Death of Mike

??? P.O.V >>>

I finished dressing in my room in a black dress and was ready to leave. My parent's called me from the hallway and in response, I left my room. We left our house and took a cab. New York was as busy as ever. The weather is nice and warm with the setting sun in view even though it is winter. We reach our destination in about 40 minutes.

Just as I exit the cab and enter the courtyard, I feel the nice and warm weather turn into a dull and gloomy atmosphere. Many faces were new to me. All the people present were in black suits or dresses. And at the middle of the courtyard was sitting a lady in her thirties on the ground, she was in a black gown surrounded by two standing men who were wearing black.

Her face showed no emotion but anyone can tell that she was crying for a long time since her eyes were red. The same can be said about the other two men standing beside her, but it seemed to me that the person who cried the most was the lady. Her emotionless expression combined with her red eye showed grief and regret with her head on a coffin. Yes, I had come to a funeral.

We were visiting the funeral of one of the students who was studying at this school. That's the reason why the funeral is held in our school courtyard as it is a holiday and no students are in the school. Many teachers and students have come to his funeral among which is my father.

My father goes to some of his colleagues while I stay with my mom. No teacher had come with their family except my father. I would also have not come if not for that student who passed away. I don't know him at all but he took away the death which was meant for me. He saved my life a few days ago when I fell into the pool. I wanted to thank him after that but he was admitted to the hospital.

He got sick with Pneumonia and I think that I am the reason for his death. From the moment I heard that he was in the hospital I blamed myself, I had planned to visit him in the hospital but a week has passed and I was supposed to meet him today but my destination ended up to his funeral as he passed away at night. I was devastated hearing this news from my father this morning. I felt guilty and blamed myself for his death.

My father and mother reassured me that it wasn't my fault but the guilt has already been carved in my heart. I requested my father to let me come to his funeral. Seeing my state he was reluctant but my mom reassured him and came with me.

I just wanted to apologize to him to let my heart get rid of some guilt. I wanted to thank him for the new life he gave to me. Even though I am very late maybe his soul is somewhere near and will listen to my wish. A wish for forgiveness.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

{ A few days ago }

Peter P.O.V >>>

I entered the hospital after learning about Mike's sickness. He is like a son to me. I just hope that he is not serious. I walked to the reception desk to ask about his room number but before I could ask it I heard her voice.

Mike's Aunt: Peter why are you here?

ME: I just wanted to check on him. Is he alright I hope it's not something serious.

Mike's Aunt: No it's just Pneumonia. The doctor said that he will be well soon.

ME: Have you told his dad?

Mike's Aunt: Yes, he is coming back tomorrow.

ME: Ok let's meet him.

She led me to a room where he was sleeping. I did not want to disturb him so I just stood by the door. I forced her to go home to rest a bit, even though she was refusing the idea at first but eventually, she gave in. After she went I sat at the hospital chair near the room and don't know when I dosed off.

{ Next Morning }

I was awakened from my sleep by Mr. Jones. He was here early morning which I didn't expect. He was Mike's father and a business tycoon Mr. Matthew Jones. I greeted him and then we had a normal talk.

After some time we heard Mike's voice and went to see him. He was surprised to see his dad. Well, I don't blame him as he never saw his dad that much. We talked with him for a while (it was I and him as he was not close to his father) when the doctor came in.

??? : Hello I am Dr. Aiden. I am the one in charge of Mr. Mike Jones. Nice to meet you.

Matthew: Are you an intern ???

Dr. Aiden: No, I am in my second year of residency.

( Interns in hospital are those who have just finished their college years and are practicing in the hospital. After 1 or 2 years they become residence doctors. )

Peter: How is Mike ???

Matthew: He has been diagnosed with Pneumonia, it will take some time but he will be well soon. Now please let him rest. I am sorry but you can't meet him for a long time

{ 5 days later }

Dr. Aiden's P.O.V >>>

I am very concerned about Mike. He is under my care and suffering from Pneumonia. But recently his condition is getting worse, with every passing day. Recently he even coughed a little blood. This year many people in America have passed away due to influenza, so just to be safe I did an emergency X-ray and the result will be out in an hour. I just hope it's nothing serious.

Mike's P.O.V >>>

I don't know what is going on. My health seems to worsen by the day. It feels a bit harder to breadth. I feel like my lungs and some other body parts are burning. I just came after doing an X-ray. My aunt, Peter, and even my father are by my side. But soon they have to leave me in a lonely room. Even though my room is like a 5-star hotel but my condition does not allow me to enjoy the comfort of the room. Consumed by pain, medicines, and loneliness, I dozed off to sleep.

