Howie's eyes burned into the doctors, and saw the truth. Once the doctor shook his head, and Howie saw his bloody uniform, full of...Julia's blood, he knew. Howie's heart started pounding, and he had to practically throw Danni to A.J. in fear he would drop her. Everyone else now knew too. Howie sunk out of his chair, and fell to his knees on the carpet, bracing himself. Sweat poured from his forehead. His friends gathered around shouting his name, but he couldn't hear. It couldn't be...She said she was coming back...she said...
"Sir...Sir..." He could barely make out the words the doctor was saying. "She's still alive, but barely. She's asking for you, you might want to go see her in her last moments." He understood the words, and didn't even remember following the doctor to Julie's room, he didn't even know all the others were behind him.
It was as if the door opened so slow it tore him apart, a light burst out of the room, and there she was. Everyone saw...She was so lifeless..."Doctor...please...how did this happen? What went wrong?" A.J. asked. "I had told her when we met that she was in deep with this disease, it was really strange, the surgery was going so well, than all of sudden we lost her, and we threw her on life support, and it didn't work. We finally got her stabalized, but thats when we found out the liver was no good. We tried another liver, but that just made her condition worse." The doctor explained shakily, taking his glasses off and rubbing his forehead. "How long does she have?" A.J. wondered. "Anytime now. The longest will be a few hours. But than she'll be gone. I'm so sorry, we did everything. It wasn't supposed to happen like this." A.J. emerged in the room, seeing Howie stunned and staring at Julia.
Once Danni recgonized her mother, she squealed loudly, and arched her body towards her dying mother. Julia's eyes opened at that and she saw her baby girl. A.J. took that as a sign to bring her over. Julia groaned and tried to adjust her position to sitting up but it didn't work. "Hey, its okay. Save your strength." A.J. told her, gently pushing her back down. He placed Danni on the side of her mother where A.J. was able to hold her. "Hi Baby..." She uttered out weakly, coughing slightly. "I love you sweetie. I know you can understand me too, and I want you to listen. Mommy is going away, and you might not remember this, but I hope you remember my face...and my voice. Your daddy has pictures so he'll show you, and he has us on the video camera too. You'll get to see them. I just want you to know that I have given everything I ever had to you. Because your the most important thing in my life, and now, your daddy is going to take care of you." Danni didn't seem to understand, but wrapped her pudgy arms around her mother anyway, and pressed her face tightly against Julia's. Julia started crying at that and wrapped her arms around Danni, hugging her. "Oh baby. I'm gonna miss you." Julia looked up at A.J.
"A.J., take care of our little girl. That's my wish, and I'm telling you on my deathbed, that you better treat her right. No going out late, and bringing women in. I know you can be a good dad, prove it to me. And if your not, I'm going to come back and haunt you." A.J. nodded, trying not to let tears fall. "Julia...I just want you to know something, before you go, and this is the truth, THIS wasn't a mistake, you, me, and Danni. Having Danni was the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. I have never loved anyone more." Julia smiled as hard as she could at that. "Your great A.J." Julia said, grabbing his hand and squeezing it as hard as she could. Howie came over and hovered over a clingy Danni who was still hanging on Julia's neck, kissing her cheeks, making everyone laugh and smile. "Hi Baby." Howie said, stroking her sweaty red hair out of her eyes. "Howie." She breathed out, as he kissed her hungrily on the lips. He pulled away and looked into her eyes. "Julia, I...I love you." Howie confessed, trying to be strong. "Oh Howie, I love you too. You've made me so happy. But I know you'll move on, and meet a beautiful woman, who isn't sick like I am. Everything will be perfect again, and I'll be looking down on you from whereever I am, and smile because I know your going to be happy." Julia explained. Her breathing started to shorten. "Howie...It's time though, and I...I love you so much. Thank you..." Howie started shaking his head back and forth, tears falling down onto her face and Danni's head now. "No no no, Julia, baby, don't go..."
"Howie...I just wish...I could watch my baby grow up from here...now...but I'll have to watch from somewhere else...Oh god, I wish I knew what her first word was going to be..." She whispered. Danni let go of her mother slowly, and sat up. She grabbed Howie's hand and Julia's, and forced them together. Everyone in the room looked surprised. She than kissed her mom on the lips, and wrapped her arms around Howie's neck. Howie, confused, along with everyone else, held Danni close. Howie felt Julia's hand go limp in his and he quickly kissed her lips one last time. "Buh Mummy!" Danni said quickly, than buried her face into Howie's chest. Than that was it...it was over...she was gone....
A wonderful mother
and a great friend.
December 25, 1982-December 1st, 2002