I Won't Go Until Greg Is Here To Say Goodbye

By Kathryn

The deadly hiss of the heart monitor started slowly. Then it became faster with a continual crawl. Doctors were hustling and bustling around trying to secure the flaky health of the raspy patient. Then, in the solitary blink of a watching eye, death knocked on Jim's door and took him away to a world he never imagined.

His name was Jim. He was my dad's best friend and he was like a second father. It's a simple name for the most complicated person. He was kind, jolly, and very smart, organized with a distinctly awkward manner. In about January, he told us that he has cancer. BOOM! The thought of it struck me but, not with full force.

In about four months his conditions were critical. He was in the hospital. All three of his High School hangout buddies came to the town where tragedy would strike. Tabor, the goofy wild bud, came from San Diego; John, the sensitive idiotic pal, came from Santa Rosa; and Greg, my dad, the artistic serious one, came from here, Lake Tahoe, NV. Soon, it was all over.

After it happened we were all sad, but not too sad not to go on. We went to Jim's memorial. It was in a pretty church in San Diego. There was a basket that had flowers and a very nice picture of Jim.; Also there was his favorite book too. His mom was there and she said some nice things I will try not to forget, "I won't shed any tears until, Jimmy and I are reunited in Heaven." She also read Jim's favorite Bible verse and told us what he saw in the verse which made it so special to him.

I cried. John had to make a speech and he said something so incredible that I would never forget it even for a moment, "Jim was on his last limb. I was standing over him in the hospital with a look of pure determination. He said that he wouldn't let go until Greg was there to say goodbye."

I heard those words and tried to remember the good times. I looked over at my dad, but then even the thought of happiness escaped my mind. The look my dad had on his face would have scared a 5 years old. His eyes were moist with tears of remembrance. His mouth looked like it was the wrong shape and his face was as red as a ripe rich strawberry. He looked mortified to put it into one word. The next thing Jon said made my dad's face look honored.

"Those words were the only thing that kept him alive for the last twenty minutes while Greg was there and said his last words. As soon as Greg was done Jim said,' Goodbye,' and was gone forever."

The look on my dad's face faded. A small smile broke out and the tears melted away. This made me smile too. I will think of those words and cry, for the thought of Jim. The full force of Jim's cancer has hit me with its full force.