Tarnished Armor
Part 142

The hallway outside of Belinda’s hospital room.

Opal and Janet stand outside the room.

Aunt Grace comes out of the hospital room. Opal goes to her.

Opal: I just want to tell her --

Aunt Grace: I’m sorry, Opal. She said to tell you how much she loves you, and to tell you that she knows how much you love her. She loved your visit earlier. But she’s tired.

Opal: How much energy does it take to see me?

Aunt Grace is silent for a moment.

Aunt Grace: It takes a lot to say good-bye.

Janet goes over to Opal.

Janet: Opal, why don’t we go down to the cafeteria for a little while?

Opal: I’m staying right here in case Adrian needs me.

Liza and Trevor come from the elevator bank.

Aunt Grace: Trevor. Liza.

Trevor: How is she?

Aunt Grace: Not so good. She’s been waiting for you, Liza.

Liza: Are you sure? I don’t want to --

Aunt Grace: I’m sure. Go inside. But keep it short.

Liza knocks on the door. Adrian comes to the door.

Adrian: Liza. Go on in.

Adrian steps out of the room. Liza goes inside.


******


Belinda’s hospital room.

Belinda’s eyes are closed. Liza goes and sits by her bed.

Liza (whispers): Belinda?

Belinda’s eyes open.

Belinda: Resting.

Liza: I can go if you --

Belinda: No. The case.

Liza: We won. She should be back home by now.

Belinda smiles.

Belinda: Glad you came.

Liza: I promised.

Belinda: Yes.

Liza reaches into her purse and takes out her wallet.

Belinda: What?

Liza: The dollar. I want to give you the dollar.

Belinda: No.

Liza’s eyes fill with tears.

Liza: Please.

Belinda: Colby. Give it to Colby.

Liza turns away.

Belinda: Adrian.

Liza turns back to face Belinda.

Liza: You want Adrian?

Belinda: Yes. Need to ask him something.

Liza: I’ll go get him.

Liza goes to the door. Then she turns back to Belinda.

Liza: I love you so much, Lindy.

Belinda: Lindy?

Belinda smiles weakly.

Belinda: Yes. Me too. Adrian.

Liza: Okay. I ... I’ll ...

Liza takes a long look at Belinda.

Liza: Good-bye, Belinda.

Belinda: Bye.

Belinda closes her eyes.

Liza opens the door and goes outside.


******


The hallway outside of Belinda’s hospital room.

Liza steps out of the room.

Liza: Adrian? She... she’s asking for you. She wants to ask you something.

Adrian goes past Liza into the room.

Liza goes over to a chair in the waiting area and sits down.

She begins to cry.

Aunt Grace goes and sits next to Liza. She pats Liza’s knee.

Aunt Grace: How was she?

Liza: Beautiful.

Aunt Grace nods.

Liza: I don’t think...

Aunt Grace: I know.

Liza: And she was so ... Belinda. She wanted to know about me, you know?

Aunt Grace: I know.

Adrian comes out of the room.

Everyone looks up.

Janet: How is she?

Adrian doesn’t answer.

Liza: She had a question. She said she had a question.

Opal goes to him.

Adrian: She asked me to hold her hand.

A tear rolls down Adrian’s cheek.

Adrian: She's gone.

Trevor bursts into tears. Janet hugs him.

Opal draws Adrian into a hug.

Liza looks at Aunt Grace. Aunt Grace begins to cry.

Liza: Do you want...?

Aunt Grace gets up and goes into the room.

Liza gets up. She takes in the hallway and looks towards Belinda’s room.

Then she goes over to Adrian.

Liza: If there’s anything...

Adrian shakes his head.

Liza backs away from him.

Liza looks at the room again.

Liza: I should... I should go.

Liza makes her way down the hallway to the elevator bank. The elevator comes and Liza gets inside. The doors close.

Tarnished Armor Index
Part One Hundred and Forty One
Part One Hundred and Forty Three