Piper

“Hello Ms. Piper my name is Dr. Howler and I will be checking you today. Mrs. Villamont is out for the day.” I smile. He seems different from the rest of the doctors. I’ve seen him before arguing with other doctors and having the best jokes for other kids. “Hi Dr. Howler.” He looks at the computer. “So far the blood works have shown nothing and the CT and MRI show nothing different either.” I look through the door way and begin to cough. He looks at me and I quickly turn my head back. “I’ going to be honest with you. It’s not the best thing. So other doctors say that want to try some new testing. You’ve been here for how long now?” “It’s been three years.” He looks at me in shock. “You’ve been here for three years! You’re nine so you were six, what about you’re parents?” “They disappeared.” His eyes sadden. I smile. “I have less than a week to live.” He looks at me wide eyed. He gets up as he checks my temperature and breathing. “Um well the doctors want to try these test right here and here to see if-” “No!” I cough up blood and wipe it away.He jolts up. “Are you OK?” I nod. “It happens all the time.” He sighs as he wipes some more blood off. “And why do you say no?” “Because I don’t want testing. I want to see the Grand Canyon!” I show him the picture of my dad proposing to my mother at the Grand Canyon. He looks at it as my eyes begin to sparkle. “I want to go there!” He sighs. “Well Ii can’t just let you go, but how about this. I’ll talk to the doctors and maybe we can arrange something. I’m sure they won’t mind. OK?” I nod. “Thank you Dr. Howler!” He smiles. He calls them and they get into an argument. “But that test could just be worse and she’ll only have a day! What do you mean? She’s a child! And with no parents! You can’t expect her to be OK with something like this! Do you even care about how she feels!?Good day.” Hours after that he comes back and turns on the lights.

“Um so the doctors said they-” “I’m really going to die in a hospital. Aren’t I?” His eyes darken. “No. We are going to the Grand Canyon. I want you to see it before you go. I needed a way out of this hospital anyway.” “Wait really!?” He nods. “By God you will see the Grand Canyon. I promise. He brings a suit case with some food and clothing for me. “We leave now.” My eyes widen. “Now!?” “Yes, this is our only chance. He picks me up and he puts me in a wheel chair. “I’m sorry it’s sudden but none of the doctors would agree to this. Not even Villamont. It’s like they didn’t even take into consideration of what you wanted.” I smiled. “But you do.” He looks at me. “Well of course. You deserve to see it.” We get to the first floor and he sighs. “Alright so I need you to act like you’re OK and that you’re parents are waiting just outside. It’s our only chance of them believing you’re a discharged patient.” I nod. “I’m on it!” The nurses look at us and I just smile. I look away to hold my mouth as we exit to keep from laughing. We get in the car and he buckles me in. It was late at night and my eyes flutter.“Goodnight Piper.” “G-good night.” I wake up to smell something good. “What’s that?” He smiles. “I see you’re awake. These are some hash browns and sausage biscuits with french toast as breading.” “It smells good.” “You want some?” I nod.

