| General Fan Fiction posted June 1, 2022 |
  |
Reconciliations
Blessed Brother/Part3
by John Ciarmello
Part 2 prologue
Everett pushed through the doors to Glenmont hospice center and hurried to the front desk.
“May I help you, Father?”
“Yes, Thaddeus, Thaddeus Vitali, where can I find him?” Everett watched as the nurse’s eyes fumbled through the computer records, increasing Everett’s anxiety.
“I’m sorry, Father, they have him listed as deceased.”
“What? When?”
“It looks like he died at seven forty-five this morning. Twenty minutes ago.”
Everett put his head in his hands.
“I’m so sorry, Father.”
“Would I be able to see him?”
“Yes, of course, you can view him in the morgue, Father. He’ll need to be identified. One of the nurses on duty will take you down. Again, I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Yes, yes, thank you.”
He stood over Thaddeus’s body. Everett became more aware than ever of the medallion around his neck…
Blessed Brother/ part 3
Everett replaced the sheet over Thaddeus’s face. “Did he say anything before he passed, nurse? Anything at all?”
Everett noticed the nurse's movements were naturally slow as she moved to the opposite side of the mortuary table. She had a silvery tone to her voice that fit pleasantly into her surroundings. “Actually, Father, he had plenty to say, but it wasn’t said to my staff or me.” The nurse cleared her throat and patted the tears from the corners of her eyes.
“Nurse, my brother’s death has touched you, and I appreciate the sentiment as I’m sure he would have, but…”
“I’m sorry, Father, it wasn’t his death that was emotional; we’re used to death around here. It was what happened in the minutes before that was so touching.”
“I don’t understand.”
The nurse jotted on a release form and handed Everett Thaddeus’s personal belongings. “Have you heard of deathbed phenomena, Father?”
“Once or twice, but my recollection of it is vague.”
“DRSE, Father, death-related sensory experiences. We see them in hospice situations all the time, but what we experienced in your brother’s case was very different.”
“How so?”
“It was the strangest thing, Father, so odd that we watched Thaddeus on the security camera at the front desk. His arm was suspended out in front of him as if he were holding someone’s hand. He talked, and then he appeared to be listening."
“Were you able to hear what he was saying?”
“He mentioned the name Claud, or…”
“Claudia, my sister. She committed suicide a few months ago.”
“I’m sorry, Father.”
“Thank you, but please go on.”
“It sounded as though he was explaining he couldn’t go with her and was waiting for someone to arrive. I know now that someone was you.” The nurse eased Thaddeus’s body back into the morgue freezer. “He asked her about a key of some sort, and then he referenced, Remi?”
“Yes, Remi is Claudia’s seventeen-year-old son. He lives with me now in the parsonage.”
“Please, send him our condolences, Father.” Everett watched the nurse latch the freezer door, “Losing his mother to suicide. I can’t imagine what he must be feeling.”
“Yes, his mother’s death was traumatic for him, and now I’ll have to tell him about Thaddeus.”
“I’m sorry, father. Were they close?”
“They have never met, but nonetheless. Remi is his blood.”
“Would you mind me asking what relation Thaddeus is to, Remi?”
"It has a background I’d rather not divulge for personal reasons, but Thaddeus is Remi’s father.”
“Didn’t you say Claudia was your sister?”
“Adopted sister, yes.”
“Wouldn’t she be Thaddeus’s sister too…”
Everett looked around and cleared his throat. “Nurse, is there a place we can speak in private?”
“Yes, of course.” The nurse closed the office door behind her. "I’m sorry, Father, I didn’t mean to pry….”
"It’s okay, nurse. I appreciate what you’ve done for him, and I believe you deserve to know some background. Thaddeus spent ten years of his life incarcerated for Claudia’s rape, and Remi is a result of it.”
“That’s terrible, but curious at the same time.”
“What’s curious?”
“Of course, we couldn’t hear what Claudia was saying, but for some reason, we heard Thaddeus say that Remi wasn’t his son.”
“That’s impossible; you and your staff must have heard him wrong.”
“Possibly, Father, and I’m not trying to guess what any of this means, but Thaddeus mentioned you in his conversation with Claudia. He seemed adamant with her about the key and that you needed to know the truth about Claudia and Remi.”
Everett lowered his gaze and rubbed his forehead in frustration. “That’s so vague, nurse. Can you recall anything else he might have said about the key? The key to what? I feel like whatever it unlocks, it may have truths."
