A Time to let go

Mike and Morgan cuddles on the couch at her house. She thinks “Nothing can go wrong now.” She kisses him softly on his pierced lip.1

He smiles, his sweet smile, and his green eyes twinkle, he wraps his arms around her soft toned, tan body. “What was that for?” He asks.2

She smiles and plays with his brown hair. “For being here with me while Stephanie is out,” he laughs a little. 3

“You know I have to go to the doctors tomorrow, do you want to come?”4

“And you know I hate doctors, why do you have to go anyways? You haven’t told me yet.”5

He holds her closer like something is wrong, “Because, I have been feeling really bad lately, my stomach has been killing me.” She looks a little worried, she looks at him and he looks back and smiles. “Don’t worry, I won’t die, I promise.”6

After a few more minutes, Morgan’s sister, Stephanie, comes back, being her cheery self. She sees the love birds, “What are you guys doing?” she asks them. 7

They look up, “we’re talking about very important stuff.” Morgan answers have she gets up, and Mike follows her. “And we still need to.”8

They walk outside “Morgan, what else is there to talk about? I’m just going to the doctors,” he looks at her oddly.9

“Well, I’ll go with you, shocking, I know, but I love you so much. And if there is bad news, I should be there with you. Just because I hate doctors doesn’t mean that I won’t put my fear before you.”10

He smiles a little, “Thanks Morgan, I love you too, but now, I need to get a good night sleep. I’ll pick you up around 9:30AM, so get some rest too, Babe.” He kisses her cheek, she smiles.11

“Good night Mike, don’t let the bed bugs bite” she said has she watches him go to his car. 12

She goes back inside and Stephanie is sitting on the couch. They look at each other and she knows that she shouldn’t ask what was so important that they had to talk about. “Hey, Steph, can you wake up before you go to work? Mike is going to pick me up. He has a doctor’s appointment, and I’m going to go with him.”13

She looks at her shockingly, “But you hate doctors! He’s that sick?” After a few moments “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that, I’m sorry.”14

Morgan looks down, playing with her fingers, “Yes, I hate doctors. We don’t know that he got or if he has something. I’m going to be there for him, like he was… is always there for me. I have to be there.”15

“Okay, I will wake you up before I go, don’t worry, everything is going to be fine, don’t cry.”16

She goes up stairs to her bedroom, thinking about what happened the year before. She lies down on her bed, holding a picture of her parents, Stephanie and herself. “Everyone had smiles on their faces. That day, it was the best, but also the worst. After getting the pictures taken, at the mall and after that, they eat lunch in the mall. The ride home was the worst. My dad started to go side to side, he couldn’t stop. Mom told him to slow down, we was all scared. The car hit a tree, Mom and Dad died, there on the spot… I only got a gash on my head; my sister had a broken leg and a few cuts and bruises. I’m crying, trying to get out. Finally, I break the window with my foot, opening the door from the outside. I get out, then I go back in get my parent’s cell phone, I stop crying and call 911. They came to them right away.” she couldn’t write anymore. Tears started to flow down her cheeks. The memories of the ER are coming back. She cries herself to sleep.17

“Raise and shine! Sweet heart, it’s time to get up. Its 8:30, I thought I would wake up up a little early so you can get all pretty up.” Stephanie says to Morgan.18

“Steph! Five more minutes! Please!”19

“Nope, sorry can’t do Have to get up.”20

“Oh! Alright! I’m getting up!”21

She gets up and it feels like she didn’t get any sleep at all. She puts on her favorite pair of pants, black with gray strips down them, and then her shirt goes on, a black shirt that say “I’m the girl your parents warned you about.” Puts on her make-up, black eye liner with green eye liner on top green eye shadow and then some lip gloss. She goes down and shows her sister her outfit.  “Beautiful… But it’s just a doctor’s appointment. And it’s not even yours!”22

“Yeah, I know, but I have to look all pretty and no, I’m not going to wear a dress”23

They both laugh, “How did you know that I was going to say that?”24

“Because you always want me to wear a dress if I want to look ‘Pretty’”25

“You know me to well, and it’s starting to scare me!” Then they hear the door bell. “I’ll let you get it.” They smile at each other and Morgan goes get the door, and her sister knew it was Mike.26

“I thought you weren’t coming till 9:30?”27

He smiles. “Yeah, I know, but I want to… Spend time with you before we go to my appointment.” He kisses her on the cheek and she waves bye to her sister and smiles. Stephanie watches them get into the car and leave, then she sits there for awhile. Remembering the day her parents died. She was passed out, but she can still remember hearing her sister screaming and crying hearing other people saying “get them out! Get them out!” Then everything after that is a blur, besides waking up in the hospital 28

Mike speeds up a little, on a clear road. He smiles and quickly looks at Morgan seeing she’s scared, and slows down a little. He goes to the cliff, where they went on their first date. She smiles “I remember this spot. This is where you took me on our first date on June 17,” she turns to him and kisses him “Why are we here? What are you up to mister man?”29

Mike smiles, “I don’t know what your talking about..” he laughs a little, “Okay, I got to ask you something very important… It has nothing to do with doctor either…” He gets out of the car and pulls Morgan out with him, he gets on his knee and takes her hand “I love you so much, you mean everything to me, and I don’t want to loose you. So, I’m going to ask you something very important… Will you, Morgan Smith… Marry me?” Morgan leans back on the car, has he takes out the ring. 30

“Mike, this is a big surprise. And my answer is yes!”  They hug each other. Morgan has a big smile on her face and she whispers, “I love you too” Mike looks at his watch.31

“Are you ready to go to the doctors… with me?” He smiles at her. 32

“Yes, I am. I’m ready for anything.”33

They get back into the car and go to the doctor’s office. “Hey, I’m here to check in,” Mike tells the front desk nurse.34

“Okay, fill out these papers and turn them back into me and we will call you when we’re ready.” he nods and him and Morgan go sit down. In five minutes he was done filling out the forms. Morgan watched everything he wrote down. She wants to know more about him and his past. He looks at her. “What are you doing, Babe?”35

“Oh nothing, just seeing what you wrote. I love being nosey. “She smiles at him. 36

He laughs a little; “You’re so weird at times, but I still love you.” he gets up and turns in the forms. 37

After, what seems like forever, but it’s only been twenty minutes “Mike Limprecht, come back,” the nurse say, they both get up Morgan takes his hand and holds it tightly. She’s scared, but she has to stay strong for him38

“Do you want to go into the room with me? Or do you want to wait in the waiting room?”39

She looks back “I’ll go with you.”40

They walk into the room number 5, today is pretty calm, it’s a weekday, and so most of the people are working right now. “The doctor will be right with you.” She said after she gets some information about him.41

“Thank you,” Morgan says to her42

She sits on the chair and Mike sits on the bed. She looks at it and it creeps her out. But she’s not here for her she’s here for her boyfriend. “Hi Mike, I’m Dr. Booger, so what been happening?”43

“Hey, well let’s see, my stomach has been hurting a lot, it gets so bad that I can’t do anything but think about the pain. I can barely eat. I dropped 20lbs in a month. Part of that is also because I’ve been throwing up. I believe that’s it,” Morgan looks at him.44

“I see, when you vomit, was there blood in it?”45

Mike thinks for a second. “I really don’t remember I don’t look in the toilet when I do, but I might have.” He looks at her and gives her a gentle smile.46

“And this young lady is she your wife?”47

“Dr. Booger, you can ask me questions if they’re about me and no, I’m not his wife…Yet.” She smiles back.48

The doctor looks at them both and smiles. “Well, okay then.” He writes a pap that orders him to have blood taken for tests. “Give this to the front desk and they will call you back.” The both nods49

They walk out of the office and put the paper in the box that says “Place blood order here” they looked at each other “Mike, I don’t have to go with you, do I?”50

He smiles a little “No, you don’t have too.” She sighs in relief.51

“Mike, you can come back now.” He’s starting to look worried; Morgan gives him a comforting smile. 52

Five minutes later, Mike comes out with a tired smile on his face. “Come on Babe, it’s time to go.” She looks at him.53

“When will you get the test results back?”54

“They said they will call me. So, do you want to come over later or now?” He kiss her forehead has she steps into the car.55

They drive a silent ride, she wonders what he’s thinking about. But, she’s really doesn’t want to ask him She looks at him  and then looks out the window watching things move by quickly out of no where, “Morgan, they have an idea about what I have, but I don’t want to tell you till the know for sure, I don’t want  you to worry about it.” Morgan looks at him; she doesn’t know what she needs to say to him.56

They get to her house; she hugs him and kisses him “good night. I’ll call in the morning or maybe the afternoon.”57

He smiles “Afternoon need some sleep. Nighty night Babe. I love you.”58

“I love you more.” She gets out of the car and he watches her walk, her walk, to the door, she turns back and smiles at him and goes inside59

Mike drives off, feeling like he’s about to pass out, so he speeds up a little to get back to his place quicker. In fifteen minutes, he’s back and he falls asleep once he lies on the couch. He wake up around mid-night, he’s stomach woke him up. He quickly goes to the bathroom and he throws up. Looks at it, to see if there’s any blood in it, he sees some blood but they more look like coffee beans. He stands up turns on the water and washes his hands, then washes his face. He stays there for awhile, putting his weight on the sink. “Why does this have to happen to me?”60

Morgan woke up to a disturbing dream. She goes down stairs to the kitchen to get some milk. She sits at the table, thinking about everything that’s going on. She lays her head down and starts to cry and whispers to herself, “I don’t want to loose him.” Over and over again, then she finally falls asleep.61

Stephanie comes down in the morning and see her younger sister asleep on the table “Morgan, dear, it’s time to get up. It looks like you’ve fallen asleep on the table again.”62

“Yeah, it looks like I did. I was just thinking and I guess I passed out.” The phone rings, Morgan gets up and gets it “Hello?”63

“Hey Baby, I thought I call you,” his voice is kind of shaky. 64

“Mike, what’s wrong?”65

“I got my results, the want me to come in and I want you to go with me… Please say yes.” There was a pause for a few minutes and Morgan sighs.66

“Yes, I will go with you. When do you have to be there?”67

“I’m going to pick you up in five minutes. I love you, bye.” And he hangs up.68

Morgan goes to her room and throws on a t-shirt and jeans and quickly puts her hair up in a pony tail. The door bell rings and she runs down to stairs and opens the door. “Hi, I’m almost ready, I just got to get my shoes on, come on in.” She opens the door a little and steps aside. Then, she sits on the stair step and slips her shoes on and ties them up. “There all ready now.” They both walk out to the car and they get in without saying a word to each other.69

“Mike, are you scared about what they’re going to say?” She looks at him and he gives her a quick glare at her and looks back on the road.70

“Yes, I am Morgan, I’ve never been this scared before. I wish I never did this to you. I’m sorry Babe.”71

Morgan takes his hand and gives it a squeeze. “No, don’t worry, I’m going to love you till the very end. I don’t care what the doctors say, you’re still mine.” She gives him a smile and he eases up a little. 72

They go into the doors, holding each other’s hands. “Hi, I’m Mike Limprecht, the doctor told me…”73

The nurse cuts him off, “Yes I know go on back, to room five.”74

“Okay, thanks.” They walk back to the room they were in before.75

“Hey, Mike, good to see you again.” Dr. Booger say just to comfort them.76

“Why did you want me to come here so fast? What’s wrong with me?” He looks worried, confused, and most of all, scared.77

“Do you want the young lady in here for the… news?”78

They look at each other “Yes, I do” Mike’s hand tightens around Morgan’s hand.79

“Alright well, we ran a few tests on your blood and it looks like… Well… You have… Stomach Cancer. And by the looks of it, it’s not pretty either, looks like it’s in the stage four already. And that, that is not good. We’re going to need more test to see how much long you got. Right now, we think six months. But, we’re not sure yet.”80

No one didn’t say anything. “Well, Dr. Booger, thank you for everything, do you need anything else from me?” Morgan squeezes his hand harder, getting a little scared.81

Mike looks at Morgan and back at the doctor “Well?”82

“No, I don’t need anything else from you… For now.” They both get up and walk out. 83

They go back to the car and they climb in. Mike starts the car and leans back closing his eyes. “I’m sorry Babe… I don’t think I should have brought you, I’m so sorry.” Morgan kisses his cheek.84

“Don’t worry about it Baby, I still love you and I’ll always be here for you whenever you need me, I’ll be there through thick and thin. I’ll always be yours.” Mike smiles at her and they drive off back to her house.85

“I love you too.” He smiles and gives her a soft kiss on the lips. They smile at each other.86

A few months go by and the eater grows cool, winder is getting near “Stephanie! The phone!” Stephanie gets it “Morgan, it’s about Mike! He’s been taken to the ER!”87

Morgan gets up quickly, and goes downstairs “I have to go now! Please let me use your car!”88

“Yes, you can, now go!”89

Morgan speeds up. She turns all the turns sharply. Making her stomach feels funny, but she doesn’t slow down. She gets there and she packs the car. Runs into the hospital, “Hi, I’m here to see Mike Limprecht, I’m his girlfriend.”90

“He’s still in the ER”91

“Still? What happened?”92

“He was in a car wreck, didn’t they tell you on the phone?”93

“No they didn’t… How much longer will it be?”94

“Few more minutes, I believe.”95

Morgan turns around and goes take a set. Five minutes past and she see him go by the bed, she gets up and runs to him “Mike, wake up, I’m right here.” She walks along the bedside and into his room. She pulls a chair next to the bed, takes his hand and lays her head down on his hand and she starts to cry, “ Please don’t leave me, I love you, please don’t go.”96

After an hour goes by, his hand tightens his grasp on hers and he softly say, “I love you, but now I’m growing weaker, the reason I got into the wreck in the first place, was because I passed out, I don’t have long now, I just want you to know that I’ll always love you and I’ll be watching over you…” The machine goes flat his heart has stopped, he’s gone.97

“Doctor! Nurses! Help please, he’s gone!” She yells out fighting back her tears. They come in and do everything they can, but they couldn’t bring him back.98

Morgan sits in the church; this is the first time she’s been inside on since her parents’ ceremony. “Amen,” that was the only thing she heard. He won’t get out of her head. She gets up and goes and sees his face, on last time. She whispers, “I love you mike, ad I always will.” she walks out and gets into the car and waits for her sister to come out. “God, please take good care of him. He’s a good guy, and I love him so.” Has she said, she sees her sister come out of the church. 99

A month goes by and she visits Mike’s grave for the second time. She puts down her flowers for him and she plays with the ring that he gave her. Thinking about giving it back, but doesn’t. She walks away, feeling along again. But knowing, she goes to heave, someone will be waiting for her with open arms and she smiles for the first time. It’s time to let go now. 100