Liam
December 14th, 2016 | 3:00 pm
Liam practically ran out the door after his last final of the day. He was so thankful basketball was done for the season, he would've lost his mind if he had to stay for practice today. He got in his car and drove to the hospital to check on Lexi. Things hadn't gotten much better for her dad. He had yet to make any improvement and for the most part, he remained unconscious. At one point, he had responded to a couple nerve checks but other than that he remained the way he was. Liam's dad had little hope that he would wake up.
"Surgically, there's nothing I can do for him," his father had said when Liam asked.
"Then what can I do for Lexi?" Liam asked sadly.
"Be there for her."
So, that was what Liam did, he tried at least. Except, Lexi didn't want to talk. She barely did much of anything for that matter. She just sat at her father's bedside and watched him, hoping for the slightest change in his improvement. Lexi had actually surprised everyone though. Liam's parents had insisted she go to school and take her finals but instead of taking two a day like everyone else, she took them all at once. She finished all of them within five hours and came back to the hospital right after. Liam's parents thought that she would've failed them all given that she hadn't studied that much, but once again Lexi proved everyone wrong. She got her results back and she received all A's. Even Liam knew he wasn't going to do that well.
When he arrived at Lexi's father's room, he wasn't lying in bed. He was sitting up watching his daughter. Lexi was trying to smile at her father and not to let her tears fall. She looked up at Liam from his bedside. She nodded her head towards the door and she followed him outside.
"He's awake?" Liam asked.
Her expression turned grim and sullen. "He woke up this morning, it's been too long though, it's not going to last," she whispered.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
Lexi blinked away a few tears. She took out her father's file from its place next to the door and handed it to him. Liam didn't need a medical degree to know the brain scans were bad, really bad. No wonder Lexi looked so depressed, she was being forced to basically wait for him to die.
"They called it a surge or something," she mumbled.
"I'm so sorry," he said sadly.
"You've said that before," she pointed out.
Liam didn't know how else to comfort her, she was drowning and he didn't know how to save her. He just glumly followed her back inside the room and sat down with her. Lexi leaned forward and rested her head on the edge of his bed. Her father put a hand on her head and ruffled her hair gently. Liam saw tears in both of their eyes, even he knew it was time.
"Dad, please don't leave," Lexi begged with tearful eyes.
He smiled that same smile Lexi wore. Liam could see a lot of her father in Lexi these days. Especially now, they had the same crinkle lines around their eyes from laughing so much, the same grin, the same knowing look. It was also clear what a big toll this past year had been on them both. Liam held back his own tears as he watched the heartbeat monitor start to slow. This wasn't fair.
"Dad, please I love you," she sobbed. "I can't do this without you."
Her father tried to move his arms around his daughter, but he was so tired. He could barely keep his eyes open.
"It's. . . okay, Lexi," he finally managed to say. "You. . . have. . . Austin."
Lexi was crying uncontrollably now. At once, all the machines started beeping and the nurses and doctors rushed in. Liam had to grab Lexi and move her to give them room to work on Henry. Her whole body was shaking, he could feel her tears on his sweatshirt.
"No," she whispered as she cried. "This isn't happening."
Liam tried to hold her, to give her some grounding, but she was still crying uncontrollably. He didn't know what to do, he watched as the doctor called the time of death. Lexi was clinging to him as if grasping on for life. She was still shaking and the tears wouldn't stop. Liam looked desperately to his parents who were watching Lexi with such despair. Nothing could be done, it was over. Henry Cross had died and Lexi Cross was officially an orphan. It all happened so fast. They covered the body with a sheet and Lexi buried her face in his chest as they wheeled his body away to the morgue.
Liam was unsure what to do, he wanted to comfort her and tell her everything would be okay, but how could he say that? How could he assure the girl who had already lost her mother that everything would be okay now that she lost her father too? Liam looked to his parents, he needed help, he didn't know how to help her. His parents understood though and as Lexi sobbed, his mother took her into her own arms and hugged her tightly.
"I know it hurts, baby," she said to Lexi. "I know it feels like you can't breathe, but you gotta hold on, okay?"
Liam's father put his arm around her as well and the two of them held her like they did Liam that night on Thanksgiving. There was nothing but love in their eyes as they soothed Lexi. Eventually, Liam could hear her breathing even out and she started to calm down, the redness in her face flushed back to her normal skin tone. His mother put her arm around Lexi and his father did the same on her other side. They gently guided her out of the room and into one of the conference rooms.