“I’m sorry, Father, there isn’t anymore. I will add that the conversation about you knowing the truth became desperate for Thaddeus.” The nurse hesitated for a few seconds. “Father, it’s none of my business, but whatever you need to do to unravel this, I wouldn’t hesitate to do so.”
“Yes, it’s all getting a bit hard to grasp.”
“I’m sure it is, Father.”
Everett stood still for a few seconds and then turned to the nurse. “Would you mind if I went back to the morgue and spent a few minutes alone with him?”
“Not at all, Father. I’ll be at the front desk if you need anything else.”
Everett pulled the freezer gurney out and looked down at Thaddeus. He took the Medallion from under his shirt and placed a palm on Thaddeus’s chest. “What secrets did you take with you, my brother?” He whispered.
He gazed at the Medallion and thought about how many times he had witnessed death and grieving families and had refrained from using its powers. He knew the Medallion didn’t give him the right to take God’s role and that it was to be used discreetly. He shook his head, realizing that moment challenged his faith and God-given responsibility. He signed the cross on Thaddeus’s forehead, “Rest, my brother,” he said aloud and returned the Medallion under his shirt.
Everett went to the front desk to thank the nurse for her help.
“One more thing before you leave, Father? The staff and I honestly believe that Claudia was there with Thaddeus, and it seems there was some reconciliation between them, if that’s of any comfort to you. The conversation was unlike any we’d ever heard between a dying patient and a deceased relative.”
“Thank you, nurse; that is all comforting to know, but from what you’ve told me, that is the least of my thoughts right now.”
To be continued
Story of the Month contest entry
Part 2 prologue
Everett pushed through the doors to Glenmont hospice center and hurried to the front desk.
“May I help you, Father?”
“Yes, Thaddeus, Thaddeus Vitali, where can I find him?” Everett watched as the nurse’s eyes fumbled through the computer records, increasing Everett’s anxiety.
“I’m sorry, Father, they have him listed as deceased.”
“What? When?”
“It looks like he died at seven forty-five this morning. Twenty minutes ago.”
Everett put his head in his hands.
“I’m so sorry, Father.”
“Would I be able to see him?”
“Yes, of course, you can view him in the morgue, Father. He’ll need to be identified. One of the nurses on duty will take you down. Again, I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Yes, yes, thank you.”
He stood over Thaddeus’s body. Everett became more aware than ever of the medallion around his neck…
Blessed Brother/ part 3
Everett replaced the sheet over Thaddeus’s face. “Did he say anything before he passed, nurse? Anything at all?”
Everett noticed the nurse's movements were naturally slow as she moved to the opposite side of the mortuary table. She had a silvery tone to her voice that fit pleasantly into her surroundings. “Actually, Father, he had plenty to say, but it wasn’t said to my staff or me.” The nurse cleared her throat and patted the tears from the corners of her eyes.
“Nurse, my brother’s death has touched you, and I appreciate the sentiment as I’m sure he would have, but…”
“I’m sorry, Father, it wasn’t his death that was emotional; we’re used to death around here. It was what happened in the minutes before that was so touching.”
“I don’t understand.”
The nurse jotted on a release form and handed Everett Thaddeus’s personal belongings. “Have you heard of deathbed phenomena, Father?”
“Once or twice, but my recollection of it is vague.”
“DRSE, Father, death-related sensory experiences. We see them in hospice situations all the time, but what we experienced in your brother’s case was very different.”
“How so?”
“It was the strangest thing, Father, so odd that we watched Thaddeus on the security camera at the front desk. His arm was suspended out in front of him as if he were holding someone’s hand. He talked, and then he appeared to be listening."
“Were you able to hear what he was saying?”
“He mentioned the name Claud, or…”
“Claudia, my sister. She committed suicide a few months ago.”
“I’m sorry, Father.”
“Thank you, but please go on.”
“It sounded as though he was explaining he couldn’t go with her and was waiting for someone to arrive. I know now that someone was you.” The nurse eased Thaddeus’s body back into the morgue freezer. “He asked her about a key of some sort, and then he referenced, Remi?”
“Yes, Remi is Claudia’s seventeen-year-old son. He lives with me now in the parsonage.”
“Please, send him our condolences, Father.” Everett watched the nurse latch the freezer door, “Losing his mother to suicide. I can’t imagine what he must be feeling.”
“Yes, his mother’s death was traumatic for him, and now I’ll have to tell him about Thaddeus.”
“I’m sorry, father. Were they close?”
“They have never met, but nonetheless. Remi is his blood.”
