*July 5th, 2018, Northwestern Hospital, Chicago, IL, Kathryn Prince's POV*
I sat up on the table, and took in a deep breath, before buttoning up my blouse. I know what you're thinking- but you're wrong-
"So Doctor...be honest with me...is their any improvement with my kidneys, or are they worsening?"
Didn't expect that, did you?
My doctor let out a sigh while also rubbing his temples, before looking at me, "If you really want the truth, You won't like it." Now it was my turn to let out a sigh, before he continued, "I think it'll be best if we up your rounds of Dialysis," He paused to grab his notepad and a pen, then in his already bad doctor-like handwritting, scribbled something on their, before ripping it out and handing it to me, "I want you back here tomorrow at 10am for a round of Dialysis, and we'll discuss it more then, alright?"
I wanted so bad to say something, ask the question I've been dying to ask, but I'll see him again tomorrow, so for now, I just nodded and grabbed my stuff and left.
***
I looked around my dark, rented Chicago Condo.The walls were filled with pictures of me- baby pictures, childhood pictures, teenage pictures, and my favorite- my wrestling pictures. I looked at one in particular, all the way back from 2011. The 2011 Elimination Chamber, to be exact, when for the first time, I beat Kasey Angel to become the undisputed Women's champion, the second person in history, behind her. Of course, there's been like, a million other people who've been added to that list since then, but I was one of that people who practically made that title.
I looked at that picture again, and before i knew what was happened, a tear slipped from my eye and landed right on the picture, and then, the tears just kept coming. I couldn't even stand up anymore. I just collapsed up against another wall, crying, while holding the picture tightly against my chest.
"I used to be happy...healthy," I began, "Now....I'm fucking dying of Kidney Failure, living in a city where I know no one just to be by my doctor in case anything happens, and I'm all fucking alone..." The tears were no totally uncontrollable.
My contract with WWE was up two years ago, and I chose not to resign, due to the fact that when Kasey Angel left, she practically took the whole women's division with her. Seriously- after she left, they tried to give me more storylines, but all of them were complete shit. My last gig with the WWE was at Summerslam, in a "Diva's Bikini Contest", because they've stooped that low again so it's all about the looks and the models, and that's not why I joined that business. Recently, I've had other wrestling promotions that were serious about the women's division offer me contracts, but with me....problem, of course I can't do it.
"This is the definition of nothing...." I said to myself, trying to wipe away the tears.
*Northwestern Hospital, 1pm*
"Miss Cook!" My doctor said, coming into my Dialysis room, a big smile on my face, "How are you feeling today?"
"I feel like i got all the wind sucked out of me," I said. I just finished with a round of Dialysis, and if you've never gone through a round, well first- lucky you, and second- It's not the greatest feeling in the world.
"Well, I'm here with news," My doctor smiled, sitting in the chair across from my machine.
"Good or bad?" I asked, weakly running my hand through my hair.
"It's about getting a transplant," My doctor said. Even though it was weak, I couldn't help but let a smile show.
"Now," My doctor began, "I just got your blood test results back from the lab, and it turns out, you have a rare blood type-"
"Isn't that bad?" I asked.
"Not necessarily," He began to explain, "See, because of that, we're able to bump you up on the waiting list, and you are Number Two."
"Number Two?" I asked with an eyebrow raised, "Who's Number One?"
"Reverend Dash, from Christ Community Church a couple blocks down," My doctor said. "His conditions worsening, though, sadly. If we can't find him a donor soon, he'll be gone."
My doctor continued to say some more stuff- but I tuned him out. The Reverend is currently literally on his death bed, dying from what I have because he can't find a donor. What if I can't find a donor, either? That could be me....that will be me.
"Miss Cook?" My doctor said, getting me out of my thoughts. I looked at him, with a raised eyebrow, then looked and saw he had his arms extended and an open hand, with something in it, "You're going to need this beeper, in a case if Reverend Dash doesn't need it or another one becomes available, we need you to keep this beeper on with you at all times so we can notify you and get you over here in time for the transplant."
"So, that means I'm stuck in Chicago until one magically becomes available?" I asked.
"I'm afraid so," My doctor said, causing me to sigh. "Well then, I'll see you back here tomorrow afternoon for another round of Dialysis, until then, Miss Cook."
I firmly grasped the beeper in my hand, looking down at it.
"Looks like you're my new best friend."
****
Beep...Beep....Beep....
No, that wasn't my beeper, telling me it was ready for my transplant. I gave up on that thing beeping years ago. That's the sound of my lifeline from the monitor here in my hospital room. Currently, I'm lying in my hospital bed, unconscious, losing my long-fought battle to Kidney Failure. Now- everything feels differently, a feeling I've never felt before, and i hear one last sound, and I realize what's going on.
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep
I'm Dying.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
I woke up, covered in sweat and heavy breathing. I turned on the lamp next to my bed. The light came on, and reminded me of my surroundings- I was in my rented condo, in my bed, and currently, it was 3:54am. My breathing calmed down, and I slowly got back under the covers in bed, turning the light off as well, and I started crying....again. I miss the old me, I'm unhappy with the current me, and I'm scared of the future me. That's when it hit me-
I can't be number two, I Need to be Number One.
****
"Morning, Carla!" I said, walking into the hospital wing I was assigned to with a big smile on my face.
"I haven't seen you this happy since you started treatment," Carla said, looking up at me from the magazine she was reading.
"Eh," Was all I said. "You wouldn't happen to know what room Reverend Dash is in, do you?
"Hon, I'm the head nurse, of course I do," She said, giving me that sassy black-lady look that she pulls off so well, "Room 150, it's down the right hallway."
"Thank you!" I smiled, before walking that way.
"Thank you!" I smiled, before walking that way.
