Chapter Three:

  To start the
day off, it’s official I won’t be leaving the hospital till I can leave. That
only means that I can leave and die outside of the hospital or slowly and
painfully stay in the hospital until my body fails to medication. The best two
choices I’ve been given in my life. Die here or out there.

  So,
basically my chemo radiation isn’t killing the tumor in my brain period. It’s
only slowing the growth down. I asked many times if they could just take it
out. Doctor Dewy told me if they even went in diagonally it would only damage
my ability to speak. Honestly, I really don’t care if I get to talk or not. I
just want to be healthy and be able to fulfill my dream of becoming a trauma
surgeon.

  If
they can’t get my tumor out without damaging anything for my body’s function
then I might as well just find research that can be a another option. I took an
MRI, CT/PET, and 3D radio-scan of my brain. The MRI just showed where the tumor
was, but not what I was hoping. The CT/PET got me an idea of where I could
inject the tube from the corner of my left brain just fifteen degrees to the
right. The measurement added up well and nothing that I need to function
correctly would go wrong. I took a 3D radio-scan just in case to see my
observations were proven correctly. If I came into the left hemisphere in the
left corner I could get the tumor out successfully. The tube would have to go
in at least four inches or else it would enter the parietal lobe where the
ability of the action and compression to talk would be.

  I
paged Doctor Dewy and Chief Andris to Lab B3 to present my study. Chief came in
with a faceless expression but eyes showing he was proud. Although Dewy stared
at me furious with arms crossed and an aura of a pissed woman. I steered them
to the 3D model of the brain that connects to the computer showing the senses
of the brain.

  “I
know Doctor Dewy told me there was no way I could get my tumor out without
damaging my speech, but I researched other ways to enter the brain without
destroying my speech.” I told them setting the sheets of evidence out. “If I
put this tube in the left hemisphere in the left corner I can get in easily.”

  “I
know that Dylan,” Dewy told me. “I’ve already went over that with you.”

  “But,
that’s where you go wrong. You did not fully see if there was a way,” I showed
her how far the tumor is in my brain. “It’s only three and a half inches deep,
so that means we have to go in at least four inches. But, you have to put the
tube fifteen degrees to the right.”

  “Impressive
Dylan,” Chief said with a hand on my shoulder. “You think like a resident.”

  “Chief,
sir, she used four scans that are worth thousands of dollars without your
permission.” Doctor Dewy tattled.

  “Sir,
I only did this to prove-“

  Chief
put his hand up interrupting me. “If Dylan got the research correctly then I
would put the scans on the hospital budget.”

  “How
do you know if it’s going to work?” Dewy challenged me.

  “Here
I’ll show you.” I went up to the 3D brain and enter the tube into the left
corner of the left hemisphere only four inches in. I grabbed the computerized
tumor in my brain. It was a success like I thought. “See.”

  Doctor
Dewy rolled her eyes and sighed out a fine and left the lab leaving me with
Chief. I turned to him remembering about his godson, Oliver. I brought up the
topic and Chief Andris face got older within a split second of hearing his
name. “Oliver, he’s fine, but he won’t be leaving for a very long time.”

  “In
estimation, how long do you think?” I asked.

  “Tops
to about a year and a half the longest I say.”

  “That
long, Chief? Does that include therapy?”

  “Therapy
is only included if Oliver heals earlier than what we expect.” He said.

  “I
know he will. He got out of a medical coma sooner than others with his same
case.” I responded confidently.

  Chief
looked to me with a half grin, “You speak of him with such hope and
confidence.”

  “Oliver.
He’s an abnormal patient, so yeah I speak highly of him.”

  “He
likes you too much.” Chief chuckled as if there was an inside joke I don’t know
of that was shared between him and Oliver. 
“Maybe more than a lot for his age.”

  I
blushed and started to clean up the files to get my red face out of Chief’s
eyesight. I took the files in my lap and turned the computer and the 3D brain
off. I faced Chief with a straight face trying to hide my excitement for
Oliver’s keen like for me. “Cafeteria? I’m starving.”

  “Second
best thing I heard today.” Chief told me before pushing my wheelchair out of
the lab.

  “What’s
the first?”

  “That
my godson found someone he wants to spend the rest of his life with,” Chief
said happily. “Best thing he has ever spoken of since his mother’s funeral.”

  I
cocked my head up to see Chief’s face, “Oliver’s mother died?”

  “Four
years ago, just after his graduation. Thank god.”

  “How
did she pass?’

  “It
was an unexpected tragic.”

  “Car,
plane, or boat accident?” I asked curiously.

  “Murder.”

  Murder?
Oh, that’s a story I’m eager to hear, but now’s not the time. One day I will
find out and in tribute I’ll send a floating lantern in her direction of peace;
heaven.

