by Luna Athena
Tessa looked at the woman. She couldn’t be more than three or four years older than Tessa. She was dressed in a cute goth outfit. If Rowan and Tessa had not stopped Skull Carver, she’d be dead right now. She’d be laying in that alley with the crown of her skull carved off and her brains gone.
“We saved her, didn’t we?” Said Tessa.
Rowan smiled a little.
“I’m sorry about what I said,” said Tessa. “You’re not a monster, Rowan. You’re not. You’re a good person.”
Rowan’s big eyes looked so liquid. He shook his head. Then, he turned his gaze away from Tessa. He pulled out his monitor and pretended to busy himself with it. But Tessa reached over the woman. She grabbed Rowan’s hand.
“It’s in your eyes, Rowan,” Tessa said. “I can see it in your eyes. You’re good. I know it.”
Then out the window of the taxi, Tessa saw it, the municipal hospital. Finally, she was there!
The taxi pulled up to the emergency room entrance. Rowan quickly put away his monitor. He took out a hundred-dollar bill and handed it to the taxi driver.
“Keep the change,” Rowan said.
Then Rowan slid out of the taxi. He had the woman with him, Tessa helping to support her from the other side.
A moment later, Tessa and Rowan were walking toward the entrance to the emergency room with Rowan holding the woman.
The emergency room was actually quite crowded. There were several people waiting, many of them looking seriously injured. The doctors and nurses were running back and forth.
Rowan found three empty chairs in the back of the waiting room. No one paid them any attention, while Rowan and Tessa sat down, placing the woman between them.
“I’ll wake her, then we’ll slip away before she sees us,” he said. “She’ll be safe here.”
“And you won’t erase her memory?” Said Tessa.
“What did she see?” Said Rowan. “Not any alien, that’s for sure.”
Tessa nodded.
Rowan first took out several hundred-dollar bills. He folded them and placed them into the woman’s hand.
“In case she doesn’t have insurance, and for her trouble,” said Rowan.
Tessa smiled.
Rowan took out the headphone looking device. He placed it on the woman’s head. He hit a few buttons.
“Ready?” He said.
Tessa nodded.
Rowan hit a button, slipped off the device, and then he and Tessa quickly slipped away from the woman. But once they were a safe distance away, they turned back to see if she was okay.
The woman was sitting in her chair looking at her newfound wealth. She quickly stuffed it in her pocket. She took out a phone and began to call someone.
“She’s going to be fine,” said Rowan. “Come on, let’s get you to your grandmother.”
Soon Tessa and Rowan were in an elevator riding up to the tenth floor. Tessa felt butterflies in her stomach. She had just gone through so much. And yet, out of all of it, this is what was the most real. This is what really mattered.
And suddenly she felt Rowan’s hand on hers. He gave her a tight squeeze then let go.
“One thing is for sure,” Rowan said.
“What’s that?” asked Tessa.
“I might not be one, but you are,” said Rowan.
“What?” Said Tessa.
“A good person,” Rowan said.
Tessa gazed up at Rowan. She was getting ready to say something, but she stopped. Rowan was still wearing the black leather military cap he’d put on so he could blend in at the goth club.
Tessa winced. She reached up and grabbed it off Rowan’s head. Then she took off her own. Then her hand reached up to her neck and felt the spiked collar that was there.
It was at that moment that the elevator doors opened. Maria at the nurse’s station looked up and saw Tessa. Her eyes widened in surprise.
Tessa shoved the military caps into Rowan’s hands. Then she went right to the nurses’ station, Rowan falling in behind her.
Maria looked up at Rowan then back at Tessa. Maria’s hand went to the visitor’s log.
“He’s with me,” said Tessa. “Maria, I need to see her.”
Maria’s hands moved away from the visitor’s log. She nodded at Tessa. Tessa smiled in thanks.
Then, Tessa slipped past the nurses’ station. Rowan again fell in line behind her. Then Tessa was there at last. She was right at Gran’s hospital room door.
