by Alison Mello
Three men.
Three guns.
All of them cocked and ready to fire.
Trinity doesn’t think. Her instincts kick in and she bites down as hard as she can on Derrick’s arm, drawing blood and causing him to scream. It breaks his focus on Gates and the police officer. Immediately, Gates begins to charge even though the police officer is right there. Derrick loses what little rational thinking he has and pulls the trigger. The piercing sound that rings through the air almost shatters her eardrums, but not before she sees the impact of the bullet hitting Gates, knocking him to the ground. Screaming Gates’ name, she kicks Derrick in the groin, causing him to double over and loosen his hold on her enough to break free. He turns the gun on her as she runs.
With tear-filled eyes, she is barely able to see where she’s going and doesn’t know if she will be shot as well. When she hears the next shot she falls, unsure if it is meant for her. Another shot rings through the air, then silence. With her face down she trembles in fear, but doesn’t feel any physical pain. Raising up, she looks behind her and sees Derrick lying on the floor, motionless, and the officer running to her.
“Ma’am, are you okay?” he asks when he gets to her. “Are you okay?”
Trinity is speechless and feels like throwing up. Sirens fill the air and she hears them pull into the parking lot. All she can think about is Gates. Is he alive or dead? She scrambles to him, afraid it is too late.
“Gates!” she screams as she falls to the floor next to him. His eyes are barely open but he looks at her. “Please don’t die! Please, don’t leave me!”
“I love you, Trinity,” he whispers, reaching to touch her face when the paramedics rush in and push her to the side. She scrambles alongside not wanting to leave him, refusing to be left behind as they put him in the back of the ambulance. She begs the paramedics to let her go with them, crying and lying about being his wife. She isn’t thinking clearly; she only knows she wants to be with him.
As the ambulance drives away with the siren blaring, the man who brought hell into her life lies dead, surrounded by cops and the coroner. The man who brings her love is lying beside her, fighting for his life, urgently on the way to the hospital.
“God, please I beg You, please don’t take him from me! Please, God, I love him and need him!” she prays, not caring who hears or what they think. She watches the paramedic do his job, and she feels like her world is falling apart right in front of her.
***
Once they arrive at the hospital, Trinity has no choice but to sit in the emergency room waiting area, alone. She is not allowed in the operating room. She sits with her face buried in her hands, hoping, praying…and afraid.
“Trinity!”
Lifting her tear-streaked face, Trinity sees Gloria rushing to her side. She called Gloria when she had nobody else to call. She doesn’t want to wait alone as Gates is in surgery. Gloria hugs her. “How are you doing?”
“I’m terrified,” Trinity answers. “The cops just left after asking me questions about what happened, and I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. I don’t care about their stupid questions. I just want to see Gates!” She breaks into tears again and leans into the arms of her friend, letting everything out. Gloria holds and comforts her, allowing her to cry as long as she needs to. After a few minutes Trinity lifts her head and pulls herself together. Gloria begins talking.
“I can only imagine what you must be feeling sweetie, so let’s do this. Don’t worry about the cops right now and do your best to not worry about Gates. He’s in good hands with the doctors and more importantly, he’s in God’s hands. Do you feel like praying? Let’s ask God to take care of him and have faith that He will.”
“Yes, please.”
Gloria takes Trinity’s hands in hers and begins. “God, our Lord and Savior, You already know what has transpired today, and You already know the heartache that is felt. In the other room is a great man, a hero to this child of Yours sitting with me. You and only You can do what is needed to be done and only You have the power to make him whole again. We ask You to place Your loving hands upon Gates as he is in surgery and to heal him. We ask You, if it’s Your will, to make the doctors and nurses work Your miracle on him, and we ask that You give Trinity the strength, courage, acceptance, and faith it takes to get through this with him. In Your holy name we pray, amen.”
“Amen,” Trinity murmurs and squeezes Gloria’s hand. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. How long has he been in surgery?”
“About two hours. I have no idea how long it’ll be.”
“He’s going to be okay. You have to have faith. I’m here with you until you know something.”
“Thank you, that really means a lot.”
Together they sit and wait, watching the clock. As time ticks by slowly they grow more concerned, but Gloria tries to break the monotony.
“Have you eaten anything? Do you want some coffee or something?” Gloria asks her.
Trinity shakes her head. “No, we overslept and didn’t have time for breakfast. I don’t think I can eat anything right now, but a cup of coffee would be great.”
“Stay here, I’ll be right back. I could use a cup myself. Do you like anything in it?”
“Cream and two sugars, please, and thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Gloria says as she leaves to find the cafeteria.
Trinity sits back and closes her eyes as her friend walks down the hall, and says her own personal prayer for probably the fifth time.
“I know I’m not the best child You have and I know I have my struggles Lord, but I beg You to please get Gates through this. I don’t think You would have put us in each other’s lives for nothing then take him away. I believe in You and love You with all that I am. I have fallen in love with Gates. I haven’t told him yet, but it’s true. I need him with me. Lord. Please, keep him here with me. In Your name I pray, amen.”
