Sheldon

July 7, 2008. 6:45 PM

I remember my mom warning me not to go. That I could get sick again and be back in the hospital. But I wanted to go, Sheldon had barely gotten to see me these last few weeks, and I wanted to spend this day with him. She finally let me go, but with a strong warning. If at any point I didn’t feel good I was supposed to tell Sheldon and call her. I promised I would call if I felt weird, and she kissed my head and let me go.

Everything was going along great, we had eaten, gone on so many rides, and Sheldon had given me my 10-month anniversary present, which was a necklace with a heart on it. I told him I had loved it, and we kissed when the Ferris wheel stopped at the top. We had listened to the bands, and talked to some kids from our school. It wasn’t until the Tilt-A-Whirl when I fell and my world went black.

* * *

Sept. 7, 2007. 6:02 PM

"Hey." Sheldon greeted me, as I came out of my house. We had been dating for exactly 4 months now, and he was treating me to dinner and a movie. My mom and his mom have known each other and hooked us up at the beginning of school. My mom said that even though Sheldon’s mom knew what was wrong with me, I could not tell Sheldon. I argued with her for 20 minutes, then gave up and went upstairs. Four months later he still did not know, and even though he would wonder what was wrong when I missed so much school, I just said it was a cold, and he accepted it. Nobody knew, except for my family, and Sheldon’s mom.

"Hey." I said, sliding into the front seat next to him. We kissed hello, then we drove away, talking about our home lives.

We pulled into the parking lot of the Restaurant at exactly 6:30. It was Blue Shore, a fancy Restaurant that was outside along the shoreline. I lived in North Carolina, not a bad place to be in Winter, when the temperature was in the 50s and 60s, but in the Summer when tourists came and it was 70 and 80, there were other places I’d rather be.

Outside, where it was fairly nice weather, we sat and ate. I ordered a garden salad and a Sprite, Sheldon ordered a steak with French fries. I picked a couple off his plate and he smiled at me.

"God, Clair, you are so beautiful. You know that, right?" he asked.

I blushed and smiled. "I did know that." I teased.

He laughed and reached across the table for my hand. His face got really serious and he cleared his throat.

"I was going to wait till after the movie, but seeing as how you look so awesome, I just can’t." he smiled.

"Can’t what?" I asked, leaning forward.

"Clair, we have been going out for 4 months. And I have felt this way about you for a while, but I really had to wait for the right moment to tell you. Clair, I love you." I gasped, and my heart skipped a couple of beats. Tears stung my eyes and I took my hand out of his to wipe it away.

"I love you, too." I squeaked.

He grinned and came around to my side of the table. He helped me up and we walked out to the car. Once in there, he kissed me and thanked me for being the girl of his dreams. I didn’t know what to say, so I sat there and smiled.

"You know," he began, "I can’t go sit through a movie right now. Let’s go for a walk on the beach."

I agreed, and slipped my flip-flops off and walked barefooted, stumbling on a couple of rocks, before we reached the sand.

We had walked for a while, and we turned around to head back.

Sheldon dropped me off at home, kissed me good-night and said that he would see me in the morning. I wished him the same thing, went upstairs and fell asleep.

* * *

July 7, 2008. 6:57 PM

I could hear them, but not see them. All around me doctors yelled orders. My mother was crying, somebody was holding my hand, stroking my thumb. My dad whispered, "Clair, its okay. Your mom and I are right here. Nothing’s going to happen to you. I promise. Sheldon, Sheldon’s mom, everybody. We’re right here, and we love you sweetie." I tried to smile, but I don’t think they could see it.

It was a while longer before I heard another voice, I still could not see.

"Clair, it’s Dr. Hanna, and your family is in the waiting room. You’re fine. Blood pressure is back to normal, but your temperature is still a little high, and your food tube is giving you all of the food groups. You can’t talk because of the food tube, and I know you can’t see me, because your eyes are still swollen shut, but I really want you to try and show Sheldon that you can hear him, okay? Now, when he talks to you, if you hear him, please squeeze his hand as hard as you can, okay? Can you do that?" I nodded my head, hoping she could see. "Okay, I think that’s a yes. Here’s Sheldon."

"Clair?" it sounded like he had been crying. "Clair, I love you. I know you can hear me. I know you can, please….please, squeeze my hand. I know you want to. Squeeze as hard as you can. I love you so much, I don’t want to loose you…please just squeeze." I mustered up all of my strength and squeezed his hand. He kissed my knuckles. "I knew you could do it, babe. I knew it. You’re doing great. Hang in there, all right? I’ll be right here when you wake up, we all will." he kissed my hand again, and let go.