  We
finally arrived to the cafeteria and the knowledge of Oliver’s mother being
murder was not processing in my brain. I grabbed a turkey sandwich with a coke
while waiting for Chief to grab his order. He rolled us towards an empty table
away from the patients and other medical workers. After a few bites I threw the
topic out again.

  “Sir,
how did she get murder?”

  He
looked at me with his noodles half way in his mouth. He dropped his fork and
sat up straight before responding. “Dylan, this is a topic we shall not get
in.”

  “But,
sir I can’t help from knowing.”

  “Dylan,
even Oliver will never know.”

  “Oliver
doesn’t know how his mother was murder?” I yelled.

  Chief
Andris gave me a death glare as the people around us stood and watched us
embarrassed. “Yes, Oliver will not know.”

  “Sir-“

  “Dylan!
You will not know!” He said through his clenched teeth.

  “Fine!”
I whispered yell and threw my napkin against the table in anger.

  Chief
Andris and I ate the rest of our lunch in silence with a few sad stares from
him and pissed ones from me. Unbelievable! Does he really think I’m going to
stop at this? I’m going to fight till I get the information I want. If it
drives me insane, who cares.

  In
my mind I already planned my great mission to discovering the murder of Mrs.
Papke. First, I would be rolled back to my room by Chief Andris. Then when I
know he’s left the level I will ask a nurse where I can find Mr. Papke. If they
ask which one I will respond with the older one. Next, when I find out his room
I’ll get the nurse to take me there. After that I will tell him of how I know
him then soon I’ll bring the topic up as if I’m writing a book and I saw a case
on his wife in my father’s office at the police station. Finally, I will roll
out of his room as a champion.

  Although,
if my mission fails, then I might actually have to dig through files at the
police station saying I’m her goddaughter and I wanted to know the facts. Both
plan A and B are both amazing plans and I’m sure I won’t fail this mission.

  “Have
a nice day Dylan.” Chief told me as he stood by the door. “Don’t bring his
mother up will you?”

  “Sir,
I won’t ask him.” I respond. Oliver won’t be the one I’ll be asking.

  “Thanks.”

  “No
problem.”

  Then
he left leaving me there waiting patiently for him to hop the elevator. He
slowly walked to the lift and waited patiently as the machine came up to allow
him in. When Chief Andris was finally in the elevator I rolled out myself out
and came upon Jen. “Jen!”

  Jen
stopped in her tracks and turned to me with a huge grin. “Dylan! How are you?”

  “I’m
great; can you do me a favor?” I asked.

  “Sure,
what is it?”

  “I
would like to see Mr. Papke. Can you find his room for me?” I asked as if I
really needed him.

  “Let
me see,” Jen replied rolling me to the desk as she searched up Mr. Papke.
“There are two of them, which one?”

  “The
older one.” I answered.

  “Okay,
he’s in room 345 on level six. Do you want me to take you there?”

  “Please.”
I responded.

  Jen
walked out from behind the desk and took me up the elevator two levels and to
room 345. She knocked on his door and told him he had a visitor. He responded
with saying his son’s name. She told him it was me and said to bring me in. I
rolled pass the door and asked if Jen could wait out the door as I talk to Mr.
Papke.

  “Yes,
miss?” Mr. Papke asked me sitting straight in his bed.

  “Mr.
Papke, I’m Dylan, a friend of Oliver’s.”

  “I
know. He talks so much of you.” I blushed at his response. “But, please call me
Tommy.”

  “Tommy.
I’m a patient and a worker here and when I noticed on your files that you were
a widow I got curious.”

  “Why
do you want to know of my wife?” He asked cautious.

  “Sir,
my father’s a police and I was just writing a mystery novel in his office the
other day and I came upon the murder files for some ideas, and I saw your
wife’s name.” I told him.

  “Dylan,
my wife’s murder is none of your business,” He began. “And if you were to snoop
at the files I would hope you’ve already read them.”

  “Sir,
I felt as if I should be told by you.”

  “Dylan,
my wife’s murder is very personal to me.” Tommy Papke told me sadden.

  “Sir,
this is driving me insane,” I told him. “I must know.”

  “My
son doesn’t even know! Why should you?”

  My
head dropped in defeat knowing now that I have to go to the police station.
“Your wife’s murder, I wouldn’t want to go through it knowing I can be told by
you.”

  “Why
haven’t had you already snoop through her files?” Tommy Papke asked me.

  “In
respect, sir, in respect,”

  “I
can’t…Dylan…Oliver doesn’t even know how she was murdered.” Tommy said
heartbroken.

  “How
who was murdered?” I heard Oliver’s voice from behind me. I looked to his
father and felt his whole world crash onto his shoulder. I faced Oliver and he
looked at me confused and shocked.

  “I
must take off now. I have interrupted something.” I said before turning towards
the door. Oliver’s booming voice rung through the room saying ‘no’ as I was
just leaving, I stopped and faced the Papke family.  “Okay, I’ll stay.”