Room 148...Room 149...Room 150.
I walked into the room, seeing no one else was in there, except an unconscious man, hooked up to a machine. Just looking at him disgusted me, yet feared me as well. I shut the door behind me, so no one could walk in or hear what was about to happen.
"Hey, Reverend..." I said, as I slowly walked over to his bedside.
Once I got there, I looked down on him, then put one of my hands under his head and lifted it up, taking the other to grab the pillow that was under it. I quickly removed my hand from under his head, causing it to thump down onto the bed. I grasped the pillow in both of my hands, before taking a deep breath.
Then, I brought the pillow down on his face, and started suffocating him.
"Listen up, Reverend," I growled through my clenched teeth, "I'm way too young to die. There's so much stuff I still need to do, and stuff I need to make right. You on the other hand, you're practically best friends god, and with your old age, you practically have nothing left to accomplish. So just do the right thing and die already, and let me have my fucking chance to live."
I removed the pillow from his face, and looked down at his still unconscious body, inhaling a deep breath, then I turned around, hearing the door open and seeing a nurse come in.
"Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt," She said, "I'll only be a minute."
"It's okay," I said, looking back at the Reverend, "I was just fluffing his pillow for him."
***
I just got done with a round of Dialysis, It's been a week since my doctors, kicked it up, and it's really kicking my ass as well. The Reverend's condition hasn't changed, which means I'm still Number Two.
I was currently in the hospital, well..no, walking out of the hospital, when I heard a voice, calling my name.
"Kathryn?" That voice was all two familiar. I turned around, and I couldn't believe it.
"Alex...?" I asked, in complete shock.
Years ago, Alex and I used to date, but that relationship ended when he left me to try and win back his ex-girlfriend at her wedding. We worked together, so occasionally I'd see him backstage, but I haven't spoken a word to him since the break-up, and I haven't even seen him in two years. The only reason I'm talking to him now is because he's the only one in this city I actually know.
"Hey...Long time no see," Alex said, walking closer to me. It was then when I realized he had his right arm in a sling.
"What happened?" I asked him, he sighed.
"Injury last night at a Pay-per view," He said, "It was here in Chicago, so instead of traveling back with RAW, I just stayed here, and i might stay here for a couple more days..."
"Oh...that's cool..." I said, starting to stare off.
"So, why are you here?"
Those five words scared me- I can't tell him I'm here because of Kidney Failure, that If I don't get a donor, I'll die.
"It's a long story..." I said.
"It's a long story..." I said.
"Don't Worry, I've got time," He said, I just sighed.
"I don't," I responded. Then, I decided to just clear out, and I walked right past him, but he wasn't done.
"Maybe you can tell me over coffee sometime?"
I turned around, and saw him staring at me, sincerity and hope in his eyes.
"Did you just ask me out on a date?" I asked him, and eyebrow raised.
"Maybe, a day to catch up...?" He suggested, "It's been a long time...I mean, If you don't want to, I understand but-"
"I still have your number, I'll call you sometime," I said. Alex grew a smile on his face, but before he said anything, I turned around to walk again.
Suddenly, I felt really dizzy, as if I was going to pass out. I sat down on a nearby bench in a hallway to catch up with myself, unaware that there was a little, spikey blonde hair boy next to me.
"Are you okay?" He asked me, curiousity in his voice. I turned my head and looked down at him, then shook my head.
"No, I wish I was though," I explained.
"What's wrong with you?" He asked me.
"I just... I don't feel good," I said, not wanting to scar him with details.
"Well, you're going to be okay, right?" He asked.
"I hope I will be..." I sighed.
"My mommy's always saying that in the end, everything's going to be okay, and if it isn't okay, then it isn't the end," The boy said. I looked at him, Impressed.
"That's a good motto to live by," I told him.
"It's the motto you should live by, too, lady," He said to me. "You'll be okay someday, just don't give up."
I looked at him for a moment- I was getting life advice from a little kid who couldn't be older than 6. Have I really gotten this low? Then, the little boy stood up, and started to walk away, but I called out after him.
"Hey, kid!" I shouted, causing him to stop and turn around, "Why are you here?"
"Because, My Mommy And Step-Daddy have to pick up my new little brother, Eli."
***
I sighed, as I walked into the Reverend's Room again. He was still unconscious, but this time, I came in with flowers. I shut the door behind me, and I walked over to his bedside and placed the flowers down on the table. I took in a deep breath, before I started talking, already starting to fight back tears.
"I'm flat-out not ready to die," I began, "I'm only in my 20s, I shouldn't even be worried about dying...but for the past couple months, and especially as of late...that's all i can think about. I shouldn't have to though. Up until today, I felt as if my grave was being dug, and I was just sitting down, watching it....directing it. But today...things changed. I met a few people...and I got hope back, and I realized....that in the end, everythings okay, and if It's not okay, It isn't the end...." By now, tears were freely falling from my face, "And I'm not ready for the end yet, I know I need more time...so please...just throw me a bone...help me out...please. Just help me out...."
I wiped the tears away, before walking out of the room.
***
For the past week, I've made it a habit to walk into the Reverend's room, a new set of flowers everyday, but today was different.
I Walked in with an empty cup of coffee from a 'catch up' day with Alex, as well as flowers, and his room was completely empty- no flowers, no people...not even the Reverend. I looked around confused, until I saw a Nurse come in after me.
"I'm sorry," She began, "But Reverend Dash passed away late last night, His family's hosting a funeral in two days, would you like me to tell them you dropped by?"
I didn't respond right away, as My brain processed it, but after a moment, I managed to say something.
"Sure, go ahead," I said. She walked up to me and grabbed the flowers.
"And who are these from?" She asked me, asking for my name.
"Kathryn Prince....I'm Number One."
