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No Good Deed Goes Unpunished Chapter 20
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Bette awoke a few hours later, lying in Sara’s arms. It took a few minutes for her to remember exactly what was happening. As much as Bette had hoped it was a dream, it wasn’t, it was all too real. Bette payed close attention to Sara’s breath. It was still strong and Bette grateful. She wriggled her way out of Sara’s arms hoping she would stay sleeping, she did. Bette grabbed her purse and made her way out of the room, across the hall, down the elevator and out the door. She spotted an older woman sitting on a bench outside the hospital. She made her way over and took a seat.
Bette: Excuse me, do you think you could spare a cigarette.
The older women nodded and rummaged through her bag for the pack.
Maria: Here you go.
Bette: Thanks.
The woman lit the cigarette for Bette.
Maria: You shouldn’t smoke.
Bette: And you should?
Maria: Sweet heart I am 78 years old. At this point it won’t be cigarettes that kill me.
She gave Bette a smile filled with wisdom.
Bette: I quit a while ago, but sickness has a way of making people fall back into unhealthy habits.
Maria: You aren’t from around here.
Bette: What gave it away?
Maria: You’re in Miami and wearing a turtle neck.
Bette: I’m from New York, I just flew down here.
Maria: Friend or family?
Bette gave her a questioning look.
Maria: Whose in the hospital?
Bette: Oh, both.
Maria nodded.
Bette looked over at her smoking partner and noticed the hospital ID around her wrist.
Maria: Well, I better get back inside before the wardens come looking for me.
Bette: Thanks for the cigarette.
Maria placed her hand on Bette’s.
Maria: Things happen for a reason. Trust me on that.
With that the older woman walked back inside. Bette reached in her bag to retrieve her cell phone. She dialed Alex’s number.
Alex: Hello?
Bette: Hey.
Alex: Hi. What’s going on?
Bette: Is Tina with you?
Alex: Yeah. She stayed at my place last night. She’s sleeping finally.
Bette: Alex, I don’t know what to do?
Bette voice began to crack.
Alex: Baby, what is happening there?
Bette: She’s dying.
Alex’s breath caught in his throat.
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Hi Flair, I have been reading your story since you started it. I have followed it and about lost it when Tina told Bette she wouldn’t be with her. But I see you had a plan for the story. Thank for sharing your information. This story is coming from the heart, which makes it better.
i have been in your shoes..my older sis died of colon cancer 3 years ago and was the worse moment and my life see someone amazing like her losing a battle for a desease and in some point she didnt wanted to live anymore and she was a doctor then for her was worse cuz knew exactly what she had.. im truly sorry for you and all the people who pass for the same situation but life is this and is not Gods fault things simply meant to be that way anyway..about the story im glad Tina will be there to support Bette great sad chapter
Flair, the story about your dad is really touching he sounds like he was a stand up guy. Great Chapter love ur story take care.
Thank you for sharing your story about your dad. You are treating this with so much dignity, and dealing with death, that is not always easy. My dad died quickly from a heart attack, and I didn’t get closure for years. My Mom is suffering for the past 15 years with Alzheimers, a long and undignified death. My heart goes out to you, thank you for your story. I can truly feel their pain, and sorrow….and Bette’s last statement. Many times in my life I have said the same…but, healing does happen, in time.
Hey Flair… this story really hit home.. I didn’t lose someone to cancer but I lost my father to diabetic complictions 3 years ago.. I guess what made it easier was to know he is no longer in pain. But I didnt have to see him suffer slowly.. Great touching chapter and please feel free to write anything you want, you always write beautifully.
thank you flair. i could tell by your music what a wonderful woman you are. it shows in people by the parents or parent they have. as you know i lost my son in feb. and the utter hopelessness you feel is excrusiating. thanks for your time and energy in giving us this. peace
Fair, I can see why you are so passionate about your writing and work. You and your family have gone through so much and all I can say is that no matter how unfair life can be. . .every experience just makes the soul stronger. Please post again soon.
Thank you for sharing your personal experience, it gives even more depth and intensity to your story because you’re letting your feelings transpire through your writing.