Sitting in the waiting room, along with a crowd that seems to be growing, she tries not to think about what the day has held for her so far, but there is no possible way of escaping it. All they wanted to do was go to church, but something else, something evil had other plans. Her ex-boyfriend did exactly what Gates said he would do. He came after her and now because of her, Gates is in surgery fighting for his life. She feels guilty. Tears threaten to escape again, but she fights them back.
“Have faith, girl! Have faith! You have to keep it together,” she tells herself.
She watches a couple walk in with their child and Trinity smiles weakly at them. The little girl looks like she’s about four years old, with blonde hair down to her shoulders and beautiful blue eyes. She looks at Trinity, smiles, and asks what her name is.
“My name is Trinity; what is yours?” she responds, trying to be friendly.
“Hope. My name is Hope.”
Trinity feels a twinge in her heart as if God is telling her something. She feels a miracle taking place right in front of her.
“That’s a beautiful name,” she tells the little girl as her parents sit and watch their daughter strike up a conversation with a complete stranger as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.
“Thank you. I like your name a lot, too. I’m here because my brother is getting his tonsils out. Why are you here?”
Trinity isn’t sure exactly what to say, so she simply says, “Someone I love very much is hurt and he’s having surgery.”
Hope’s eyes suddenly seem to glow. It catches Trinity off guard when she feels the child’s tiny hand cover her own.
“Your friend is okay now. You can stop being afraid.”
Trinity feels her heart lighten with the child’s words, and can’t stop feeling as if she is witnessing a true miracle. The little girl smiles at her and releases her hand. Her parents call her, saying they need to go. Hope hugs Trinity, making her want to cry. She watches Hope and her family leave the room mere seconds before Gloria walks back in. Gloria sees the expressio
n on Trinity’s face and asks if she’s okay.
As Trinity takes her coffee she asks, “Did you see that couple and little girl who walked around the corner as you came in?”
Gloria shakes her head. “I didn’t see anyone.”
“Are you sure? You should have walked right past them. They literally walked around the corner only seconds before you did.”
“No, sorry, I didn’t see anyone. Why?”
Trinity feels it. She believes it. She suddenly feels the presence of God and she knows, just like Hope said to her, that Gates is okay and she doesn’t have to be afraid anymore. She tells Gloria what happened while she was gone and how it affects her.
“Sounds like God is definitely here with us, dear. I wish I could have witnessed that, but I have a feeling it was meant for only you.”
Trinity wipes away a tear and nods. “I think so, too.”
A doctor begins to walk toward them, and by the look on his face, Trinity can tell things went well. A feeling of gratitude fills her as he tells them they were able to get the bullet out. It wasn’t as bad as they first thought, although it did barely miss his heart. He says the bullet entered Gates’ left shoulder right above and to the left of his heart. He’s a lucky man and should have a relatively easy recovery, but they will be keeping him for at least a few days. Trinity hugs the doctor and thanks him.
“When can I see him?”
“I’ll tell the nurse to come get you once they have him in a room and more comfortable. It shouldn’t be long, but most likely he will be unconscious. I gave him something strong for the pain.”
Trinity thanks him again as he turns and walks away; she’s shocked she doesn’t burst into tears. She sits beside Gloria and tries to be patient as they talk about what happened. Gloria sits and listens as Trinity tells her the truth. She tells Gloria some of her history with Derrick and the real reason why she moved to Moneta. She opens up to Gloria more. It isn’t long before a nurse comes to get them to show them to Gates’ room. They follow the nurse and when they get there, Gloria says she will stay if Trinity needs her, otherwise she’s going to leave her with Gates so they can have their privacy.
“Thank you for everything. You are a true friend,” Trinity tells her and hugs her goodbye.
“Call me if you need anything.”
She watches her friend leave, then takes a deep breath as she walks into Gates’ room. When she sees him lying on the bed with tubes sticking out of him and his shoulder wrapped up like an Eskimo, her emotions come close to taking control again. She’s thankful that he’s asleep so he can’t see her this way. She sits in the chair beside his bed and watches him. Her heart goes out to him and her hand trembles when she reaches out to tenderly touch his. She doesn’t want to wake him, but only to feel her skin against his.
Part of her wants to make sure she isn’t imagining things, to see if he is really there with her and alive. When her fingers touch his arm her lips tremble and she is no longer able to hold back the tears. They flow freely down her face as she thanks God for keeping him alive. She lowers her face and cries silently in her hands.
Once she has control of her emotions, Trinity sits up and decides she won’t leave until she is able to speak to Gates. There is no way she can leave knowing he will want to see her when he opens his eyes. It doesn’t matter how long it takes; she isn’t moving.
An hour passes and her eyes grow heavy and she falls asleep in the chair. It feels like only a short time passes; she isn’t sure if she’s dreaming or not, but she hears Gates saying her name. She opens her eyes and bolts upright when she notices he is looking at her.
“Oh, Gates!” she cries and stands over him. “How are you feeling, baby?”
“I’m in a lot of pain, but seeing you here makes everything better,” he croaks, obviously with a parched throat.
“I’ll get a nurse,” she tells him and immediately walks into the hall looking for someone to help. “I need a nurse, please. He’s awake and is in pain.”
