The truth never dies
Gina woke up early in the morning, cooked the children’s
breakfast and made sure the children were awaken, dressed and ready for the
school before she could even think of doing anything else. Usually at that time
in the morning her Husband Michael would be already at the Television News
Centre working. They both first met when they were covering the Sydney Olympic Games
working for different TV stations. At
the time they were both on their middle twenties and working hard to succeed on
their careers. Gina and Michael started dating and in less than a year they
were living together and Gina pregnant of their first child. They’ve got
married not longer after their first child Harry was born. Gina then had to change the focus of her life
and slow down on her career while Michael would take any opportunity he could
to work hard and succeed as a TV news presenter and the Editor Chief of one of
the most important TV News of the country. Gina had given up work after their
third child Kit was born doing some free-lance work now and then.
That morning Gina
felt a strange feeling, a feeling that she couldn’t explain. Her heart was
beating fast and she was not being able to focus on anything. She felt a strong
pressure around her chest and her head started to ache. After given breakfast
to her three children Harry, Grace and Kit she drove then to the school as
usual and when back at home she opened the door to welcome Juliana the house
keeper and babysitter. Her heart was still beating faster than usual giving her
a very unpleasant feeling, her hands were shaking and the image of her
husband’s face was coming up in her thoughts.
She tried to ring Michael on his mobile phone though there was no
answer. Michael had worked the previous night on the preparation for the
general elections day, a project that he had been involved in for months. Assuming
that her husband was very busy she tried not to bother him by calling his phone
again
- ‘He must be very busy so it’s better to just leave it, he
will call me once he’s got a chance’ –she thought out loud trying to keep
herself calm. Her heart was still beating faster than usual and her hands got
even colder. The house phone rang at that moment. Gina ran from the kitchen to
the living room to answer the call. With her heart beating even faster, a even
more intense pressure around her chest she answered:
- Hello?
- Gina?
- Yes, it’s me. Who is this?
- ‘It’s me, Paul. Paul Edwards’ Paul Edwards, was Michael’s cousin and also
Michael’s boss.
- I am sorry to give you the news over the phone though
Michael has suffered an accident. He is now at the Charing Cross hospital. Can
you meet me there as soon as possible? –
- ‘Oh My God!’ – Gina
sat on the sofa speechless. She could not reply.
- ‘Gina? Are you
okay? Please talk to me!’
Gina took a deep breath and replied; ‘I am here Paul. I am
fine. I am on my way to the hospital. I will see you there’. She hung up the
phone before Paul could say anything else.
It had been at the Charing Cross
Hospital that Michael’s Mother Harriet had passed away after having
complications on the heart operation. Gina was very close to her and she had
been through the pain of losing her at that same hospital with Michael. A panic
feeling took over her mind. Shaking she shouted Juliana’s name.
-
What happened Gina, you look pale, are you
feeling well? – asked Juliana who were looking visibly worried.
-
Michael’s cousin has just called saying that
Michael is at the hospital. I don’t know exactly what happened I just have to
rush to the hospital Juliana – at that point her hands were shaking.
-
Are you sure you want to drive now? Your hands
are shaking and you are out of breath. Don’t you think is better to wait a
little bit until you calm yourself down?
-
I will be fine Juliana. I do need to see him right
now. Please pick up the kids from the school in case I am not back home by
then. There’s some change inside the tin
on the kitchen top. Use it for the taxi. Keep your phone with you as I’ll keep
you posted – said Gina before leaving through the door.
‘What would I do without him? How could I raise our children
on my own?’ Those were the first thoughts that she had once she was on the car
on her way to the hospital. Gina’s mother had died when she was still a baby
leaving her father to raise her. Her childhood had been fully loaded with
premature responsibilities and disappointments. Gina grew up unable to relax
and play with dolls as a normal child of the same age having to look after the
house duties while her father was away working. Michael had been her first
love. The fear of losing him took over her mind and tears went down her face.