To Bette&TinaForever, those stupid visa regulations kept me in the US when my grandmother was dying of breast cancer in France, I had to say goodbye to her on the phone. Having the opportunity to hold the hand of someone you love in their last moments is a precious gift that life gives you, and sometimes you realize it when it’s too late.
So Flair, keep up with those true feelings pouring out of your heart.
Flair, I’m truly sorry for your losses. I too have lost a grandparent to Cancer. And you already know about my love. No he didnt die from cancer, he was shot in a drive by, by people who werent even looking for him. They got the wrong guy. So I know some of the pain Bette is feeling. It’s a different kinf but very simular. And I know EXACTLY how she feels about god. He took my love and my Nana. This story brings back alot of that hurt and I cant help but cry for my losses again and as well as Bette’s. And now, after hearing your story, for you as well. I now know why you are so passionate and why I feel this story is so real, the emotion is so real. Thank you for sharing this with us. Damn, you know everybody reacts differently to death. Some lash out, some stay to themselves, fearful to love or to be close to someone again and in many other ways as well. I hope that we ALL can pull out of this situation. Your story is EXCELLENT and so is your writting. I’m thankful for your writting and for trusting us all enough to share your pass pain with us. I know it will get better, maybe not tomorrow or the next day, but someday, it will. Thanks so much. Please continue to move to me to tears with this wonderful story.
Once again so sorry about ur dad Rach.. and if i’m not wrong i think you wrote the song “here” about ur father.. correct me if i’m wrong.. =)
all i have to say to answer why god choosed Sara, is that god always takes good people first so they won’t suffer more in this unfair life..
I am so sorry about the father. That was a touching story, it made me cry. Thank you for your wonderful writing.
REALLY incredible. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and talent with us.
Hey Flair, sorry to hear about your dad must have been a realy hard time for you and your family . Hope all is good now. Thank you for writing this great story.
Damn so touching and emotion, wonderful story, love it. Post soon please, thanks!
I’m touched…thanks for sharing…
That was brave of you to share your story. I am sure that your bravery has helped other people who are going through the same experiences. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your personal experience. What you said was very touching, my eyes were filled with tears. I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I can’t say my experiences are anywhere close to what you or Bette are dealing with, but my friend’s father died on 9-11 and I remember acting like Bette and yelling at God. It’s a human reaction to death and you’ve nailed it. I’m sure your father is watching from heaven and smiling because his daughter is one successful and amazing woman.
Hey Flair..Your a beautiful and compassionate person & your doing a great job with this story..Coming from someone who is/has gone through the cancer topic..Your doing a fantastic job..& personally..lm not offended..lm 22 yrs old & was diagnosed with skin cancer when l was 20..unfortunatley it came back this summer so into surgery l went again..hopefully they have removed it all this time..Fingers crossed..Its shows how brave & strong you were to be with your father at the end..l cant imaging how that must affect you..Life..Its a crazy thing hey?! Hey also..lm coming to New York in Feb..Maybe l could take you on that date l promised! LOL! Stay exactly the way you are Rach..Its inspireing x
Flair… i’m really sorry about your dad! Thank for sharing this with us…
the story about your father – was beautiful and it was brave to share – i had a very similar experience with my mother, it will be 14 yrs next week. It isnt easy to share and know that you are not alone. Being by their side is something to be grateful for, I know I am.
You’re story is great, beautiful and touching.
i am sorry about your father. He was really some fighter. You have done what you can, be there with him. don’t know what to say. great story keep it up
I’m so sorry to hear about your losses and other commentors’ losses as well. I salute you all for your love and toughness for yourself or for your love ones…
Flair, I know I already commented, but I’ve been thinking about you and your story. Ending the story like you did with such anger, I can totatly understand from both yours and Bettes point of view. I lost my mom when I was 11. I don’t want to get too religious on you, but she always taught us to never blame God for what was happening to her and I never did. Never. I hope in time, faith has come back to you, I’m sure your dad would want it that way. After all, without faith, really, what do we have. Hang in there, thanks for the great story.
Thank you, Flair.