“Would you mind me asking what relation Thaddeus is to, Remi?”
"It has a background I’d rather not divulge for personal reasons, but Thaddeus is Remi’s father.”
“Didn’t you say Claudia was your sister?”
“Adopted sister, yes.”
“Wouldn’t she be Thaddeus’s sister too…”
Everett looked around and cleared his throat. “Nurse, is there a place we can speak in private?”
“Yes, of course.” The nurse closed the office door behind her. "I’m sorry, Father, I didn’t mean to pry….”
"It’s okay, nurse. I appreciate what you’ve done for him, and I believe you deserve to know some background. Thaddeus spent ten years of his life incarcerated for Claudia’s rape, and Remi is a result of it.”
“That’s terrible, but curious at the same time.”
“What’s curious?”
“Of course, we couldn’t hear what Claudia was saying, but for some reason, we heard Thaddeus say that Remi wasn’t his son.”
“That’s impossible; you and your staff must have heard him wrong.”
“Possibly, Father, and I’m not trying to guess what any of this means, but Thaddeus mentioned you in his conversation with Claudia. He seemed adamant with her about the key and that you needed to know the truth about Claudia and Remi.”
Everett lowered his gaze and rubbed his forehead in frustration. “That’s so vague, nurse. Can you recall anything else he might have said about the key? The key to what? I feel like whatever it unlocks, it may have truths."
“I’m sorry, Father, there isn’t anymore. I will add that the conversation about you knowing the truth became desperate for Thaddeus.” The nurse hesitated for a few seconds. “Father, it’s none of my business, but whatever you need to do to unravel this, I wouldn’t hesitate to do so.”
“Yes, it’s all getting a bit hard to grasp.”
“I’m sure it is, Father.”
Everett stood still for a few seconds and then turned to the nurse. “Would you mind if I went back to the morgue and spent a few minutes alone with him?”
“Not at all, Father. I’ll be at the front desk if you need anything else.”
Everett pulled the freezer gurney out and looked down at Thaddeus. He took the Medallion from under his shirt and placed a palm on Thaddeus’s chest. “What secrets did you take with you, my brother?” He whispered.
He gazed at the Medallion and thought about how many times he had witnessed death and grieving families and had refrained from using its powers. He knew the Medallion didn’t give him the right to take God’s role and that it was to be used discreetly. He shook his head, realizing that moment challenged his faith and God-given responsibility. He signed the cross on Thaddeus’s forehead, “Rest, my brother,” he said aloud and returned the Medallion under his shirt.
Everett went to the front desk to thank the nurse for her help.
“One more thing before you leave, Father? The staff and I honestly believe that Claudia was there with Thaddeus, and it seems there was some reconciliation between them, if that’s of any comfort to you. The conversation was unlike any we’d ever heard between a dying patient and a deceased relative.”
“Thank you, nurse; that is all comforting to know, but from what you’ve told me, that is the least of my thoughts right now.”
To be continued
Everett pushed through the doors to Glenmont hospice center and hurried to the front desk.
“May I help you, Father?”
“Yes, Thaddeus, Thaddeus Vitali, where can I find him?” Everett watched as the nurse’s eyes fumbled through the computer records, increasing Everett’s anxiety.
“I’m sorry, Father, they have him listed as deceased.”
“What? When?”
“It looks like he died at seven forty-five this morning. Twenty minutes ago.”
Everett put his head in his hands.
“I’m so sorry, Father.”
“Would I be able to see him?”
“Yes, of course, you can view him in the morgue, Father. He’ll need to be identified. One of the nurses on duty will take you down. Again, I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Yes, yes, thank you.”
He stood over Thaddeus’s body. Everett became more aware than ever of the medallion around his neck…
Blessed Brother/ part 3
Everett replaced the sheet over Thaddeus’s face. “Did he say anything before he passed, nurse? Anything at all?”
Everett noticed the nurse's movements were naturally slow as she moved to the opposite side of the mortuary table. She had a silvery tone to her voice that fit pleasantly into her surroundings. “Actually, Father, he had plenty to say, but it wasn’t said to my staff or me.” The nurse cleared her throat and patted the tears from the corners of her eyes.
“Nurse, my brother’s death has touched you, and I appreciate the sentiment as I’m sure he would have, but…”
“I’m sorry, Father, it wasn’t his death that was emotional; we’re used to death around here. It was what happened in the minutes before that was so touching.”
“I don’t understand.”
