Unrealistic

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Eric

My best friend sits curled under a gray afghan, her eyes are hollow. She hasn't changed since we got back from the hospital.

Mr. Lynn is starting to panic, "What if I never hear her voice again? We only have so long with her and it feels like it's already gone."

I take a curious look around the dividing wall between the kitchen and the living room that is inhabited by Be. She blinks slowly but her gaze is still locked on the carpet.

"She's just in shock. This last episode really shook her; I don't think she knows how to react at this point. The other day she said she felt like her life was already over," I explain.

"I wish I could do something to help. I have never been so worthless in my life," he sighs, burying his hands into his hair.

"I'll try and talk to her. Maybe she'll want to work on the bucket list."

I push away from the table, chair legs scraping the floor, to stand and exit the room. Tux is pressed up against the couch where Bee's feet would be if she was sitting up straight. Although Tux stands and waddles over to nudge my ankle with his snout, Be doesn't even lift her head.

I pull a pillow from the corner of the couch and settle next to Be. Tux wiggles his twisted tail at me and snorts on my foot. I pick him up and he snuggles in between Be and I. Be unconsciously rests her hand on Tux's head and scratches at his ears.

"So I was thinking that we need to do something on the Bucket List tonight, ya know to cheer you up," I peek over at her. A thick curtain of hair blocks my view of her expression. "We could camp out to see the stars?"

She doesn't respond, her fragile shoulders only lifting up slightly to breathe. I watch her and Tux for a minute. He seems to have wormed his way under Be's blanket and is snoring softly.

"I hate to see you like this Be. Would you just talk to me, please?" I beg.

"Sleeping under the stars sounds good. Can we bring Tux?" she peers up at me with tear-filled eyes.

"Of course we can bring Tux with us," I wrap  my arms around her, Tux squished in between us.

"We need to pack up our sleeping bags then and of course something for Tux here," I grin, to my surprise she smiles back at me.

"Okay," she agrees.

~~~

The ground was damp from a rain shower earlier today, and the sky had long turned black with the occasional sparkle of stars. The stretch of sleeping bags and throw blankets protected us from the cold ground. Tux was rolling in the mud a few feet past the end of our pallet.

We trace constellations with our fingers pointed to the sky. When we run out of constellations to trace we make up our own. Be shows me the 'winged bunny' constellation and I point out the 'nose less horse' constellation. Hours later Be's eyes are slowly drooping but she has insisted on staying awake so they can spend time together.

"You don't need to stay awake, I'm just glad that you're talking to me again," I assure her.

She pulls a pillow behind her head and snuggles under the blankets. I start to make myself comfortable under the abundance of covers when Tux comes barreling into Be and I.

His hooves and what little fur he has is coated in half dried mud. I laugh as he shakes his head and wiggles his butt, throwing mud across the blankets.

Be giggles and rubs Tux's ears he sits with his head just under her chin. The three of us fall asleep under the stars.