15

That night the world stopped and to Marley, it felt like it was never going to start again. There was no end in sight for that night. Marley wanted to believe that it all was a dream. But it wasn't. It wasn't a dream. Brian was in the hospital and no one would tell her what had happened, only that he had been shot.

Marley prayed for strength all night. She prayed that it would all be ok. She prayed that it would all work out for the best. No one wants to see their spouse fighting for their life. No one wants their kids to be asking questions that you don't have answers for. No one wants that situation. So Marley did what she knew how to do, she ran. Shane, Marley's brother-in-law, told her to go and that he would watch her kids. Shane could read Marley like a book, she needed to leave.

After sitting in her SUV, she pulled herself back together. Just enough to encounter what she dreaded for hours. She walked back into the hospital and after puking one more time in bushes outside the front door she zipped up her jacket and walked through the doors. "Really, Marley, can you even imagine how many people have puked in that bush? Probably a good handful." She says to herself. She needed a chuckle. She needed something to take her mind off it all.

She exited the elevator and saw Jordan and Addison with Uncle Shane. Shane didn't look well, he didn't look well at all. "What is it?" Marley asked.
"He's not going to make it." Shane choked back tears.
"No, no, no, no!" Marley weakly said.
"The Doc came looking for you. I didn't know when you were going to be back. They said that they would wait for you."
"Wait for what?!"
"Marley, we've all said our goodbyes. It's your turn."

Marley sat in a chair next to the wall. She threw her face into her hands and began to cry. "What are you doing? Your kids are watching you. Get it together." Marley told herself. She felt a tap on her arm.
"Mommy, why did I have to tell daddy bye-bye? Where is he going? Is he hurt?" Jordan questioned.
"See, Daddy got hurt and it was up to the doctors to help him feel better, but they tried and well, he needs to get better. The doctors did all they can do." Marley wanted to sugar coat it as much as she could but, she wanted to tell Jordan, "Hes dying and he's not coming home." But she didn't.

"Mar, I'll take the kids." Shane said. Now, Marley hated being called Mar, it made her feel "old."
"Ok, I'll let you know when I'm done."

Marley watched as Jordan held Shane's hand and Addison being held by Olivia, Shane's wife, turned and walked down the hallway. She took a deep breath and turned the door to Brian's room.