[ WP ] You have the power to save others , but not yourself

`` Sign here, here, and initial here, please.'' she instructed me. 
 
 I held the pen and made a few scribbles. Hell, I've never had a good signature, but that looks *awful*. I end with a big flourish and hand the contract back to her over the counter. 
 
 `` Thank you, Dr. P. I'll put these in for review and you should get a call within a day or two. ``, she smiled. I smiled back, appreciating the dimples on her cheeks. *Kind of like Ashley's*, I thought. 
 
 I walked to the car and sunk into the seat. The old, black leather creaked beneath my slacks. My hand fell to the ignition and I turned the key. *That's one stop done. Onto the next. * I smiled at the picture of Samantha on the dashboard. 
 
 **************************************************** 
 
 That night, I pulled into the garage, doing my best not to hit the pile of boxes beside the entrance. *Moving really is a hassle*, I chuckled to myself. *Always makes such a mess. * 
 
 I walked into the living room and slipped my shoes off. Not a second later, I heard the patter of feet on tile. 
 
 `` *Daddy! *'' I heard the combined scream as my legs were assaulted by the force of a pair of five year olds. 
 
 `` Hey munchkins!'' I laughed as I scooped them up, not without effort. `` You know, you guys are getting too big for me to keep doing this. You just keep growing!'' 
 
 `` Yeah, but you're *suuuuuper*dad! ``, Alex laughed at me. `` You can do *anything! *'' 
 
 I gave him a warm smile and kissed his forehead. `` Anything, huh? Well I do n't know about *that*!'' As if on cue, my arms felt heavy, and I lowered them to the floor, almost on the verge of breathlessness. `` Come on, let's get ready for dinner.'' 
 
 As Alex and Ashley scampered back to the kitchen, I turned and ascended the stairs. The spiral staircase proved harder and harder for me to climb these days. *This house is too damn big for us and the kids*, I thought. *Never too late to change that, though*. 
 
 I opened the door to the study and leaned against my chair. Old, black leather that cracked with every touch. *Just like the Mustang, * I smiled. I peered at the documents laid out on the desk; my secretary had already gotten the copies from today's stops, it seems. Only a few more to make before it's all said and done. A note sat atop the phone: `` Call when available.'' 
 
 **************************************************** 
 
 ``... they're both all set, then? And that accounts for inflation?... And whatever's leftover, they can access after they graduate?... great, thanks Danny. Goodnight.'' I hung the phone up and heard a knock on the door. 
 
 `` Honey?'' Samantha's head poked around the doorway. `` Dinner's all set, the kids are ready whenever you are.'' 
 
 `` Thanks, Sam. I'll be done in a second'' I smiled. 
 
 *I swear, these stairs will be the death of me* I thought as I finished my descent. I made my way down the hall and into the dining room where the family sat. 
 
 `` Come *on* dad! We're *hungry! * Ashley whined as I sat down. 
 
 `` I know, I know. Did we say grace yet?'' I looked at Sam. 
 
 `` No, honey, we waited for you.'' she smiled back. 
 
 `` Great, then let's get going so we can eat!'' We took each other's hands as Alex started to say his grace prayer. 
 
 **************************************************** 
 
 The next morning, I woke up to the phone ringing in the office. `` Too early'', I grumbled as I stumbled down the hall. The Caller ID showed a number from downtown. *Faster than I thought*, I thought while yawning. `` Hello, Dr. Wise speaking.'' 
 
 `` Good morning, this is Doctor Walker, from Sky's Memorial Hospital. Do you have a minute to talk?'' 
 
 `` Yeah'', I sighed. `` I have at least one.'' 
 
 **************************************************** 
 
 I pulled up to my last stop for the day and walked to the door. I knocked a few times and a child, no older than ten, answered the door. Her red hair was a mess, but she smiled at me nonetheless. 
 
 `` Are you the doctor man who's here to visit Ms. Mary?'' She looked up to me. 
 
 `` I am'', I said as I crouched down to her. It strained my chest to do it, but she smiled a little more. `` Could you bring me to her?'' 
 