Pictures of moments with Michael were popping in her mind. Tears were running down her face whilst she
was driving.
In less than twenty minutes she arrived at the hospital and
for her surprise she had found that the hospital‘s entrance door was already
surrounded by a circus of reporters, TV crews and lots of photographers. When
she got off the car she could not even open her eyes due the many flashes
coming from the cameras. The noise of voices coming out of the several
reporters was very loud and confusing and amongst of the whole circus she could
hear from far away a male voice asking
if was it true that her husband had died while on his way to the hospital. Another reported shouted; ‘ do they know who shot him? And more
questions were shouted mostly at the same time.
-
Why you don’t shut up – Gina shouted back at the
crowd of reporters.
And in the middle of that
confusion she was embraced by Paul who took her to inside the hospital.
-
‘I am sorry for the reporters outside Gina, all
the media has found out about Paul’ – said Paul while walking her to a side.
-
‘How is he Paul? What happened?’ – asked Gina
who was very shaky and about to lose the control.
-
We don’t know exactly yet Gina. It seems like
Michael fell down the stairs and it was a very bad fall. No one knows how it
happened. He has been taken to the ER and I am still waiting for news. I called
you straight way after I’ve received the news...
Paul hadn’t finished speaking when a doctor approached and
interrupted him. The doctor was removing his mask away from his mouth when he
began to say:
-
I believe
you are Mrs Barker?’
-
Yes, I am.
-
I am one of the doctors who were looking after
your husband...
-
How is he?
-
Your husband suffered major injuries. His brain
was badly affected and there was a major internal bleeding – The doctor took a
brief pause and then continued: - I am very sorry to say but he didn’t make it.
Nooo! – Gina screamed and burst on crying
out loud - No! Not my husband...he can’t leave.
Paul held Gina tight and asked the doctor
to give them some time alone. Gina was
crying desperately while embraced by Paul.
Meanwhile two police officers approached
them and told Paul he was going to go the police station to give his statement
and clarify some facts.
Moments earlier at
the Theatre
Michael felt a strange feeling as if he had
butterflies in his stomach. He could see the doctors and nurses around him and he
could feel a ticklish sensation around his head. He felt his body very light
and tried to move;
-
Sorry
doctors though I need to be back to the TV Station and be ready to go live’ –
suddenly Gina’s image came on his mind and he said; ‘Oh My God! Gina, she might
be worried thinking of me. I need to tell her that I am fine. I hope nobody has called her, I know she
would get worried about me’. He thought to himself while trying to get himself out
of the hospital bed.
Suddenly the room was taken by an immense bright
light and among all the doctors and nurses in the room a Woman with Long dark
hair came towards his direction standing her arms towards him and smiling the
woman said:
-
Hello son. We are reunited again! – She said in
a very soft tone of voice sounding as low as a whisper on his ears. Michael
couldn’t understand what was happening. At that moment all the doctors and
nurses around him started to rush with equipments, they were all over his body
with their medical instruments but Michael couldn’t hear them anymore. The
sound in the room faded away and slowly the images were becoming blurry until
the point where all that he could perfectly see was the woman that was still
smiling.
-
What’s going on? Doctors can you hear me? –
shouted Michael feeling very scared.
-
They can’t hear you Michael.
Michael sat down on the bed. The room was getting brighter
and brighter. The woman reached out her hands out to him and said;
-
You passed away Michael. You are now not longer
attached to your human body. I am going to take you back home now son. Close
your eyes and don’t think about anything else. Keep your mind relaxed, I can
guarantee that Gina and the kids are going to be fine. They are being assisted
by their spiritual friends. Close your eyes and trust me, you’re safe.
The light turned even brighter and a warm
feeling took over him. The bright light turned into a rainbow of colours. They
suddenly disappeared in the air leaving behind the doctors and nurses. In few
moments they had left Earth.
