The People of Dewbrook

Chapter Twenty-Four

Over the course of the few days that have passed, Rosemary had gotten even worse, and it seemed as if she was going to die. She was morbidly pale, constantly passing out and painfully coughing blood onto her handkerchief, barely even having the strength to keep her eyes open anymore. Darkness was steadily consuming her horizons and heart, and she was more than ready for it to end at once, however tragic the end was going to be. She did not have to tell anyone about this, for it was written in her eyes alone, plunging all those who resided in the manor into profound grief. 

However much they may have hoped that everything would go well until that point, the morning after Harold had decided to marry Caroline was nothing short of bleak. The pain had become stronger than ever before, forcing her to cough blood without rest, and as her heartbeat began to slow down at an alarming rate, she could not help but fall deeper and deeper down into an eternal slumber, a faint smile appearing on her face as her soul accepted the cold embrace of Death.

When they noticed that she was dying, everyone immediately stopped whatever they were doing and rushed to her side, except for Dahlia, who ran to alert James Underwood, hoping that he could do something about it, even if the odds were against them. As Rosemary prepared to take her last breath, she saw the silhouettes of the countless people who stood solemnly before her, trying their best not to give in to their emotions. 

"You were always like your mother, even in death, but if there is anything good to be made of this situation, it is that your beautiful souls will conjoin at last," her father said, sitting on the edge of her bed, choking on his tears.

Somehow, despite all of his sentimentality, Caroline was the one who looked the most sorrowful. She stood and stared in her direction like a rock statue, controlling every feature of her face so as to not reveal weakness, but the gleam in her eyes was one of undefeatable melancholy, having enough power to stab Rosemary's heart harder than the physical pain she was feeling at the moment. Not being able to bear it anymore after a while, she released uncontrollable sobs from the deepest depths of her throat, throwing herself onto the young woman's feeble body, kissing her neck and hugging her tightly as she salted her skin with the copious tears that would not stop pouring from her soulful, tormented eyes.

"I am so sorry for you," she wept, hardly able to release words. "I really am. Such a lovely soul never should have been born into such a corrupt world, but that is the way of life, I suppose. If you die and ascend to Heaven, know that you will be granted much bliss, but no... No! You cannot leave us! Ever since the moment I have first come to know you, I admired everything that you are, and I never could have truly imagined your death. The Lord can surely see us from up there right now, and as He is good, He will surely save you. He has to, just as I have to redeem myself. He cannot get rid of all suffering, but His plan is for our benefit, therefore He will perform a miracle and heal you and you will survive. You will survive..."

As she kept crying, firmly placing her head onto Rosemary's chest, not seeing anything that was going on around her, Rosemary's pain had suddenly begun to wane. The mademoiselle sat up as she did when she woke up on a normal day, nonchalantly wiping the blood from her lips and stretching her hands, a wide smile forming itself on her face. She remained in that position for a while, seeing if anything would happen, and nothing did, as though she had never been sick at all. Removing Caroline's head from her chest, she jumped out of bed, and everyone, especially Caroline, stared at her in awe as she moved like a healthy person would. She was healthy again, and it was incredible, but there were no words that they could say. It was truly a miracle.

"What is going on?" her father said, raising an eyebrow. "Rosemary, are you well?"

"I am as well as could be!" Rosemary chirped, jumping in place. "The world is bursting with life before me, and I feel a profound joy that I have not felt in months! Thank you for all of your care and faith, Caroline! I will be sure to appreciate it until the end of my life!"