Mellisa's Loss

"What are you cops doing here? Are my parents in trouble?" Melissa Chavez asked.

The skinny young officer answered stoically. "Your parents were on I-25 just south of Isleta Pueblo. They were in a collision. Your father is in surgery. We'll take you to Presbyterian the doctors can tell you the rest."

There was something that these cops weren't telling her. "What about mom? Is she okay?"

"I'm sorry, I can't tell you that. She's in critical condition you can ask the doctors when we get up there," said the older plumper one.

The entire way up she prayed to St. Joseph that her mom and step dad would be okay. Sure Kim, wasn't blood but he'd treated her better than her sexually abusive bio-dad. If mom and Kim died...

No! She shouldn't put that out there. God wouldn't make her an orphan. The padre always banged on about how God is good. Surely St. Joseph would tell Him to save her parents.

Mellisa sat wordlessly in the Hospital waiting room. Finally, a doctor still wearing a scrub cap came out of the double doors.

The two officers flanking her stood up in unison and approached the man. She had to walk at a brisk pace to keep up. "Whats happening to my mom and dad?!" She yelled.

The doctor blinked at her a few times, refocusing. "You must be, the Chavez's daughter," he said. "I have some good news and some bad. Your dad is stable he should be home in a day or two. Your mother—"

"Is she alive?!"

"I'm so sorry, we really really tried hard; there was just too much damage. She's on life support but there's not any brain waves."

"But she'll get better right?"

"Honestly we're just buying time for your family to say goodbye. Again, I'm sorry."

Boiling tears gushed down Melissa's cheeks. If the cops hadn't grabbed her by the arms, she would've bolted right out of that hospital.

"Melissa," the older officer said. "Hey, hey! Take some deep breaths for me."

She had no idea what would happen if she didn't cooperate so she swallowed a few times and let the air rush in and out of her nose. Her heartbeat slowed and the cops relaxed their grip.

"You gonna be okay?"

"I guess."

"You have our condolences too. Want us to wait here with you until your dad comes out?"

"No"

"Well I'm sorry miss. Since you're a minor I'm going to have Officer Ortega stay with you."

"Whatever"

Michelle sat playing match 3 games on her phone. Not even glancing at the cop sitting beside her. She gritted her teeth and tried to ignore the tightness in her throat.

"You're my daughter Jullie's age, aren't you?" Ortega asked.

That name sounded familiar. Then it snapped into place inside Mellisa's head. "Yeah, Jullie's my best friend. I didn't know you were her dad!"


Officer Ortega smiled. "It's a small world. I'm sorry, I just look at you and I can't help wondering what if it was my Jullie in this situation. It must be really terrible."

"Yeah it kind of is," Mellisa said. She really didn't want to talk to anyone right now. She just went back into the game.

A nice looking lady in maroon scrubs came out. "Mellisa? Hi, I'm Candy, your dad has been wheeled into the room with your mom. It's getting close to time. Ready to come back with me?"

"I guess," Mellisa answered.

They walked down a sterile linoleum and grab bar lined hallway. It was unearthly quiet this time of night. Finally they arrived at the final destination.

The ventilator made its intrusive wheezing noises. The quiet beep of the heart monitor showed mom's vital signs. Michelle didn't care about any of that. She rushed over to the bedside.

"Mom! Oh God, I can't believe this. I love you but I can't say it, mom."

Michelle kissed her own fingers and placed them gently on the least damaged part of her mother's face. It was unsettling how much her body had cooled. She stepped away from the bed rail.

Her step dad held her mom's hand. He was intubated so he couldn't speak. Still his eyes showed tears and pain. He blinked a little but gave the doctor the nod to switch off the life support.

It was still and dead silent for a few seconds. No machines, no words. The door creaked in and the hospital chaplain came in to perform last rights.


Suddenly a deep anger flooded Mellisa. She felt as though she might explode. "I'm going out to sit with Officer Ortega. Get better, Kim." She left, shutting the door harder than was strictly necessary.

A gentle hand touched her shoulder. "Hey, this is hard. I'm sorry," Candy said.

I'm sorry. Is that all anyone can say? Melisa thought as her nails cut into her palms. She was so upset; why did everyone insist on saying empty words?!

"Whatever," she said. "Just show me the way back to the waiting room."

Officer Ortega took her back to the empty house in Los Lunas. "Do your parents have a sitter or family member?" He asked. "I could call them to stay with you till your dad's better."

Melissa went into the kitchen and grabbed Mrs. McKinly's contact info off the fridge. She handed Ortega the note "Here, this is our regular sitter's number."

She didn't want to hear more platitudes from that old lady. "Is it okay for me to go to my room? I just want to sleep," She lied.

Melissa didn't even wait for the nod from Ortega. She marched down the hall and slammed her bedroom door. There was no way she was going to bed. She pulled out her phone and looked at pictures of her and mom. She paused at the photo of the trip her family took to Monterey Bay last year.

She stood there smiling with mom's hands wrapping around her in a protective hug. Kim had one muscular arm around mom's shoulder.

We looked so happy. We'll never be that way again. Why didn't Kim stop this? Why didn't the doctors save mom? It's not fair!