Invisible String

33

Natalie's POV

"Natalie sweetie so nice to see you again. This is your second time already? Are you moving the visit to today because you can't make it in the fall?" Dorothy asks.

"No I just want to come more often. You know I love to see everyone and cheer as many faces as I can." I say to the nurse.

"You know where to go." Dorothy says and I nod. "You know where to find me if you need anything."

"I brought some stuff for hopefully a good amount of kids and for some older people."

"You're a treasure Natalie." Dorothy says and I smile.

"I'm gonna head towards the room now." I say and Dorothy nods.

I start walking towards the rooms and I grin as I see the nurses I've seen for many years now. I send them a wave and they smile back at me as they all say hi.

I knock on the first door I come against.

"Hello."

"Natalie!"

I walk inside as I greet all the kids.

I visit the hospitals at least twice a years to see cancer patients and see how I can help. It all started after my mom passed away from cancer in which I had decided to do something about it when I got older.

"Guess what I brought." I say with a smile.

"Toys?" A little boy asks, his head tilted to the side.

"I mean yes I do bring you guys toys every time I visit. You know what? I think I spoil you guys a little too much." I say as I walk over to him and tickle him.

"What did you bring?" A little girl asks.

"I need you all to close your eyes for me until I say you can open them. Can you do that for me?" I ask the little ones.

I made sure with the nurses and parents were okay with what I was doing beforehand. I don't want to do anything that could ultimately compromise their health.

"Ready!" They all yell.

I walk to the door as I let the surprise in.

"Okay ready? Open your eyes."

They all squeal as the puppies walk inside the room. Once again cats are just not my thing.

"Can we keep them?"

"Well I made some calls here and there right? Like the person I am, making sure what I was about to do." I say.

"We don't know what you mean." A little girl says and I chuckle.

"I talked to each of your parents AND they said you could all keep the puppy." I say as I raise my hands up.

"Yay!"

I smile as they all have a puppy in their lap, big smiles on their faces as they pat the puppies.

"The joy you bring to them."

"I love seeing them smile. I like that I can achieve one smile on each of their faces." I say with a smile.

"Dorothy talks about you all the time, so do all the others that have been here for a while now."

I turn to my side and I see a short blonde lady. I furrow my eyebrows as I've never seen this lady before.

"Sorry I don't think I've seen you here." I say.

"Oh yeah sorry I'm new here well a couple months new. I'm Erica."

"I'm Natalie." I say as I shake her hand. "So Dorothy talks about me now doesn't she?"

"She's a sweet lady really, but everyone talks about THE Natalie who always comes to visits twice a year and always brings stuff and volunteers." Erica says.

"Dorothy has been here for a while. First time I hear that she talks about me." I say.

"Oh please I like to brag to people about how you're always helping." Dorothy says patting my back as she passes me and goes back into the room.

"It's nice to see people caring about others. You seem very sincere, there's not many people like you in the world. You always see famous people do these types of things, you never know if they actually have a good intention or if it's just for publicity. You're different from what I hear and I'd trust that you are."

"Nat can you read us a story?"

I furrow my eyebrows as I pick up the little girl.

"Yeah yeah come on let's go read a story." I say as I walk away.

"Nice meeting you." Erica says and I nod.

"Yeah. Nice meeting you too."

I know why I do this. Am I supposed to show the world what I do? But then that would mean I'm doing it for publicity but I'm not. I'm not like the others, I'm me and I know why I do this.

"Nat come on start the story."

"Right yeah. So once a upon a time.."

- - - -

"What's wrong? You've been completely out of it since you got back from the hospital." Taylor says as she sits next to me.

"Nothing, I'm just tired." I say yawning.

"That used to work when we first met. Now it's been six years Nat, I know you like the back of my hand or is it the palm of my hand? Whatever I know you."

"There's a new nurse at the hospital and well long story short she was talking about how famous people you know donate money and visit hospitals but one never knows if it's for a good intention or for publicity." I say.

"I don't follow."

"I mean I know why I do what I do, but what if there's people who know what I do but don't know WHY I do what I do." I say.

"So you're afraid of people finding out what you do but not knowing the real intentions as if they were to misinterpret it?"

"Now you're following." I say patting her leg. "You know for being an expert in clues you're a bit slow."

"Shut up." Taylor says as she shoves me off the couch.

"Oof." I look up at Tay with a pout. "That's just rude."

"I promise you everything will always be okay. You're my little sister and I'll always protect you from any horrible media. I know you and I know your intentions with whatever you do. As long as you know what you do for what reason then that's all that matter. You don't ever have to explain yourself to anyone. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Now. Go shower."

"Bring me food?" I ask with a toothy grin.

"The usual?" Tay asks and I nod. "I'll order it."

"Yes! Thanks you're the best."

"Wouldn't be a good sister if I weren't to buy you food." Taylor says and I laugh.

"You're a goof."