Tessa looked at Rowan. The alien hunter stood there so awkwardly. Here in the hospital, he wasn’t even an alien hunter at all. He was just an awkward eighteen-year-old, who knew nothing real about old age and death. He looked so anxious and out of his element.
“I’ll wait here for you,” Rowan said.
“No,” said Tessa.
“No?” Rowan said.
“Come into the room,” Tessa said. “I want you to meet Gran.”
“Tessa, no, I couldn’t do that,” said Rowan.
And suddenly Rowan was like a wallflower at a dance, shy and clumsy and out of place.
Tessa grabbed his hand.
“It’s fine,” Tessa said. “Come on.”
And with that, she led Rowan into Gran’s hospital room.
Chapter 13
“I love you, Gran,” Tessa whispered softly. “I love you, always.”
Gran’s eyes were closed. Tessa glanced up at the hospital monitors that showed all her vitals. All of them were weak, but they were stable.
Gran was just resting.
Tessa took Gran’s hand and held it. Soft, gentle tears formed in the corners of Tessa’s eyes.
Tessa had been so scared, and yet, at last, she was here. She was not going to leave Gran for anything now.
Tessa leaned in closer and kissed Gran’s forehead.
Rowan hovered behind Tessa nervously. He found a chair and quietly placed it next to the bed, so Tessa could sit down. Then he found a chair for himself near the door.
Gran continued to sleep peacefully. Tessa stared at her for the longest time.
Eventually, Tessa’s eyes wandered to all the tubes and wires attached to Gran. It was a vast tangle of artificial support keeping Gran alive.
“Gran didn’t want any of this,” whispered Tessa aloud.
“Any of what?” Rowan asked.
“All these wires and tubes attached to her,” said Tessa. “She knew it would be like this. That’s why it was so hard for me to get her here.”
“It’s keeping her alive,” said Rowan.
“Gran would have just as well preferred to die quietly in bed,” said Tessa. “But I wouldn’t let her.”
“You love her,” said Rowan.
“I promised her two things before we came, no feeding tubes and no ventilators. And she signed an agreement with the hospital, so that they promised no heroic procedures in the event she begins to die.”
“Are you serious?” Rowan asked.
“Yes, but still, even this much makes me feel like a monster,” Tessa said. “That I made her come here and let them put this stuff on her.”
“You’re no monster, Tessa,” said Rowan. “Anyone would have done the same for someone they love.”
There was silence then for a while. Tessa could just barely hear Gran’s labored breathing.
Then a thought occurred to Tessa. It was an evil thought. She tried to forget it immediately, but she couldn’t. Then even when she couldn’t stop thinking about it, she promised herself to stay silent. But then she couldn’t even do that.
“Rowan?” Tessa said.
“Yes?” Rowan asked.
“Can you heal her? Can you heal Gran?” Tessa asked.
Rowan didn’t say a thing. Instead, he stood up. He went to Gran on the bed. Then Tessa watched as he studied Gran.
Rowan took out his monitor. The same one he’d used to help him find Skull Carver. He held it over Gran for a moment. It made a soft humming sound.
Then Rowan brought the monitor back closer to
himself. He dipped his fingers into the liquid-like screen. He pulled out small holograms and examined them carefully.
Finally, Rowan shook his head.
“Even the Tigrath haven’t learned how to reverse age,” he said. “Your grandmother is very old, and her body is very tired.”
Tessa sagged.
“I’m sorry,” said Tessa. “I shouldn’t have even asked.”
“Why?” Said Rowan. “It’s only natural you’d want to help your grandmother.”
“I just feel so selfish,” said Tessa in a soft voice. “Like I’m keeping Gran here. I think she’s ready to go. I think she wants to go. But she keeps fighting and holding on just for me.”
Rowan gently laid a hand on Tessa’s shoulder. He said nothing.
They stayed like this for a while. Then eventually Rowan returned to his chair and sat down. Tessa continued to hold Gran’s hand.
After about an hour, Tessa stood up. Rowan had actually been nodding off, but he quickly woke.
“What is it?” Rowan whispered.
“I just need to use the little girl’s room,” Tessa said.