.....

I wake up to see my father by my side. He was dozing off. I still do not understand why he is here for so many days. He usually stays for at most 3 days, anyway the thought of him being concerned for me makes me a little happy. My thoughts were disturbed by the sound of doors opening.

Aunt, Peter, and Dr. Aiden came to my room. They started talking with my father who just awoke. I could not understand them as they were a little further and were sort of whispering. After that they came to me and when I asked them they said everything is fine.

Aunt's P.O.V>>>

The doctor had told us that he was infected with influenza which weakens the immune system and hence he got Pneumonia. He told us not to worry as they can now start their treatment.

Mike's P.O.V>>>

Me: Dad I am very glad that you came to meet me. I did not expect you to stay with me for so long. If I had known it, I would have been sick much earlier.

Dad: Don't say that Mike, I know that I have been ignoring my son after my wife's death, but I still love you as much as I did earlier.

A lone tear escapes from his eyes but before it reaches his cheeks I wipe it off. I looked at my aunt and Peter smiling at the heartwarming scene.

Me: Aunt I know you are not marrying Peter because of me but please marry him as I want to see you happy.

Aunt: Mike you should not be talking about this rest now, once you get better we will discuss this.

I don't know why but I feel that if I will not discuss this now I will not be able to discuss it later.

Me: No aunt please promise me that you will marry him before the end of this year.

My aunt kept on denying it but due to my persistence at last, she agreed.

Me: Hey bro congrats. I made your work easy promise me to always keep her happy.

Peter: I promise I will always try to keep her happy and because you are the one uniting us I want you to be my best man during our wedding.

Aunt: <shocked> What! No, he is my niece so he will be my ring bearer.

Peter: But he is my friend too.

And thus they both start arguing. Seriously 😳. Well at last my aunt won, of course 😁. Peter lost just like any other man before his FIANCE / to-be WIFE. I don't understand the anxious feeling inside me that wants me to cherish this moment.

I talk to them some more and then close my eyes to enter a deep sleep not knowing that I will never wake up in this world ever again.

....

{ Late Night }

Dr. Aiden's P.O.V >>>

I rush into the O.T. with Mike lying on the stretcher while the nurse was trying to stop his father at the gate. I quickly tell my nurses to get the ventilator ready while I change my clothes to my surgeon uniform.

I don't know what happen, he was fine just a few moments ago after I gave him the flu medicine. I rush quickly to him and check his status with the other doctor.

Dr: Sir his flu is different from any normal flu I can't seem to understand it.

Listening to him I look at the image of his lung on the screen and what I saw shocked me. This is a very rare flu that is newly discovered and not many people are affected by it but its fatality rate is very high.

Me: <Hastily> Call Dr. Ryan immediately. Tell him that this is an emergency. A patient is found infected with XXX flu.

Dr. Ryan is my superior and is more experienced than me he will be more suitable for this case.

Suddenly after the nurse left Mike's heartbeat began to slow down. I am afraid of the worst situation which is confirmed by my co-doctor.

Dr: Sir he is suffering from myocarditis. At this rate, his organs will start failing one by one.

Me: Immediately proceed with IV medication we must immediately treat him and stop his heart from failing.

A nurse immediately put him on IV medication with which his heart will not stop pumping. But still, his other organs were failing one by one.

Dr. Ryan: What's happened? What's the situation?

I did not notice him entering as I was too focused on Mike.

Me: Sir he is suffering from XXX flu and his organs are failing one by one we have managed to save his heart from failing but the situation is critical.

Dr. Ryan: Don't let Brian fail otherwise he will enter into a coma.

We did everything we could but after 4 hours in OT, what I was afraid did happen.

Dr. Ryan: <Sadly> The patient is dead. Please record the time of death.

Dr: Yes sir patient's name is Mike Jones, date and time of death 17 th November 2011 at 2:00 am, cause XXX flu.

And like this, we lost Mike, I exited the OT to give this news to his family. After saying this I saw his family breaking down in tears. His father and aunt were sobbing uncontrollably while the other man tried to console them with a teary face.

This is always the worst part of being a doctor. People praise us when we save their life and refer to us as gods, but we are not god we can't say every patient's life, and telling the family of the diseased is the worst I never get used to it.

But I will never forget this day as this all would have never happened if I would have maybe checked it earlier. I indirectly killed a child due to my inability to identify the virus. Today I have decided that will find a solution to decrease the fatality rate of XXX flu.

Mike lost his life that day but paved the way for many lives to a different future.

-----------------------------------------------------------