Six

Eight months later

Maya sighed as she looked over at Josh in the hospital bed. The ventilator was still breathing for him. There were no signs of recovery.

Riley rocked Ellie in the rocking chair and looked over at her best friend.

Lucas sat beside Riley and sighed too.

"Hey guys. It's time," Cory said from the doorway of Josh's hospital room.

Topanga wrapped her arms around Cory's backside and a few tears leaked out of her eyes.

"Just a little longer," Maya said. She wasn't ready to let go, not yet.

"Okay, honey. Whenever you're ready, you let us know," Cory said and ushered his daughter and son-in-law out.

Riley handed Ellie back to Maya, and Maya held her daughter close.

"Josh, can you hear me?" She spoke softly.

Ellie whimpered in her arms; she was now eight months old and learning to walk.

There was no response from Josh. He didn't flinch. He was brain-dead. The ventilator had been breathing for him for a while now.

"Josh. My sweet Josh. You'd be so proud of Ellie. She's getting so big and she's crawling now and she even started learning to walk. She said her first word two days ago. Surprisingly, she said "dada" over and over the whole day. She's so incredibly happy and smart."

She let out a shaky breath before continuing, a few tears dropping down onto his body. He didn't flinch.

"We'd be married now. We'd have a house with a picket fence and maybe another baby on the way and a few animals. When you're ready to move on, just do something to let me know, okay?"

A squeeze. He squeezed her hand lightly.

"Okay. Okay. We'll be okay. I love you, Josh."

She got up and kissed his forehead, signaling for them to come back in.

"It's time," she said.

Cory sighed sadly and Riley came over and held on to Maya. Lucas and Farkle sat together on the couch with Ellie beside them being held by Auggie.

Ava was crying as she laid in Amy's lap, and Alan sighed.

"Bye, boy. Momma and I love you," Alan said as he kissed Josh's forehead.

Eric and Morgan came over to say goodbye to their baby brother, and Cory was the last one to say goodbye.

"God, Josh. You're too young to die. You have a little girl who'll never get to know her dad, you understand that? Huh? Now why did you have to go to that bar that night?! Now we're having to bury you six feet under and you have nothing to say?! God! God, help me..." Cory was sobbing loudly. He was a mix of anger and confusion and sadness.

Topanga came over to him. She hugged him.

"Honey, it's time to say goodbye. It's time, okay?" She said.

He stopped crying and kissed Josh's forehead. "Doc, do your thing. We'll be okay."

The doctor nodded and Maya shut her eyes.

One.

Two.

Three.

She remembered the first time they met, when she was fourteen and he was seventeen.

"Hi," Josh said. He was wearing the signature black beanie and a smirk.

Maya blushed and smiled. "Uncle Boing!" And proceeded to hug him.

"Alright, Maya. I need to breathe!" He said. She let go and he smiled.

"Hi, Maya," he said and they locked eyes.

Maya cried as she sat in the chair, still holding Josh's hand.

The machine beeped, letting everyone know that it had been turned off.

On April 8th, Joshua Gabriel Matthews, at twenty-five years old, entered into the gates and was greeted by God, Jesus, and Mr. Feeny. He no longer suffers from pain, and is happy. He watches down on his family from time to time, getting a front row seat to seeing Ellie grow up.

There was a moment of silence, of peace, where Maya breathed. She looked towards the sky, almost seeing into Heaven.

"Bye, Josh."