Suddenly, she heard someone unlock the door. When they opened it, Denella found herself looking down to a small, white face. It was Maryanne with her big smile of dentures. She didn't look sick at all. You could even say she looked strong and healthy.
"Hi, Mrs. Reed." Denella greeted.
"Hello, Dear." Maryanne paused. It was as if she was trying to remember who it was. "Denella Oakley? Is that really you?"
"Yes, it's Denella," she stated with a smile.
"Oh, come in, come in. Look how much you've grown since the last time I saw you. How long has it been? Two years I believe. You were only 19 at the time."
"I know, it's been a while. How are you doing?" Denella asked as she thought about how she hadn't grown in those years. It was Maryanne who was getting shorter and shorter. Denella took a seat on the couch as Maryanne sat in front of her on her rocking chair.
"Would you like some cookies with a glass of milk?" she offered.
As much as Denella wanted them, she knew she couldn't. She hesitated to refuse them, "No, thanks, I can't stay too long. I have to get back to work soon."
"Are you sure, dear? Don't you remember how you used to love my famous chocolate chip cookies?"
Denella could feel her mouth starting to water. Maryanne was right. Her chocolate chip cookies were the best and they were really tempting. "Well, I guess a few cookies a glass of milk won't hurt."
Belle City General Hospital, Belle City, 4:31p.m
Chris and Raphael dashed through the front doors of the hospital. People watched as they rushed to the elevators. When Raphael realized that the elevators were all the way on the top floor, he ran up the painful stairs to the second floor and Chris followed.
They hurried thought the crowded halls that were busy with people. As Raphael passed room 217, he remembered the girl Denella was telling him about, Sophie Maxwell. Finally, they came to a stop at room 229.
Raphael saw Terrance. He laid there, still. Terrance wasn't moving, and he wasn't breathing. His lips were dried and parted. By the look on all of the nurses' faces, he could tell that it was over for Terrance. They couldn't do anything about it. The doctor covered the corpse and was recording the time of death. Raphael was too late.
He didn't know what would happen to T.E.R.S.E. Without Terrance there was no T.E.R.S.E. Raphael didn't know what to do. He wasn't sad. He wasn't mad. He couldn't feel anything. Terrence was just like a second father to him. Terrance taught him things even his father couldn't teach him. He was fun but strict at times. Raphael thought he was probably just shocked. It was just like losing his dad all over again, but only he knew that he would never see Terrence again.