Lexi sat down in one of the chairs and Liam's father brought her some water and tissues. She cleaned up her face and drank a little water. Her eyes were still puffy and red, and her lips were dry and chapped. Her hands were still shaking lightly. Liam could still make out the tear streaks on her cheeks.
"We're going to go check on some things," Liam's mother said kindly to Lexi. "We'll be back soon, okay, sweetheart?"
Lexi nodded a bit and his parents left the room, closing the door behind them. Lexi glanced over at Liam, she bit her lip as if trying to stop herself from crying.
"Am I delusional or were my dad's last words really, you have Austin?" she asked quietly.
Liam didn't know how to answer that. "He didn't know what he was saying," he whispered finally.
Lexi looked like she was going to cry again. She leaned on the table and rested her head on her arm.
"Where's God now, huh?"
Liam wasn't sure what that meant, but he didn't respond, he didn't think she would want an answer to that anyway. Slowly, he watched as her dry and tired eyes finally went to rest on the table.
Good, he thought.
She needed a break from all of this. After a little while, Liam noticed his parents looking into the room, wearily. They were standing with two women. He went over and gently closed the door behind him.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "You guys look nervous."
His mother pressed her lips into a line.
"Guys, what is it?" he repeated.
"Liam, this is Macy and Francine," his dad explained.
The woman named Macy offered her hand to Liam. "I'm Lexi's therapist, I have heard a lot about you, Liam."
"Hopefully good things," Liam mumbled. However, the twinkle in Macy's eyes begged to differ.
"This is Francine, from Child Protective Services," she said, introducing the other woman. "We've tried our hardest to put this off, so Lexi could have these last moments with her dad and take the time she needs, but they need an answer," Macy explained.
"About what?" he questioned.
"She's still a minor, we need to place her somewhere," Francine explained.
"You're going to make her move?" Liam asked, shocked at the thought. "This is her home."
His parents glanced at each other. "It's non-negotiable, Liam," his father said, sighing. "It's the law, a minor needs to be under the care of a parent or guardian."
Liam ran his hand through his hair in frustration. This was so unfair to Lexi, wasn't she suffering enough as it was? Liam glanced back into the conference room, Lexi had opened her eyes and Liam saw such innocence in her. She was still a kid, she was supposed to be worrying about college, but instead she was mourning the multiple losses in her life. At that moment, Liam decided something, he was not going to abandon her.
"You two need to adopt her," Liam said firmly to his parents.
"What?" his father asked. "Liam, how do you even know she wants that?"
"I don't care what Lexi wants," Liam said seriously. "We are what she needs, I am not letting her get sent to some place far away from the only home she has ever had."
Liam's mother and father exchanged glances between each other. Almost as if they were deciding with their eyes on what to do.
"Liam," his dad said softly. "That would in all ways except biologically make her your sister, you understand what that means right?"
Liam felt heat creeping up his neck. His parents thought he was in love with Lexi. How could he explain something he didn't understand until now. That Lexi was important to him, but not in the way they thought. She was his support system, he had been there for her when he felt like no one else understood. It all tied back to the different ways the souls connected.
"We're not like that," Liam said finally. "She's just a friend that I would love to have as a sister."
His parents exchanged another look but then his mom smiled warmly. "I would love to have a daughter," she said to her husband.
"She is one great kid," his dad said, agreeing.
"So you'll do it?" Liam asked.
"If Lexi's okay with it," his mom said, nodding.
Macy and Francine, who had been silent through all of this, finally spoke up.
"I would like to talk to Lexi first, but yes if everyone is in agreement, I think it would be good for her."
Francine nodded. "I'll get the paperwork ready."
Macy went into the conference room to talk to Lexi. Liam and his parents followed Francine to another room and she got to work on getting the proper forms in order.
"For now, you have temporary guardianship of Lexi, I'll schedule a court date and get back to you for her official adoption," Francine explained.
The three of them walked back to where Lexi was and Liam glimpsed into the room. Lexi was crying again, Macy was talking to her, probably about us adopting her. Finally, Lexi noticed him staring and came and stood across from Liam and his parents.
"Lexi," his mother said kindly. "Is it alright if we adopt you?"
Lexi's lower lip quivered. She looked so tired, she nodded and hugged Liam's mother. Liam's father and Liam watched as his mom consoled her, his father put a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm proud of you, Liam," he said, smiling faintly.
"Why? What did I do?" he asked.
"You're a good kid, you make me prouder and prouder each and every day to call you my son."