Your father’s story was very touching. I’m sorry if my comments sounded flip about Sara’s illness. Flair, I never questioned for a moment your motivation or your credibility in writing her (or any of this) story. I’ve enjoyed every moment that I’ve read.
I had an experience similar to yours with a parent’s illness and death. It’s amazing how very brave the dying are. Even in death they give us gifts, by allowing us to participate in the process through hospice, by allowing us to bear witness to their passing. Death is awful, awesome, humbling and beautiful.
When she died, I closed my mother’s eyes. I never wanted to witness that. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
God bless you. Take us where you will, we will follow!
Wow!
K
Wonderful chapter as always. Thanks for sharing your story. My dad died of cancer when I was 7, I will be 26 next month. It’s a horrible thing that I don’t wish on anybody. Life is so hard and so good sometimes. Great chapter, love it.
thank you for sharing your past with your readers, it was much appreciated to know where you are coming from. the same case goes with me, i’d never write something that i’ve never experience before, i would not have any point of reference.
Hey: Sorry for your loss. I know the feeling. I lost my Dad to cancer on Valentine’s Day a while ago. But I still miss him every day. Thanks for sharing your story.
Dear Rachel, as you know all I had to express about your so moving personal note was sent to you separately.
I just take this opportunity to thank you again for all the readers who, as you said, could have crossed similar deep sorrows and mournings.
Reading all the comments here, I can see how much your brave gift touched all hearts and really bring support too.
You are a truly wonderful person. I love your sensitivity and I admire your courage a lot. People like you are priceless…
********
Of course, seen through the light of your harrowing testimony, this very special chapter and the ones that will follow are particularly poignant and realistic.
All I can say now is that you paint it with great delicacy and tactfulness, paying a very beautiful tribute to the courage and fears of dying people like Sara in this fiction – and your father in the reality…
No vain flourishes, just simplicity, accuracy and truth.
Even without any personal note to warn us, it would have been obvious that such lines was coming right from the heart… I was reading and I’m reading it again with the eyes of my own heart, with soft feelings of gratefulness and emotion.
I also love to see how you put the fiction’s drama in parentheses for a while, reuniting very soon everybody around Sara and Bette for the sweetest, helpful and best goodbye possible.
Dear Rachel, I’m feeling more than ever privileged for having meet you and your story. Thank you. A lot.
“Love is stronger then death even though it can’t stop death from happening, but no matter how hard death tries it can’t separate people from love. It can’t take away our memories either. In the end, life is stronger than death.” (Anonymous quote)
Art imitates much of life… this chapter was extraordinarily well conceived and written, I love how the troops are rallying around Bette I think she needs to understand that she can trust Tina with her trouble. I read your comments out loud to myself and then re-read the story; it had a profound effect on my interpretation of this chapter…thank you “Flair” (Rachel) for trusting your audience with your trouble…stay in peace.
ok, so when i suggested that sara drop dead, i didn’t mean in this tragic, heartwrenching way. ;)
thank you for sharing the story of your father. i understand what you mean about not creating the story lightly, without knowing the experience. like playgirl, my mother has been dying from alzheimer’s for many years now. i actually felt some comfort at her comment, being reminded that others have to watch their parents die in that long slow way. and her comment would never have arrived but through your sharing.
so my best wishes to you and many thanks. looking forward to your next chapter.
Flair,
Have just caught up with the last 4 chapters and all I can say is OH MY GOD!
My heart is pumping hard after that shock to the system.
Thank you for continuing to keep the characters real and life-like as I am sure that Bette would have moved heaven and earth to get to Sara’s side while being unsure what to tell Tina.
Alex was an absolute dreamboat and dealt with Bette perfectly. Unfortunately it is during times of crisis and suffering that we discover who our real friends are.
Surprise, surprise! The show is the last thing they are worried about as they head to Miami to comfort Bette.
I only hope that Bette will move on from this, as Sara wanted, and reunite with Tina.
However given your twisted nature this may be prolonged indefinitely.
Your style and finesse has me holding my breath in anticipation of the next line and what drama it will bring.
This is all given true resonance by the poignancy of your sharing of a personal tragedy. While this is a piece of fiction, it still has the capacity to move us all. Much gratitude and understanding in the depth that you have imbued this story with. Writing from the heart will always move others.