 She walked me through the central room, filled with kids either playing or talking. *Not a lot of toys*, I thought. *But at least they're making the best of it*. We walked to the end of the house and the girl pointed to a door before running back to the other kids. I knocked and, after a moment, the door opened. 
 
 `` Dr. P! Please come in!'' she ushered me into the room with her thick, British accent. `` I am so pleased you were able to join me today. The kids were *oh* so excited when they heard a *doctor* was visiting'' 
 
 `` Well they seem to be in good hands, Ms. Mary.'' I sat down across from her desk as she gestured. `` Now, let's get to our discussion. This is my last stop for the day and my kids might kill me if I'm late for dinner two nights in a row.'' 
 
 A few hours later, I was finishing up with several contracts laid out before us. 
 
 `` Doctor'', she said in a low voice, `` are you sure about this? This is... more money than this home has ever seen. The building itself is barely worth a *fraction* of this.'' 
 
 `` I'm sure, Mary. It's for the kids, after all.'' 
 
 `` I'm aware, doctor, but this place is not necessarily, pardon my words, but... *worth it* to someone such as yourself. Many of these kids have resigned themselves to their fates. A few are hopeful, yes, but most are simply lost.'' 
 
 `` I do n't believe that anyone is beyond saving, Mary.'' 
 
 `` Even yourself?'' 
 
 `` Even myself, I suppose.'' I closed my eyes and felt a pain in my chest. 
 
 `` If this is your decision, then I will accept your donation with open arms. The children will thank you someday.'' 
 
 *Someday*, I thought. I signed the last few papers, thanked Mary and left through the room I entered. The children looked as I left, but did n't move towards me. 
 
 I walked back to my car in the orphanage parking lot. A few kids waved at me through a window, and I waved back with a smile. *They're good kids*, I thought, *I hope its enough*. 
 
 My hand reached for the handle, but fell short and fell to my side. `` What...'' I gasped as I fell to the pavement. 
 
 **************************************************** 
 
 I could n't see. I could hear, but it was... blurry. *Blurry? How could something sound blurry? * I thought. I could n't make out what was being said. I drifted in and out of consciousness as words seemingly floated through me head. 
 
 ``... a sudden spike... the cells finally... ore quickly tha...'' 
 
 Finally, I opened my eyes ever so slightly. Samantha stood over me. I tried to speak, but my mouth barely moved. Only a breath came out. She looked down at me. She was crying. 
 
 `` Shhh, honey...'' her voice was trembling. `` It's all right. You're going to be fine.'' 
 
 The last word choked her as she whispered it. I knew she was lying. It hurt to try to talk, but I had to. `` Did the bank call?'' I finally forced out. *Shit, that hurt*. 
 
 `` What? Honey, youre-'' 
 
 `` Please, Sam.'' My lungs felt like they were burning. 
 
 She looked down at me and smiled. `` Yes, dear. They called yesterday. Everything is fine. Just like you planned.'' She grabbed my hand and squeezed. 
 
 `` Good'', I whispered. In the end, I did what I could, right? My money could n't save myself, but at least it could save others, right? 
 
 `` I love you, Sam. Tell Alex and Ashley too. I know they'll do well.'' 
 
 I closed my eyes.  
 
 **************************************************** 
 
 It was a small home. A countryside cottage. But it was plenty for Samantha and her kids. An obituary hung on the wall above the tiny fireplace, held in a frame of old, black leather. 
 
 ***August 10th: Our city suffered a great loss as the beloved Doctor P. passed away at Sky Memorial Hospital after years of illness. He leaves behind a loving legacy in his wife, Samantha, and children Alex and Ashley. More than anyone could have asked of him, he left behind the vast majority of his fortune to over a dozen charities, schools and orphanages in the greater region. His memory will be forever recognized outside the Senate building, as a statue in his honor is scheduled to be constructed next April. Our city's thanks and prayers go out to you, Doctor Plagueis. *** 
 
 
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
 Hope you enjoyed it! I do n't write often, so if anyone have criticism, opinions, etc., I'd appreciate them! Thanks!  
 
 EDIT: Fixed some spelling/grammar mistakes
