[ WP ] Write a `` No good deed goes unpunished '' story .

“ Nathan, ” the nurse says as she pokes her head inside the door. “ It ’ s time to go. ” 
 
 I turn to the nurse and give her the usual smile. “ Please, Jan? ” 
 
 The nurse sighs and says gently, “ Okay, a few more minutes. But this is last time! ” 
 
 “ Thank you, ” I say as she takes her leave. With a heavy sigh, I turn back to the hospital bed, smile turning to frown. My grandfather is hardly even recognizable anymore. His face, which used to be so full and cheerful, now hollow and void of emotion. A man who used to be so jovial and lively, now reduced to a lifeless echo of the machines at his side. 
 
 Tears stung my eyes. *He doesn ’ t deserve this*, I thought. But I could never go through with giving up on him. How could I give up on the man who never gave up on me? The man who raised me as a son as well as a grandson; who helped me pick out my first truck. *Heh, that rusty old piece of junk. * The man who taught me how to fish and how to golf. The man who helped me fill out the forms for college, and taught me how to balance a checkbook. The man who pushed me to push myself. 
 
 I wipe the tear off my cheek. With a groan, I stand up and place the daily newspaper in the chair I had been sitting in. “ Well, sorry the news was pretty boring again today. It ’ s been a fairly uneventful week, hasn ’ t it, pops? ” I squeezed his hand, hoping, praying, *needing*, some sign of life. A twitch of a finger, even just the flick of an eye behind his eyelid. But once again, nothing. Smiling nonetheless, I said, “ See you soon pops. Love you. ” 
 
 I kiss him on the forehead before heading out of the hospital room. As I make my way to the exit doors, I hear the nurse call out from a side corridor. “ Take care Nathan! See you tomorrow? ” 
 
 I stop in my tracks as her words sink in. “ Yeah… maybe. I don ’ t know. ” 
 
 “ Oh! Well, until next time then. ” 
 
 I force a smile and say goodnight before rushing out of the hospital. I make it about a block and a half before I stop. After a few moments of thought after thought racing through my head, I pull out my phone and call my sister. 
 
 “ Hey Nate, what ’ s up? ” 
 
 “ Sam, I… We need to talk. ” 
 
 “ Is… everything okay? ” 
 
 “ Yeah, no, I ’ m fine. I just… ” 
 
 “ Is this about grandpa? ” 
 
 *How the hell does she do that? * With a humorless chuckle, I say, “ Actually, yeah. I… I… ” The words won ’ t come out. But I have to, I need to. *Push yourself, Nathan! * “ I ’ ve made my decision. ” 
 
 “ Good Nate, this is good! ” Her voice was surprisingly soothing. Although I would have preferred to tell her in person. “ Grandpa would have wanted this. ” 
 
 I cringe at her use of the past tense. “ I know. I know he… would. Sam, could you…? ” 
 
 “ Yes, I ’ ll take care of it. You go home, get some rest, and I ’ ll pick you up tomorrow so we can go in together. ” 
 
 
 That night seemed like an everlasting nightmare. I found no solace in sleep, for I could not even close my eyes. I stared up at the ceiling, wishing for a better way out. Three times I had to stop myself from calling Sam back in the middle of the night. Even so, the next morning came far too quickly. 
 
 As the sun peaks over the horizon, I climb out of bed and close the blinds. *Maybe I can shut out the world forever*, I think. As if on cue, my phone rings. Sam tells me everything is set. I have 45 minutes before she will pick me up. My stomach drops to the floor. *How can doing the right thing feel like such shit? * 
 
 I go to the living room and see the scattered pictures of my grandpa. Laughing, smiling, happy pictures. Old pictures with my grandma and parents too. Newer pictures with myself and Sam. The smile that had subconsciously filled my lips started to fade. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and opened up the most recent picture of grandpa, lying in the hospital bed. *This is the right thing to do. * 
 
 With Sam by my side, I follow the path through the hospital that I know so well, knowing this is going to be the last time I make this walk. We enter our grandfather ’ s room. There are already several people inside. Jan gives me a sad smile. A couple doctors welcome us, and a man in a black suit hands me a clipboard. “ I just need you to sign here, Mr. Wilks. ” 
 
 I take the clipboard and pen, but my vision gets blurry. Sam helps me find my spot on the paper, but I stop. *Push yourself. * I weakly sign my name before taking my place beside my grandfather, clutching onto his hand one last time. Sam moves in beside me, hugging my shoulders. 
 
 “ Any last words you would like to say? ” One of the doctors say. 
 
 I sniffle, not sure if I can trust my voice. “ See you soon, pops. ” I feel Sam squeeze my shoulders. 
 
 Behind me, I hear the doctor press a button and the whirring of the machine comes to a stop. 
 
 Beep Beep… Beep Beep… Beep.. Beep…. Beep.. Beep…. 
 
 “ Na..nathan? ” 
 
 My eyes widen as my heart stops. 
 
 BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP
