Excerpt: Fate

“No!” Henry’s voice was raising slowly. The figure shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “Take me,” he said. “If you don’t, then I’ll finally leave and they’ll put me in the ground. They’ll pray all solemn and sad over me like Grandpa Michael and everyone will cry. Please…” he said. “At least… at least if you take me, I won’t be alone. No one will cry, because I’ll be with someone, right?”

The figure sat there, one hand being crushed between Henry’s little boy grip. Her lips parted, then closed again. Then, “there are so many things that are sweet about you,” she said. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you tonight.” She paused. “I think… maybe, just this once, I’ll be able to take someone along.” She smiled again. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a partner. You will be my partner if you get all better, won’t you?”

“Definitely!” Henry said, his little voice in earnest. “Saving my mother and daddy from being so sad… I would do anything.”

“Oh,” the figure said, “don’t say that. But it’s good enough.” She briskly jerked her hand away. “Well then,” she said, standing up from her chair, her voice brisk and businesslike for the first time in the conversation. “I think that it’s time to leave. We’ve talked for much longer than I talk to anyone normally. You’re a pretty cute kid, Henry.”

Henry beamed up at her. “Okay, he said, “what do I do?”

“You trust me,” the figure said, “and lay back down and close your eyes like you’re sleeping, okay?”

“Okay…” Henry slowly laid back down and tucked his hands back under the covers. His eyes were closed piously but his little mouth moved. “Like this?” he said.

“Just like that,” the figure said. “Now, wait a moment…” She leaned over him and reached out her hand for the third time, this time letting it fall on his forehead. “Forgive me for this,” she murmured. Henry’s mouth, which had been perked into a quaint little smile slowly faded. His breathing settled down to a shallow in and out, and then stopped all together. The figure looked over at the heart monitor. The heartbeats that had been showing trailed off the page, and were replaced by a flat line.