The End by G. Michael Hopf Page B

the issue and will have the power back on very soon.”
    â€œThat might be fine for you and me, but my son in room 303 has no life support and I need your assistance now!” He slammed his hand on the counter. “NOW!”
    The nurse turned to him, visibly irritated by him and frustrated by the greater situation. She repeated, with attitude in her voice, “Sir, the power will be on soon. We will go check on your son very, very soon.”
    â€œListen, you don’t know who I am; I am the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. I am not asking you, I am telling you, to go down to room 303 and check on my son, now!”
    Her eyes opened wide. She was visibly disturbed by his last statement. “Take me to your son’s room.”
    She came out from around the counter at the nurse’s station and ran beside Conner, down the hall to room 303.
    When they entered the room, Julia was sobbing uncontrollably, her head placed against Bobby’s limp hand. The nurse immediately approached their son and checked his pulse. She reached over him and grabbed a stethoscope and put it on. She continued checking his vitals, listening intently but hearing nothing. The nurse dropped the stethoscope and ripped open Bobby’s hospital gown to administer CPR. Julia, with tears streaming down her face and gripped by fear, sat frozen, watching the nurse desperately try to revive her son. Conner came to her side and put his hands on her shoulders.
    The nurse administered CPR for what seemed like forever, pausing every few minutes to check his vitals. Eventually, she ran to the loud and chaotic hallway and yelled, “Dr. Rivera, Dr. Rivera!”
    â€œHe’s down here in 311!”
    â€œI need him in 303, stat!”
    No reply.
    The nurse turned back to Bobby. She again checked his vitals and continued the CPR. Another few minutes passed and, after checking Bobby’s vitals one last time, she turned to Conner and his wife and whispered, “I am so very sorry.”
    â€œNo, no! You keep trying, don’t you stop!” Julia screamed hysterically. “That’s my only boy there, don’t you stop!”
    â€œMa’am, I have tried; I could give him more CPR but he’s gone, there’s nothing more I can do,” the nurse replied, her voice subdued and defeated.
    â€œGoddamn you! Get someone else in here who will try,” Julia yelled at the nurse. She turned to her husband, “Brad, goddamn it, do something!”
    â€œJulia, I think he’s gone.” Conner said, sadly, to his grieving and hysterical wife. He then lowered his head in sorrow.
    â€œNo, no!” she said, hitting her husband in the chest twice. She pushed past him, walking toward the nurse who began to back away, apprehensive about what was coming toward her.
    â€œGet out of my way!” Julia said to the nurse. She then bent over and placed her ear against her son’s chest. She started to try to perform CPR herself; it was obvious she did not know what she was doing.
    Both the nurse and Conner watched Julia, stunned. Conner stood there for a brief time before motioning for the nurse to leave. He walked over to his wife, who was still unsuccessfully attempting CPR, and placed both arms around her. She tried to shrug him off at first, but eventually gave in and collapsed onto her dead son. The hospital’s chaos faded as they sank into their own despair.
    Musa Qala, Helmand Province, Afghanistan
    â€œHoly shit, I cannot believe this is happening,” Sebastian said to Lance Corporal Tomlinson while stuffing his sea bag.
    â€œI know; I’m shocked too; I just hope my folks and girlfriend are cool. My parents live up in northeast PA and you know my girl is out in O’side.”
    Grabbing more gear and forcing it into his bag, Sebastian said, “Whoever did this needs to die, all of them need to die. I just hope I get them in my scope; I’ll fucking kill