Trinity walks back into the room with two nurses hustling behind her. She stands back and watches as they check his vitals, ask him some questions, and one of them says she will bring him something for pain right away. As she watches the nurses take care of him, she is still stunned by the day’s events and feels numb all over. When the nurses leave, he looks at her, motioning with his finger for her to come to him. She takes his hand in hers and leans down, kisses him tenderly and a tear falls on his face before either can catch it. She wipes it away, telling him she’s sorry, which makes him smile.
“Please, don’t.”
“Don’t what? Am I hurting you?” she asks and stands back up.
“Don’t make me laugh. It hurts to laugh.”
“Oh, okay. I didn’t know I did anything funny.”
He looks at her, squeezes her hand, and says, “Trinity…I love you.” Her heart melts and she honestly knows she can say the same thing.
“I love you, too.”
Time stands still as she touches his lips with hers, trying to be careful to not touch him anywhere else for fear of causing him pain. At the same time both of their hearts intertwine, unseen, but certainly felt as the kiss bonds their love for each other.
Chapter 14
It’s eleven o’clock; Trinity has been at the hospital the entire day, with no intention of leaving Gates alone. She has already flipped through the stations on the small television that hangs from the corner, and hasn’t found a single thing worth watching. She truly hates the remote. For some insane reason, they made the channel selector where it can only go forward, so if she is searching for something to watch, she has to go through all of the stations several times before she finds anything, if she is lucky. Gates softly snores as he sleeps from the pain medicine, so she mainly sits and watches him. He looks like he’s having a dream and she wonders what it’s about. She hopes it’s about her and she smiles.
With nothing more to do than twiddle her thumbs, she thinks about what happened earlier. Thoughts of the events that so rapidly took place, and Gates he almost died for her, make her chest hurt and her throat feel like a frog is stuck in the middle of it. Stinging tears fill her eyes as she thinks about how her life would be if that nightmare had happened. If she had lost him because of her. Part of her blames herself, although she knows she shouldn’t. She had no control over Derrick or what he did. But, seeing Gates lying here in a hospital bed, blessed to be alive, she can’t help it. She wouldn’t be able to cope if he had been killed.
Even though she no longer has any love in her for Derrick, she still can’t help but feel sadness not only for him dying, but for his loved ones as well. She closes her eyes and says a silent prayer for his family.
Her cell phone begins vibrating on the table beside her and she quickly grabs it so it won’t wake Gates. Her legs and back ache from sitting for so long, and when she stands to walk out of the room, she feels ten years older than usual. When she gets in the hall she answers, having already seen that it’s Katherine.
“Hey, how is he? How are you?” Katherine asks her right away.
“He’s better than I thought he would be. I was terrified when it happened and before the doctor talked to me, but he’s going to be okay.”
“I can only imagine what you were feeling. How are you, sweetheart? I know you have to be torn up inside. I certainly would be. I would have called earlier, but I didn’t have the television on so I didn’t see the news until a few minutes ago. I’m terribly sorry. Do you need anything? I’m coming to see him tomorrow when visiting hours are open again. I know they won’t let me see him right now.”
Trinity surprisingly laughs and comments, “I could use a shower, a change of clothes, something decent to eat, you name it, and I know he would love to see you.”
“You poor thing; I know you have to be exhausted.”
“I’m tired, but I can’t leave him. He almost died because of me.”
When those words fall from her lips, Trinity can’
t hold back the bout of emotions she has been fighting. The sharp intake of breath is heard on the other end of the line.
“Sweetie, don’t be so hard on yourself. I know he loves you and he would do anything in this world for you. I saw how he looked at you when you were here.”
“I love him, too,” Trinity manages to whisper. “I am so madly in love with him; that’s another reason this is so hard.”
“Have you been praying? Do you have a Bible there with you?”
“Oh yeah, trust me, I’ve been praying…a lot. Thank you for asking about a Bible. I didn’t even think about looking, but I bet there’s one in the nightstand beside his bed. I’ll look when I get off the phone.”
“You go ahead then and I will see you both tomorrow. I’ll be praying for you tonight.”
“I really appreciate that and thank you for calling. I’ll tell him you called.”
Trinity walks quietly back into the dimly lit room to find him still sleeping. She leans against the wall for a moment and lets her eyes rest on his face. With only minimal lighting, the shadows and stubble on his face cause him to appear more scruffy than normal. Her heart flutters as she stares at him. Her breathing is slightly ragged as she continues to battle her emotions, but she isn’t going to give in.
After a couple of minutes she opens the drawer in the nightstand as quietly as she can, and is thrilled to see a Holy Bible sitting there, waiting for her. She specifically wants to look up a passage on faith; if her memory is accurate she will find it in the book of Matthew. Before she looks for it, though, she kneels beside the chair and talks to her Lord and Savior.
“Jesus, You know all and You already know what needs to be done, but I ask You to bless my heart and soul as I look for the right passage to read not only for myself, but for Gates as well. I also want to ask You, Lord Jesus, to please lay Your loving hands upon him and heal him from his pain, and to guide us together, if it’s Your will, along whatever journey You have planned out for us. In Your name I pray, amen.”