I tried to yell for him to come back, but nothing came out. My throat hurt because of the supposed food tube, and I felt like I was in an oven.

"Good job, Clair. Sheldon said he felt you squeeze, that’s really good. I’m going to let you sleep now. Open your eyes at anytime, honey. We all miss you out here."

* * *

October 31, 2007. 11:27 AM

"Hey, girlie. So, what are your plans for Halloween?" Haley whispered in math class. Math was the only class this year that Sheldon was not in, ergo, it was the only class where Haley and I could talk.

"Sheldon and I are going to this party in his neighborhood." I grinned. It was supposed to be a really fun party, but only people in his neighborhood could go. Sheldon said that he talked to the manager, and he said that since I was in the neighborhood enough, that I could come too. I was really stoked.

"Sheldon, Sheldon, Sheldon. God, Clair, we have barely hung out since you and him have been going out, you know? Why can’t you come to my party? My parents said I could have one, you know your mom would let you come, she and my mom have been best friends since forever ago." she pleaded and whined.

"All right. I’ll come to your party, but 4th of July is for me and Sheldon, okay?"
"Deal." we slapped hands, apparently forgetting we were in a Math room, and got detention slips for tomorrow after school.

"Oh, come on, Sheldon. She’s right…we really haven’t hung out since you and I have been dating. She’s my best friend. You know other people in your neighborhood, you’ll have fun, I promise."

"I just---Clair, I really love you, and I wanted to spend tonight with you."

"Awww, that’s really sweet. But we can hang out this weekend, I promise. I’m not even spending the night, and I’ll be home around midnight, so if you are still up then, call me and we’ll talk, okay?"

"All right. Have fun. Don’t forget…I love you, all right?" he said, pulling into my driveway.

"I love you, too. See you tomorrow." I said.

"Okay. Have fun tonight."

"I will. You do the same, Happy Halloween." I smiled, he grinned and kissed me good-bye.

I got out of the car and watched him drive out of my sight.

"Hey!" My mom greeted me as I came in through the door. "How was school? Did you turn in your make-up work from last week?" I had been sick all of last week with a cold, and Dr. Hanna thought it could turn into something so she made me stay in the hospital until Saturday, when she finally let me go home.

"Yes, Mom. It was fine, Haley wants to know if I can go to her Halloween party tonight. I know I said I was going to Sheldon’s, but I have already talked it over with him and he’s cool about it, so can I go?"

"Sure, but honey, be careful. I know that Sheldon lives in a nice neighborhood, but you have not hung out with Haley in a while, and I don’t know who she hangs out with now. Don’t get mixed in with them, honey."

"I won’t, mom. I promise. I’m going to go get ready. She’s picking me up at five, because I’m helping her set up. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, that’s fine. Just stop in and tell Daddy where you’ll be so he can pick you up. I have to work tonight."

"Okay." I headed upstairs and stopped at my dad’s office. "Daddy? Can I come in?" I asked, knocking.

"Yeah, sweetie. C’mon in." I opened the door and found my dad with his spectacles on, typing away.

He stopped, looked and me and said, "Hey, pumpkin. How was school?"

"Good. Mom said I could go to Haley’s party tonight instead of Sheldon’s, but she’s working so can you pick me up? She still lives where she used to, do you remember where that is?" I asked.

"Yeah, I do. That’s fine. Just call me when you’re ready to come home."

"Okay. Thanks, Dad." I kissed him on his bald head and left him to finish typing. Ever since I was diagnosed with leukemia, he’s worked at home so that he was always here in case mom or I needed him.

Haley showed up right at 5 o’clock. "Haley’s here! Bye!" I yelled, grabbing my purse and jacket.

"Bye, honey! Call Dad when you’re ready!" my mom shouted.

I shut the door behind me and hopped into Haley’s car.

"Hey, honey! Long time no see! Ready to rock and roll?" she yelled over the radio.

I nodded and she drove to her house.

When I stepped into her living room and saw the stereo system set up, punch and chips, balloons, and a disco ball I wondered what in the world she needed help doing. I soon found out.

Two guys walked into the living room from the kitchen, one on the football team, the other one on the wrestling team.

"Hey, guys. This is Clair, the girl I told you about? She really needs to loosen up, she tries so hard to be the best girlfriend she can be for Sheldon, but we all know that he belongs with me. So, boys? You know what you need to do." she said in a sultry voice.
Then I realized, there was no party. This was all a set-up. A set-up to make me and Sheldon break up.

The guys smiled their sweetest smile, and started to walk toward me. I screamed, and started to run. They didn’t chase after me, I think they were confused. That was a good thing.