The nurse jotted on a release form and handed Everett Thaddeus’s personal belongings. “Have you heard of deathbed phenomena, Father?”
“Once or twice, but my recollection of it is vague.”
“DRSE, Father, death-related sensory experiences. We see them in hospice situations all the time, but what we experienced in your brother’s case was very different.”
“How so?”
“It was the strangest thing, Father, so odd that we watched Thaddeus on the security camera at the front desk. His arm was suspended out in front of him as if he were holding someone’s hand. He talked, and then he appeared to be listening."
“Were you able to hear what he was saying?”
“He mentioned the name Claud, or…”
“Claudia, my sister. She committed suicide a few months ago.”
“I’m sorry, Father.”
“Thank you, but please go on.”
“It sounded as though he was explaining he couldn’t go with her and was waiting for someone to arrive. I know now that someone was you.” The nurse eased Thaddeus’s body back into the morgue freezer. “He asked her about a key of some sort, and then he referenced, Remi?”
“Yes, Remi is Claudia’s seventeen-year-old son. He lives with me now in the parsonage.”
“Please, send him our condolences, Father.” Everett watched the nurse latch the freezer door, “Losing his mother to suicide. I can’t imagine what he must be feeling.”
“Yes, his mother’s death was traumatic for him, and now I’ll have to tell him about Thaddeus.”
“I’m sorry, father. Were they close?”
“They have never met, but nonetheless. Remi is his blood.”
“Would you mind me asking what relation Thaddeus is to, Remi?”
"It has a background I’d rather not divulge for personal reasons, but Thaddeus is Remi’s father.”
“Didn’t you say Claudia was your sister?”
“Adopted sister, yes.”
“Wouldn’t she be Thaddeus’s sister too…”
Everett looked around and cleared his throat. “Nurse, is there a place we can speak in private?”
“Yes, of course.” The nurse closed the office door behind her. "I’m sorry, Father, I didn’t mean to pry….”
"It’s okay, nurse. I appreciate what you’ve done for him, and I believe you deserve to know some background. Thaddeus spent ten years of his life incarcerated for Claudia’s rape, and Remi is a result of it.”
“That’s terrible, but curious at the same time.”
“What’s curious?”
“Of course, we couldn’t hear what Claudia was saying, but for some reason, we heard Thaddeus say that Remi wasn’t his son.”
“That’s impossible; you and your staff must have heard him wrong.”
“Possibly, Father, and I’m not trying to guess what any of this means, but Thaddeus mentioned you in his conversation with Claudia. He seemed adamant with her about the key and that you needed to know the truth about Claudia and Remi.”
Everett lowered his gaze and rubbed his forehead in frustration. “That’s so vague, nurse. Can you recall anything else he might have said about the key? The key to what? I feel like whatever it unlocks, it may have truths."
“I’m sorry, Father, there isn’t anymore. I will add that the conversation about you knowing the truth became desperate for Thaddeus.” The nurse hesitated for a few seconds. “Father, it’s none of my business, but whatever you need to do to unravel this, I wouldn’t hesitate to do so.”
“Yes, it’s all getting a bit hard to grasp.”
“I’m sure it is, Father.”
Everett stood still for a few seconds and then turned to the nurse. “Would you mind if I went back to the morgue and spent a few minutes alone with him?”
“Not at all, Father. I’ll be at the front desk if you need anything else.”
Everett pulled the freezer gurney out and looked down at Thaddeus. He took the Medallion from under his shirt and placed a palm on Thaddeus’s chest. “What secrets did you take with you, my brother?” He whispered.
He gazed at the Medallion and thought about how many times he had witnessed death and grieving families and had refrained from using its powers. He knew the Medallion didn’t give him the right to take God’s role and that it was to be used discreetly. He shook his head, realizing that moment challenged his faith and God-given responsibility. He signed the cross on Thaddeus’s forehead, “Rest, my brother,” he said aloud and returned the Medallion under his shirt.
Everett went to the front desk to thank the nurse for her help.
“One more thing before you leave, Father? The staff and I honestly believe that Claudia was there with Thaddeus, and it seems there was some reconciliation between them, if that’s of any comfort to you. The conversation was unlike any we’d ever heard between a dying patient and a deceased relative.”
“Thank you, nurse; that is all comforting to know, but from what you’ve told me, that is the least of my thoughts right now.”
To be continued
 Recognized |
I've changed the type of this story to Fantasy fiction. I'm trying to stay as close to reality as possible, but the change will allow a perfect buffer if I have to stray. Thanks so much for reading.
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