(Note: These Characters are not mine, please do not sue me!)

Stop and Stare

by

Sammy
(Smsluvkats@aol.com)

Maxwell Sheffield was on his way home to pick up his family after visiting the theater. He had just said goodbye to a picture of his late wife, Sara, and was now about to ask the women that he loved, Fran Fine, to marry him. While he was driving he noticed an ambulance and a crowd of people standing at a curb 5 minutes away from his house. A bout of curiosity overtook him and he decided to take a closer look. As he approached the scene he noticed that Fran’s mother, grandmother, and his entire family were a part of the throng. “What’s going on?” he asked his son. “Dad…something’s happened”, Brighton replied with a distraught look on his face. Just as Max was about to ask his son to explain himself he saw Fran’s body being wheeled into the ambulance. Without even thinking Max ran through the crowd and hurled himself into the ambulance. “Sir, we have to get this women to the hospital as soon as possible, and in order to do this we are going to have to ask you to leave.” said the paramedic. “But, you don’t understand!” retorted Max. “This is the woman I love! I need to be by her side!” The paramedic took sympathy on him and allowed him to accompany them to the hospital.

Once they arrived at the hospital Fran was whisked back to a room before Max even had time to think. Soon after one of the paramedics from the ambulance pulled him aside and filled him in on what had happened earlier that evening. Fran was heading over to the theater to see what was keeping Max so long. She was running so fast that she didn’t see where she was going and an SUV wound up hitting her as she was crossing the street. The driver of the SUV got so scared that they sped away real fast leaving Fran alone in the middle of the intersection. However, the police were able to track them down. A Good Samaritan drove by and called the ambulance. “Is she going to be okay?” Max asked terrified. “We don’t know. When we found her she was in critical condition. I doubt that her condition will improve in the near future.” Max crumbled into a ball on the floor and proceeded to cry.

Later that evening the rest of the Sheffield/ Fine clan arrived at the hospital to wait with Maxwell. Hours seemed like days as they waited to hear an update on Fran’s condition. Finally, three hours later a doctor came to speak with them. “How is she doing?” Max asked the doctor with a pleading look on his face. “She’s in a coma.” the doctor replied as bluntly as was humanly possible. “Is there any chance that she’ll come out of it?” asked her mother. “Only time will tell.” “Can we see her?” Grace chimed in. “ No, visiting hours ended a while ago. But all of you are welcome to come back in the morning.” And with that the doctor left and Fran’s loved ones were given no choice but to go home.

The next morning Max quickly got dressed and ran over to the hospital. As soon as he arrived he burst into Fran’s hospital room carrying a bouquet of roses and the ring that he had intended to give her the night before. He knelt beside her and assessed the situation. “Oh, my darling”, he whispered to her. “I never could’ve imagined that this would happen to you. All I can hope for now is that you get out of this. And when you do the first thing I want you to see when you wake-up are these.” He put the roses on the nightstand beside her bed. “And the second thing I want you to see is this.” And with that he slipped the ring onto her finger. “My Fran, my love, I’ve wanted you for so many years and finally I’ve gotten up the courage to ask you once and for all if you’ll be my wife. I know that probably I don’t need to ask you but it’s the proper thing to do and as you know I am a proper gentlemen.” He kissed her head and got up to leave. “My dear, I have to go, there is plenty of work that needs to be done before my next show opens up. Please wake-up soon so you can give me your answer.” And on that note Max left Fran’s room.

Days passed and there was still no improvement in Fran’s condition. Her doctors and her family doubted that she would ever recover. But, Max stayed hopeful. He knew that the love of his life would pull through so that they could spend the rest of eternity together as husband and wife. To ensure this outcome he visited her hospital room every morning before he started his work and every night just before visiting hours ended. He even stayed with her some nights when the children were out. No matter what he would not give up hope.

Finally, after 5 weeks of hospitalization Fran’s condition truly took a turn for the worst. The doctors said that she had slipped into an even deeper coma than she had been in earlier. Now, there was even less of a chance of her waking up. “But can’t you do anything to help her!!” Max screamed. “We’re giving her medication through an IV that will help sustain her in her present state. That’s all we can do. The only way that she’ll be able to come out of her coma is if her body is strong enough to repair itself, which doesn’t look like any option.” “So, all we can do is wait!” “Yes, or there’s another alternative.” “Which would be what?” asked Max eagerly. “Well, we could pull the plug on the life support. This would either result in her waking up or dieing.” “No,” refused Max, “it’s too risky.” “Alright,” said the doctor, “but remember it’s always an option.”

Later that night Maxwell told the Fines and his family about what the doctor had suggested. To his dismay, Max’s family agreed with the doctor. “I cannot believe this. My own family doesn’t support me!” “Well, you’re right”, said Maggie, “it is a pretty risky thing to do but with the way things are getting worse with Fran we really have no other option.” Finally, Max caved in and called the doctor with their decision.

The next day the entire Sheffield/ Fine clan gathered in Fran’s hospital room. Some were crying, others were hopeful, and Max was completely distraught. If this procedure went well he would have the love of his life back. If it failed, he would lose one of the most amazing people he had ever met. After awhile the doctor quieted everyone down so that he could concentrate. Max became very tense. He didn’t want to lose Fran. He couldn’t lose her. She was more important to him than anything. As the doctor’s hand approached the life support plug Max closed his eyes. This was too hard for him to bare.

The next few seconds seemed to go by extremely fast. The doctor pulled the plug and at first it seemed like Fran’s life was over. But, then, as if by a miracle her heart rate started to go back up. And sure enough a few minutes later Fran Fine had come back to life.

As soon as she woke up Max uncovered his eyes and threw his arms around her. “ Oh, my darling you’re alive!!!” “Max!” she whispered, still shaken up from her ordeal. Meanwhile the rest of her family swarmed her, asking her questions to see if she hadn’t forgotten who she was. The doctor decided to leave the room to avoid all the chaos.

Once everyone had left Max stayed around to be sure she had gotten his gifts. “While you were out people left you lots of gifts.” “I know, I looked at them all.” responded Fran bewildered. “No”, replied Max, “not everywhere.” At that moment Fran looked over and saw the bouquet of roses sitting in a vase on her nightstand. “Oh, Max thank you so much.” “There’s still one more. Look at your hand.” Then, Fran saw the ring on her finger. “Max…. I.” “Well, my doll, what do you say?” Fran looked at Max with a huge smile on her face. “Yes , of course the answer is yes.”

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