“Man those tasted good.” I look at the picture. “This is really happening.“He sighs. “Not to ruin the mood, but I must know. Why aren’t you’re parents really around?” I stop. “You’re a bad liar kid.” “Ah, well that’s because they died driving away from hospital last winter.” I hold the tears back and he looks at me. “They died!?” Some tears drip down. “Yeah, it was because I was in what did they call it. Cri- criticul condat....” “Critical condition.” I nod. “Y-yeah that-” I start crying. “They left when I was fine, but were hit and died. Now I’m alone!” I continued to cry. as I crawl into a ball. I feel the car stop. “Why don’t we park here. You probably have to use the restroom.” I get out and he instantly holds me. “I’m sorry Piper.” I grab hold tightly and bawl in his arms. “It’s OK, it’s all OK. I’ll take you back in when your all calmed down. I calm my breathing feeling his warmth. He carries me inside. “How about some sweets like candy. You go to the restroom and meet me to pick some stuff out.” I go and use the restroom. I cough up some blood and throw up a little in the stalls. “It’s getting worse.” I smile. “Doesn’t matter right now.” I come out and picked out some snacks. “Out of all the candies you choose that?” I scoff. “I like it. He laughs. “Alright I guess we can get it too, even if it’s bad.” I laugh. “Thank you Dr-” “Gregory. You can call me Gregory.” I smile. “Well alright Gregary.” He facepalms. “What?” He smiles. “Nothing at all. Shall we pay.” I nod. He pays for the meal and I see a dog outside. I ope then door and I walk towards it. It comes to me and it sticks it’s tongue out. “Puppy!” I begin to pet it. “So cute.” Greagary comes out. “Ah I see you found a puppy.” “Look how cute it is!” “Very cute, but it’s owner over there is probably worrying about us stealing it.” I look over and wave. “Come on Piper lets go.” “OK.” We go driving again. I cough a little and I can feel the sickness getting to me. I feel tired but I can’t sleep. “So why the Grand Canyon?” I smile. “It was one of the few “Hey Gregary.” “”Yes?” “Can you tell me some stories? Preferably about your childhood. I won’t live long enough to know whats it’s like. So I want to hear about yours.” He smiles. “You’re a sweet girl, so yeah. I’ll tell you some stories.” He begins to talk about what sort of things he did as a child. A lot of them were really funny. Then I see the beautiful Grand CanyonAfter a while I wake up to see it’s day time again.

“Hey kiddo, you awake?” I slowly open my eyes missing the dream. “Have some food you’ll need it for the hike.” I smile remembering what is happening. “How far till we get there?” “In a couple of hours.” I laugh thinking about my day when I start throwing up blood. I take a bucket. “Don’t worry Piper, you’ll get there.” I stare at him. “Gregary, why are you doing this for me? I mean losing your job and maybe even getting arrested is not something you’d do just for a nine year old.” He smiles as he pulls my hair back so it doesn’t get in the bucket. “Would you believe me if I told you it was because I knew someone who was exactly like you?” I wipe away some coughed up blood. My vision sucks. I try to focus. “You knew someone like me?” He nods. “You see my sister died on an unknown cause too. I can remember that during her time at the hospital all she wanted was to see the world,but they didn’t let her. She died not seeing more than a parking lot. So when you said what you said I knew I had to take you. You have every right to see something as beautiful as the Grand Canyon.” I smile softly. “You’re very kind. Thank you for taking me.” My vision blurs even more.

~Gregory’s perspective~

“We are almost there so just sit tight.” Her body stays motionless and her eyes look like they have no life to them. “Piper?” I shake her a little. I see no breathing. “Come on this isn’t funny. Piper?” I stop the car in anger. We are on the middle of the highway and people begin hoking their horns. I go to the passenger side and open the door. “Piper? Piper!? Answer me will ya!? Piper!” I grab my phone. “Hello 911 what’s the emergency?” “Hello I think somethings wrong I need an ambulance RIGHT NOW!” “OK just calm down where are you?” “Highway. hurry please!” I hang up and start shaking her body. “Piper! Please, don’t do this. You haven’t seen it yet. You haven’t seen sniff the Grand Canyon yet! You were going to before you die.” Tears flow down. “No no no no no no please.... sniff no. You can’t die yet! You’re only nine. NINE! Piper. PIPER!!!!!!!!”

~Days later~

“So this is what the Grand Canyon looks like in person. Looks nice.” I hold out the picture. “Doesn’t it.... Piper.” I start to cry again. I remember the time we had. When she spilled soda on herself. When we saw a large bird. When she cried. We laughed, we wept, we smiled, we frowned. “Guess in the end, you did see it. Nice isn’t it.” I lower down as I weep. “Piper, this was all you asked for in life. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. After a few minutes I looked to see the sunrise. I get up slowly as I let the sun bathe me making my tears sparkle. “How beautiful.”