“You can’t,” Rowan said.
“I kind of don’t have a choice,” said Tessa. “Don’t worry. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay, I’ll go with you,” Rowan said.
Despite everything, Tessa softly chuckled.
“I don’t think so,” she said.
Rowan’s big eyes were right on Tessa’s.
“Stay here with Gran,” said Tessa. “I’ll be right back. Anyway, I’d feel better if you were here with her.”
“What if she wakes up?” Rowan said.
“She won’t,” said Tessa.
“But if she does?” said Rowan.
“Then talk to her,” said Tessa. “Don’t worry. Nothing surprises Gran. You won’t scare her. Just tell her you’re my friend.”
“Tessa,” Rowan protested.
“I’ll be back before you’ve even realized I’m gone,” said Tessa.
Then, she hurried from the room.
In the restroom, when Tessa had finished, she saw her face in the mirror. Her hair still hung freely at her shoulders. The eyeliner that the goth woman had drawn around her eyes had dripped.
And Tessa still wore the spiked collar!
Tessa quickly cleaned up her eyes a bit. Then she removed the spiked collar. Then quickly, she returned to Gran’s room.
As soon as she got there, she stopped cold. She could hear voices. It was Gran. And she was talking to Rowan.
Tessa was about to go into the room. But then she stopped and listened.
“Come closer, I can’t hear you,” said Gran.
For a woman with a heart condition and very old lungs, Gran still somehow managed to shout out everything she said. And everyone had to speak loudly around her if they wanted to be heard.
“Now, who did you say you were?” Said Gran. “Go on, tell me one more time, and speak louder.”
“I’m Tessa’s friend,” said Rowan. “She just went to the little girl’s room. She’s coming right back.”
“Tessa’s here?” said Gran. “Oh, thank God, I was so worried about her. And who are you?”
“I’m her friend,” Rowan said.
Rowan’s voice sounded so awkward.
“Tessa didn’t tell me she had a boyfriend,” said Gran.
Tessa blushed.
“I’m not her boyfriend,” said Rowan.
“Are you saying you don’t like my Tessa?” Said Gran.
“No, I’m not saying that,” Rowan said.
“Then you are her boyfriend?” Said Gran. “Make up your mind.”
Tessa smiled. However tired Gran’s body might have been her mind was as sharp as a whip. She was teasing Rowan.
“Your granddaughter is very pretty,” said Rowan. “Any boy would be lucky to have her as a girlfriend.”
“She’s not just pretty,” huffed Gran. “Smarter than you, I bet. And no one’s got a bigger heart than my Tessa. No one.”
“Yes, I can believe it,” said Rowan.
“Then why haven’t you made her your girlfriend already,” said Gran. “I never believed in any of this friendship stuff. My husband, bless his soul, he proposed to me on our second date.”
“He did?” Rowan asked.
“We were sixteen,” said Gran. “We didn’t marry until we were twenty-three though.”
“Seven years later?” Rowan said.
“What’s seven years if you love someone?” Gran said.
“I see,” Rowan said.
“Do you?” Gran asked.
“I think so,” Rowan said.
“What did you say your name was?” Gran asked.
“Rowan.”
“Come over here, Rowan. A little closer, okay?” said Gran. “Go on, take my hand. There you go. Now listen to me carefully, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Rowan said.
“Ma’am? Now there’s something I haven’t heard in a long time. You’ve got manners,” said Gran. “I like that.”
“Thank you,” said Rowan.
“Now, take some advice from a very old woman, Rowan,” said Gran.
“Yes, ma’am,” said Rowan.
“She likes you,” said Gran.
“Excuse me?” Said Rowan.
“My Tessa, she likes you,” said Gran. “I’m sure of it.”
“We’re friends,” said Rowan.
“Oh, don’t give me that crap. I’m dying. Listen to me. Tessa brought you here, didn’t she?” Gran said.
“Yes, she did,” said Rowan.
“She never brings anyone here,” said Gran. “But for some reason, she went out there tonight and got you and brought you here for me to meet. She likes you. No doubt about it.”
