite the humidity in the air. They had just finished eating and Sheridan was resting on Luis’ chest. She was fully content as was Luis and nothing could spoil the moment. However, Luis had another little surprise to spring on Sheridan and he hoped he would get the response he was seeking.
“Sheridan” Luis whispered softly in her ear.
“Yes Luis” Sheridan answered, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I still have one more surprise to give you.”
Sheridan got up and faced Luis looking into his eyes. She smiled at him and her eyes sparkled as the sun shone and highlighted the tones of her hair.
“Well Luis I don’t know what else you could do that could make this day anymore perfect that it has already been, but be my guest.” Sheridan said in a playful sarcastic tone. Luis chuckled and suddenly remembered why he loved this woman so much.
He had brought along a portable cassette player and had put in the batteries this morning, before he had left the house to pick up Sheridan. The song he had selected was already cued and all he had to do was press play when he was ready.
Luis cupped Sheridan’s face with both his hands and just starred at her for a moment. She was so beautiful and he wanted to stay like this with her forever. He kissed Sheridan softly on the lips and then pulled back. He placed his hand in his left jean pocket and pulled out a small rectangular shaped velvet box. Sheridan gasped as she starred at the box with wonder. A million thoughts raced through her head. Could it be an engagement ring? She wouldn’t have to wait much longer to find out. Luis carefully opened the box to reveal to Sheridan a beautiful two karat diamond solitaire ring. Tears began to well up in her eyes and Sheridan was so surprised. She loved Luis more than anything and inside she was screaming “YES” but he hadn’t proposed yet.
“Sheridan I wanted to ask you to marry me in a special way, because you have made me the luckiest man alive. So I looked for a song that I could sing to you to express my love for you and propose.”
A single tear rolled down her left cheek and Luis wiped it away with his thumb.
Luis pressed the play button and music blasted through the speakers. A soft melody began to play and Sheridan instantly recognized it.
Luis got ready to sing for Sheridan and before he did, he took her hands in his and smiled.
I can’t conceal it.
Don’t you see, can’t you feel it?
Sheridan let’s try it.
You love me, don’t deny it.
Say I do?
Sheridan knew exactly the response Luis was looking for. She paused for only a second and then said.
“I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, I do.”
Luis laughed out loud with joy and took the ring out of the box and placed it on Sheridan’s ring finger. As he slipped it on her finger, Sheridan was trembling she was so ecstatic that her nerves were getting the best of her.
“Sheridan what’s wrong why are you shaking?”
“Oh Luis, I just thought this day would never come. It feels like a dream.”
“It’s not a dream. You’re not going to wake up.”
The music on the tape continued to play, but the newly engaged couple, were kissing passionately and hardly noticed the song that was playing. It just served as an ornament that was decorating or painting the picture before them.
* Music playing *I have a smile stretched from ear to ear. I see you walking down the road. We meet at the lights, I stare for a while the world around disappears. Just you and me on this island of hope, a breath between us could be miles. Let me surround you, my sea to your shore. Let me be the calm you seek. Oh and every time I’m close to you, there’s too much I can’t say and you just walk away. And I forget to tell you I love you. And the nights too long, and cold here without you, I grieve in my condition for I cannot find the strength to say I need you so. Oh and every time I am close to you there’s too much I can say and you just walk away. And I forget to tell you I love you, and the nights too long, and cold here without you. * End of song: I Love You: By Sarah McLachlan
*END OF FLASHBACK*
Luis stepped of the elevator and headed down the hall, towards Sheridan’s hospital room.
He was anxious to see her and it felt like it had taken days to arrive to this very moment, even though only minutes had passed.
As Luis approached the hospital room, he noticed that there was a lot of commotion outside of Sheridan’s room.
“Susan, code blue, get the machine in here stat.”
“What’s going on? Sheridan” Luis screamed out frantically.
“I am sorry sir you can’t go in there.” The nurse said gesturing for Luis to stay back.
“What’s happened?” Luis yelled out.
“I am afraid your wife has gone into cardiac arrest. The doctors are trying to revive her.”
“Noooooo” Luis screamed in agony. This couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t lose her not without telling her, how much he loved her and that know he knew the truth.
Luis looked frantically at the scene unfolding before him. The doctors were hastily trying to get a pulse, but to no avail.
“Come on Sheridan fight….” Luis said on the verge of tears.
“I need you. You can’t do this to me, to us.” Tears quickly fell down his cheeks. He couldn’t fight back all the emotion that was inside of him.
“Please God, let Sheridan be alright….” He began to sob and prayed she would pull through this terrible ordeal.
To Be Continued…