I hope that this has provided a cathartic moment and allowed you some comfort. Know that each one of us are here with you; supporting and reassuring you in the brilliance of this masterpiece.
Please post soon.
Your Loyal Fan.
Hey flair that was so sad I’m sorry to hear about your father I’ll know what you feel my dad his desease also anyway WHOA! this Story it’s really sad and I’m really touch about this Story your really Great writer to put all of this I’ll know emotional body and mind to write, only I can say is WHOA! Hey fliar your are Amazing Thanks I’m still catch up Thanks for this share of you’re Gift of writing I Love it.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I think you’re a very courageous woman and my heart goes out to you.
Powerful stuff, flair. Excellent chapter. I’m glad the gang’s on their way to support Bette. Hopefully Bette will understand one day why God’s bringing Sara to Him/Her.
“She looked up at the towering hospital. So intimidating. Every window of every room telling it’s own stories of life and death.” Love this. Superb writing, flair.
P.S. – Thanks for having the courage to share your story with us. I’m sure your Dad is smiling down on you right now. :) I truly believe that this site brings people together, and you’re another shining example of that.
You really put the emotion in this story. i am glad you were with your father when he passed no one can ever take that moment away from you!!!
Your sincerity shines through and so does your talent and giant size heart. Wishing comfort and peace to you and all those who have lost loved ones.
Hey Rach. Thanks for sharing the story about your Dad. You are a fantastic writer and I can see you put your emotins into this story. I am glad that Bette and Sara will have Alex, Tina, and Alice with them. No one should be alone at a time like this.
Flare, I feel so shollow when I think of all the things I could say. Death changes the ones who go on living. I have become so much more emotional at little things after the death of a loved one that I cared deeply for. It gave me a different perspective on life. I really do live today as if there will be no tomorrow in a short sighted kind of way. Your father was very brave, and you also for having the ability to deal with it. Thanks you for sharing.
Well what can I say which hasn’t already been said by so many of your avid followers. Flair thank you for sharing, it just shows that you are wise beyond your years and a true inspiration…….reach for the stars and never doubt yourself you are truly talented.
Flair my sympathies go out to you even if it was a long time ago or not.I lost a grandparent who had cancer and it was 17 years ago last week.I still can’t talk about it w/o getting emotional.My biggest regret is that when she was in the hospital I didn’t visit her.She actually died because of a injury substained in the hospital.My mom tried to get a lawyer to take the case but nobody would touch it.I commend anybody who uses personal experiences to tell a story.I do hope after the drama with Sara something good will come from it.Thanks for great storytelling.
My heart is with youm You were so young to go through that. The LOML is a Heart transpant [13] yrs,and will go in for a yrs check up on lung cancer. We have had 13 more yrs together. Everyday is a giveme to us. So glad that Alex,Alice and Tina will be there for Sara and Bette. Thanks so much for a wonderful story.
flair, thank you for sharing your personal story and iam very sorry for the loss. this chapter reflected all the pain, hurt, helplessness and anger that one could feel at a time of loss. the line about ‘each window of the hospital telling its own story of life and death’ struck a chord in me. that’s exactly how i felt when i was an intern at a hospital. thank you for this story.
You were so young when your dad died, but it sounds like you have some good memories of him despite all the bad, and maybe that’s the greatest gift he could leave you with. Some people spend a lifetime with their parents and can never have so much to say about them, but your dad means a lot to you and in his short time with you, he made his presence memorable. I think you’re writing is really heartfelt. You have a great sense of passion in some of these situations. I look forward to more, thanks rachel.
Flair, your dad sounds like he was a fighter like mine. My dad passed away 1year ago from lung cancer. THe man went from 220lbs to 87lbs, didn’t even recognize him in the end. Too many trips to the hospital. But as others said , its never God’s fault, its just life, always be happy for the time we had and for knowing the person in the first place. As far as the story goes, great as usual. Very touching. Bette should be there for Sara and Tina will understand, and her and Alex and Alice will be there for Bette. Should be a wake up call for those two. Remember if you love someone let them know.