  “Who
was murdered I say again?” Oliver asked his father.

  “Your
mother.”

  Oliver
looked to me and his father confused as to why we would be talking of her.
“What about mom’s murder?”

  “I
wanted to know how she was killed.” I confessed.

  “What
gives you the right to know?” He spat at me.

  “Give
the girl some respect. All she wanted to do was know more about you.” Tommy
yelled at his son.

  “I
don’t even know!”

  “I
can tell you now.”

  “Dylan
can’t be in here to know.” Oliver told his father.

  My
brain snapped into two when I heard Oliver say I can’t be here when he
discovers his mother’s death. I dropped my head and rolled in reverse before I
could pounce on Oliver for saying that. “It’s okay. I’ll leave you guys alone
to family business.”

  “Dylan?
Please stay. You might as well know since you’re going to be a part of this
family soon.” Tommy spoke from his bed while staring at his son unpleasant.

  “Tommy-“

  “Tommy?
Are you serious? When was any girl allowed to call you that Papa?” Oliver
bellowed.

  “Since
the day I met Dylan D’Imperrizler.”

  Oliver
huffed disapproving. When did he turn into someone hating me? Wasn’t he just
telling me how beautiful I was?

  I
crossed my arms tight to my chest and scowled in his direction. He turned to me
and glared. I just stuck my tongue out at him and rolled my eyes.

  “Do
you children want to know or not?” Mr. Papke asked. We both nodded before
getting comfortable.

  “Mrs.
Papke, or as I liked to call her, Lu, was going out to the closest Walmart near
our cabin. The three of us were on a vacation in the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan. Oliver and I stayed behind trying to get the Packers and Patriots
game on the old television. Lu went out to grab chips and sodas for us.

  “She
drove up to Walmart and purchased the items we needed and called me saying she
was going to grab some more gas. That was the last time I heard her voice.

  “She
went up to the gas station and started to fill the tank up. After she finished
she was going to pay, but couldn’t find the area to pay. Lu went inside the
building asking where she could pay for her gas. The woman at the counter,
maybe around age thirty, told her she had pay to the counter. So, Lu went up
the counter and asked her price. The woman said something over eighty dollars.

  “Lu,
as I was told, got confused and asked if the woman got the price right. The
woman gazed at her and repeated the price. Lu took out her wallet and passed
her debit card. The woman picked up her card and shook her head and repeated
the price. My wife asked if she took credit cards and the woman again repeated
the price. My wife went searching through her wallet for cash over eighty
dollars. She only had thirty in cash.

  “When
Lu told the woman this she turned her face towards her and started forming foam
in her mouth. She started to twitch her head back and forth widely and gripping
the counter. Lu started to freak out and beg to know what happened. The woman
across the counter screamed ‘Cash only!’ and started throwing items upon the
counter at her.

  “Lu
began to get scared and went to leave the building, but the woman pushed her to
floor and held her down while cutting off her air pipe. Lu was scrambling for
breath trying to survive as this woman was suffocating her to death. They told
me she fought for about five minutes before her brain shut down due to no
oxygen passing through her brain. Lu laid upon the floor of the building with
deep red marks of the woman’s hand. Her eyes were opened in fright.

  “That
day I lost a wife, friend, and the love of my life. That day Oliver lost his
mother. Till this day, four years later, I still wish I didn’t let her go to
Walmart.” Tommy finished telling the story of Lu Papke’s death.

  Oliver
and I sat in our wheelchairs speechless. Our faces were drenched in tear
stains. I would never think such a wonderful person as her could die such an
awful death. She deserved to live and never meet such an awful, mental person
as that woman who killed her.

  “I’m
so sorry for this tragedy, Tommy and…Oliver.” I finally spoke after Tommy told
us of this dreadful story. The Papkes didn’t answer, so I rolled out the room
and greeted Jen sitting behind the desk filling out charts. “Can we go back?”

  Jen
looked up from the charts and noticed my wet face and red eyes. “What happened
in there?”

  “I
just heard an awful story. May I go back to my room?” I repeated again.

  Jen
came from behind the desk and squeezed my shoulder before taking me back down
to my room. Just as I reentered my room I grabbed Jen’s hand. “Please don’t
tell Chief I was at Mr. Papke’s room.” Jen nodded before helping me into my
bed.

  I
rolled over to my side facing the opposite side of the room glass window. I wrapped
the blanket up to my chin and stuffed my face into the pillow. Tears fell from
my face as I replayed the story in my head. I never heard such an awful story
of someone dying in my whole life. Maybe it’s just because the story revolves
around Oliver that makes it so depressing.

  Just
before I drifted off I remembered to send a floating lantern off into the night
sky as tribute. I promised myself that I would do it soon.