DG, this is an excellent story! It's a well developed, fully realized exploration of the worst thing that could possibly happen to Hutch. It goes far beyond the typical death-story theme, which can be summed up as, "Someone died; how sad." A fully realized story needs more. Ideally, a story needs to show growth and change in the characters. You've done that. You've taken a well-worn idea and made it fresh, and more importantly, you've followed your theme all the way through without shortcuts or quick fixes. You bring the reader into Hutch's world, making them BECOME Hutch, hurt the way he hurts, yet giving us glimmers of hope at the bleakest moments. Hutch most definitely grows and changes through his painful experience. You are developing a powerful sense of story and theme for moments that examine pivotal moments fraught with drama and emotional response.