Chapter 35: Memorabilia
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Jordan stared, unblinking, at the TV screen from her hospital bed. Silent tears traced a path down her cheeks; her teeth worried her full lower lip, much the same way Aleksei used to. How they'd loved to kiss and nibble each other's mouths. Each kiss seemed sweeter than the one before and they just couldn't get enough of each other. Dee cast a quick glance at her, dividing her attention between the doctor, Whittaker and Jordan, trying to remain calm for the sake of them all.
"The concussion is minor, nothing to be overly-concerned with, we're simply keeping her here as a precaution. The lacerations look worse than they actually are - most only superficial. The break in her wrist isn't causing her the pain I'd normally expect considering the severity. Shock is probably keeping the pain at bay but when the shock wears off she's going to be uncomfortable. I've already scheduled medication to handle that if it gets to be too much for her. The biggest problem is going to be her emotional state. She's been through a major trauma, no one handles it well when someone they love dies in their arms," the doctor explained, checking Jordan's chart and making further notes, glancing from time to time at the silent, petite figure covered with an over-sized hospital gown.
"Is there any memory loss?" Whittaker asked, his voice deep and grave.
"None that is discernible. It might actually have been a blessing if Jordan didn't remember the accident, at least temporarily. Unfortunately, it seems, she remembers every vivid detail. On the one hand it was good she was with Aleksei when he died - she had time alone to be with him - time to say good-bye. On the other hand, she'll always wonder how things might have been different if the rescue team had reached them fifteen minutes sooner. The paramedics said she refused to leave him and go up the mountain without him. She climbed up that steep slope holding on to his hand. The rescue workers were awed, they'd never seen anything like the devotion she showed Aleksei."
"Has she said anything?" Dee asked quietly, wiping tears away.
The doctor looked worn out, it had been a long night. "She wanted to know why she made it and he didn't. It's a typical question survivors have. It's an expected part of the whole 'survivor guilt' scenario."
"Do the survivors ever get over the guilt?" Whittaker questioned.
"Some do - some don't - every case is different," the doctor answered truthfully.
"How do we help her?" Dee asked, looking over the doctor's shoulder at Jordan, still silently crying.
"Be there for her, listen to her, let her rage. You know her best, she'll let you in when she's ready," the doctor finished, finalized his notes, shook Dee and Whittaker's hands wishing them well and quietly left the room.
Dee looked at Whittaker, noting his pale complexion and pain filled eyes. Aleksei had been the closest thing to a son he had had, and now he needed to plan his funeral. Dee squeezed his hand, trying to show what she couldn't put into words and struggled to hold back the tears that threatened again. There would be time for tears later, now she had to get through the night.
Whittaker coughed gruffly, running a hand through his gray hair and stood. "I'll be back soon, as soon as things are in order. You stay with Jordan," he stated, nodding toward the petite figure on the bed.
"Can I do anything for you - for Aleksei," Dee asked, her voice catching in sorrow.
"Take care of Jordan for him. It's what he wanted more than anything on earth - knowing she was safe," he growled, brushing away a tear that escaped his tightly held control.
Dee could only nod her agreement, afraid to speak for fear of completely breaking down.
Whittaker placed a soft kiss on her cheek, squeezed her hand reassuringly and left the room, the soft squeak of his sneakers against the shining tile the only sound heard in the otherwise silent corridor.
"William...William..." Nora called from the living room where she sat watching the evening news, disbelief clear in her wide-eyed gaze.
"What is it, Nora?" her husband asked as he hurried to join her on the couch.
"That's them. Isn't it? I'm sure that's them," Nora stuttered, pointing at the TV, her outstretched arm shaking.
William looked at the TV, then slipped his glasses from his shirt pocket and slid them onto his nose. The images cleared, his heart skipped a beat as the newscast on Jordan and Aleksei filled the screen. "Damn," he mumbled, sorrow filling him. He and Nora had only met them that afternoon and spoken for only a few minutes, yet the news that less than three hours later one of them was dead made him go numb.
Silently they listened to the broadcast, Nora clutching his hand tightly, tears slowly trailing down her cheeks. When the news showed footage of their Romeo and Juliet performance, Nora jumped to her feet. "William, that was them. They're the skaters we saw out on the pond the other day. That was the music we heard, remember?"
"Sweet God," he mumbled, shaking his head in sorrow. "How could this happen?"
"It shouldn't have happened. They were young; their whole lives ahead of them. Heavens, William, they were going to the Olympics!" Nora cried, suddenly gasping as her hands swept up to cover her mouth.
"Nora, what's wrong?" William questioned, grasping her arm and turning her to face him.
"The tape. We were the last people to see them skate together," she cried softly.
William wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her head. "I'd forgotten all about that. I do my best to forget when you're using that silly video camera. I always look fat in the movies and you always seem to wait until I'm bent over to film me."
"And here I thought you just liked to show me your good side," Nora teased, wiping her cheeks against his shirtfront. "We need to get that tape to that young lady. I think she might like to have it - as a reminder of better times," she suggested.
William looked down into his wife's upturned face and wiggled her nose fondly. "You're always thinking of ways to make things better for others. You're one very special lady, Nora. No wonder I love you so much!" he stated lovingly, gently kissing her forehead and giving her a quick hug. "Before we call the news station though, we better see what, if anything, came out on that tape of yours."
"You're right," Nora agreed and with a quick kiss to her husband's mouth, left to find the video camera.
William cast a final glance at the TV screen, his heart growing heavy as he watched the news report and short tribute about Jordan and Aleksei end. "God be with you both!" he whispered to the picture of the pair on the screen as he watched the credits end and the screen go dark.
Text Copyright © 2000 by Constance E. Moynihan