I ran all the way to the end of her street, which was where I stopped, short of breath, sweaty hair sticking to my face, and tears stinging my eyes. I pulled out my cell phone and called Sheldon.

"Clair? Baby, what’s wrong?"

"Sheldon? Can you please come pick me up?" I asked, the tears coming hard now. I saw the car start in Haley’s driveway and got scared. I started breathing harder and I jumped behind the bushes next to the stop sign.

"Yeah, sure. What’s wrong? Please tell me."

"I’ll tell you when you get here. Please hurry!" I shrieked. As the car pulled out of her driveway.

"Clair, don’t move. Stay right where you are. You are at Haley’s, right?" he asked. I could hear him getting into his car.

"No, the stop sign before you get to her house." I cried harder.

"Okay, you know what. Stay on the phone with me, don’t talk. Just don’t hang up so I know you’re still there, okay? If you move from the stop sign tell me. Now, don’t talk…just breathe so I know you’re still there."

"Okay." I whispered.

When the car passed the stop sign, I told Sheldon they had left. I walked out of the bushes and met Sheldon at the car. He cleared off the seat for me and drove to his neighborhood. He stopped a couple streets from his house and turned to look at me.

"Baby, what happened?" I told him, and as it got increasingly worse, he would hold me closer, telling me it would be okay. When I was done, he told me that it was okay, that I was with him now, and I calmed down a little bit.

After hanging out at his house for a little while, I called my dad and he came to get me.

Sheldon called me after I had gotten home, and stayed on the phone with me until I fell asleep.

* * *

July 8, 2008. 4:45 AM

I heard somebody come into my room. They patted my foot and came around to the right side of my bed. "Don’t worry, honey. I’m just checking your white blood cells. Just a tiny shot, then I’ll be gone."

I felt the needle in my arm, then I heard the footsteps go away. Another person came in, but I couldn’t see who it was, my eyes were still swollen.

"Clair? It’s Dr. Hanna again. Your eyes are less swollen, now. I know it’s still really early in the morning, but we need to make sure that you’re still reacting to things around you. If you are not in a coma, you are going to hear a sound, if your reaction is strong, we are going to try and open your eyes now. If it’s a little delayed, then we will wait until eight or nine o’ clock. It’s about 5:00 in the morning right now. Let’s test those reactions, huh?" I heard a boom, and I think my hand shook.

"Good, good. A little delayed, but that’s okay. Let’s open those eyes, huh? Then your mom and dad can come in. I don’t know if you’re aware, but the food tube was taken out a while ago, about midnight we took it out, so once we open your eyes you can talk, just it’ll be real scratchy, and try not to talk so much, okay? Now, I’m going to open your eyes." I felt like a needle opened my eyes, and when they were opened, I saw Dr. Hanna peering at me.

"Hey, there. We all missed those pretty brown eyes. Now, try to blink." I did.

"Nice. I’m going to go wake your mom and dad up."

"N-no." I whispered. I could barely hear it, but she stopped and turned around.

"What? Why? Don’t you want to see your parents?"

"L-let them s-sleep. T-they are tired." I managed. It was really hard to talk, and every time I did it took a while for me to catch my breath.

"Oh, no. Honey, they’re awake. They have not been able to sleep, trust me. They want to see you. Hold on, I’ll get them." she smiled and disappeared behind the door.

They walked in a moment later, all smiles.

My mom looked like she had been crying and my dad had bags under his eyes from no sleep.

"Oh, Clair." my mom gasped hurrying over to my side. My dad quickly followed. My mom was on my right, my dad on the left.

"Hi." I said.

"Oh, honey. We missed that voice, that smile." my dad said kissing my cheek. "We missed you so much, when the hospital called saying you collapsed at the carnival we knew Sheldon must have been freaking out, being the only one with you. Sure enough, we arrived and he was in his own hospital bed, they treated him for shock." my dad smiled.

I tried to laugh, "That must have been funny, him in the bed. Not me." I said, pausing after every three words.

"Yeah." my mom said. "He was really worried about you. He’ll be so happy to know that you’re okay." she said, patting my hand and kissing it.

"Did-did you guys think that I had died?" I asked.

My mom and dad exchanged glances before answering.

"Well," my dad started, "the doctors said it could have been a possibility. But, then, they said you were okay." he smiled.

"Oh." I said.

"Yeah, but, we know you must be so tired. We’ll let you sleep." my dad said.

"No, I w-want to see S-Sheldon." I said.

"Honey, Sheldon is asleep. When you wake up, he’ll be here. I promise. Just relax. Try to get some sleep. We’ll see you later, honey. Goodnight."

I was going to say goodnight, but my eyes closed before I got the chance.

* * *