“Thank you,” said Rowan.
“And you like her,” said Gran.
“Excuse me?” Rowan said.
“Oh, it’s written all over your face. All I have to do is say her name and your eyes do a number,” said Gran. “You’re completely smitten with her, aren’t you?”
“She’s very special,” said Rowan.
“Come here, Rowan, come a little closer,” Gran said.
“Yes, ma’am,” said Gran.
“Listen to me, son,” Gran said. “I’m dying. You can see that, can’t you?”
“You’ve got a very strong soul, ma’am,” said Rowan.
Tessa could hear Gran laugh just a little.
“Listen to me, Rowan, I need to ask you a favor,” said Gran.
“Yes, of course,” said Rowan.
“I’m scared, Rowan,” Gran said. “Not scared of dying. I’m fine with that. But I’m scared what it will do to my Tessa,” said Gran. “Do you understand?”
“I think so,” said Rowan.
“I need you to make an old dying woman a promise,” said Gran. “Come here, come a little closer.”
And then there was silence. Tessa couldn’t hear anything. Tessa bit her tongue, waited a moment more, and then opened the door.
Rowan was looking down at Gran, his eyes watery, nodding his head. What had Gran made him promise?
Gran saw Tessa. Her eyes lit up.
“Gran, you’re awake,” said Tessa.
“Oh, Tessa, you scared me,” Gran said. “I woke up earlier, and you were gone. Come here. Come here and give me a hug. Right away. Come on, now.”
Rowan moved away from Gran. Tessa cast him a glance as she went to Gran.
Tessa reached down and gave Gran a very gentle hug. She kissed her on the forehead.
“Oh, Gran, you wouldn’t believe the night I’ve had,” Tessa said.
“I understand,” Gran said. “You were holding out on me.”
Tessa realized she was crying yet again. She barely knew why.
“I should have known you had a boyfriend,” said Gran. “I’m happy for you, Tessa. I am.”
Tessa’s tears were falling onto Gran’s sheets.
“Oh, don’t be so weepy
,” said Gran. “Come here, come here and let me hold you.”
Gran’s weak hands crept around Tessa.
“Shh,” said Gran. “Shh, it’s okay Tessa. It’s okay.”
“It’s okay, because you’re here, Gran,” said Tessa. “It’s always okay when you’re here.”
Gran smiled.
“Listen to me, Tessa, listen,” said Gran.
Tessa nodded.
“I love you, Tessa,” Gran said emphatically. “I love you, always.”
Chapter 14
Gran eventually fell back to sleep.
Tessa continued to sit by her. She did not let go of her hand.
“She really shouldn’t have talked so much,” said Tessa. “It’s not good for her.”
“She was having fun,” said Rowan.
Tessa looked at Rowan. She smiled.
“She was, wasn’t she?” Said Tessa. “That’s the happiest I’ve seen her in a long, long time.”
Rowan returned Tessa’s smile.
“Thank you,” Tessa said. “You being here, as strange as the whole thing is, it’s what made her so happy.”
Rowan shook his head. Tessa laughed just a little.
Then Tessa turned back toward Gran. Gran’s breathing was so frail now. She’d really worn herself out.
“What did you promise her?” Tessa asked.
“Promise her?” Rowan said.
“You promised Gran something,” said Tessa. “What did you promise her?”
Tessa was just about to turn and look at Rowan when suddenly there was a beeping sound. It jarred Tessa.
Tessa looked up at the various flat computer screens that monitored Gran’s vitals. All of the numbers were suddenly crashing.
“No!” Gasped Tessa. “Gran, No!”
Tessa was standing, looking down at Gran helplessly.
For just a moment, Gran’s eyes flickered open. She looked scared. She opened her mouth, trying to say something, but no words came out. Then her eyes shut.
Two nurses burst into the room. Neither one of them was Maria. A doctor came in right behind them. They looked at Gran’s vitals up on the screens. The numbers were bad, and getting worse fast.
One nurse tried to make Tessa move away, but Tessa would not budge. No matter what happened, she was not going to let go of Gran’s hand.
