When Winter Arrives

Chapter 10

For those 2 and a half months, Himari always visited Bridget afterschool. Now it was December 24th, the day before Christmas. It was winter break. Himari woke up and saw the snow falling from the sky. She realized it was Bridget's birthday. She quickly got out of bed, grabbed her wallet, and got dressed. She ate breakfast and brushed her teeth. Himari washed her face, and she ran downstairs. She put on her steel-toe boots on that had fur inside them to keep her feet warm, she grabbed her black, winter coat and put her wallet and phone in her pocket. She ran out the door and went to the closest store. She searched the isles for this action figure that Bridget really wanted. She finally found the action figure. She bought a card and an envelope. She already had bags to use at home. She went to the cash. The cashier had a brown, mullet that had blue highlights. He also had piercings in his ears, and his nametag read, "Cameron." Himari put the stuff on the counter.

"Hi, how are you?" Cameron asked cheerfully. "I am great! Today is my friend's birthday and they really like this character!" Himari replied. "Oh, how cute! Very thoughtful of you!" Cameron added as he scanned the figure, the card, and the envelope. "Yeah, I just thought to get them something they'd like." "That will be 20.49$" Cameron said as he waited for Himari to hand him money. Himari grabbed her wallet and she paid for the items. "Would you like the receipt?" Himari shook her head. "Have a great day!" Cameron exclaimed. "Thank you, you too!" Himari replied. Himari ran out of the store and went home. She drew something for Bridget, and she put everything together. She placed the drawing in the card that she signed her name in. She put the present in the birthday bag. And she went to the hospital.

Himari ran inside and ran to room 110, Bridget's room. She opened the door. The bed was empty, the room was cleaned. Himari stared at the bed. She dropped the gift beside her and went to find Hudson. Hudson was down the hall, talking to another co-worker. Himari tapped Hudson's shoulder. "Do you know where Bridget is?" Hudson looked at her and gave her a hint. Himari's heart dropped. She put her hand on her mouth and she gasped. "She passed away last night, around 12:32AM." Himari's eyes filled with tears. "Bridget..." Himari dropped to her knees on the floor. She put her hands on her face to cover her eyes and she started sobbing. Hudson crouched down and hugged her. "I'm sorry." "She... she died on her birthday." Himari stated as she sobbed. All that time to buy a gift, for nothing. She went home with the gift. She went inside of the house and went into Bridget's room. She put the gift on the floor beside the bed and she sat on her bed. She fell on her back on the bed and looked around Bridget's room.

1 Year Later

Bridget's room was locked and there was no funeral for Bridget, for her father is too busy. Himari sat in her room all day, she stopped going to school, she stopped caring, she stayed in bed all day. Rowan tried his best to take care of Himari, but Himari would never leave her room, she only left to go to the washroom. Himari woke up one morning and did not want to wake up. Her phone rang. She grabbed her phone and saw that Rowan was calling her from his office. "We're moving, I know that you have family here and I'm wondering if you want to live with them or with me?" "I'll ask them, some point." Himari replied. She dragged her hand down her face. "You should get out of bed soon; I want to hang out with you for today. Like you know, go shopping." Rowan added. "I'll get up." Himari said as she sat up. "I'm going to my mom's house to talk to her." Himari said as she yawned. "Alright, I'll be home in a bit." Rowan reported. He hung up the phone. Himari stayed in her purple, plaid, pajama pants. She had a t-shirt that was Bridget's, it was white, and it read, "Sleeping all day long!" She put her shoes on and went outside, it was the middle of summer.

She walked to her mom's house and knocked on the front door. "Yes? Oh, it is you." Yua said as she opened the door. She looked mad. "I'm wondering if you would take me back?" Himari asked politely. "You were never here." Yua added. "Just because I'm gay, doesn't mean you get to treat me differently." Himari barked. Yua stared at her. "It's something I won't accept." "I'm your daughter-" Yua stopped her, "You are nothing to me. You are a trash bag I threw out; you are no use to me anymore." Yua crossed her arms. "Stop treating me differently just because I like people of the same gender! I am a person!" Himari yelled. Yua scoffed. "Like I said, you are no use to me anymore! Now leave, get!" Yua shouted. She slapped Himari across the face. Himari put her hand on her cheek; It was red. "I hate you." Yua gave her a stare that she will never forget, "I hope you do." Himari stared at her and then started walking back to Rowan's house. Yua slammed the door shut as Himari walked away.

Rowan's car was in the driveway. Himari opened the door and Rowan was sitting at the kitchen table, drinking coffee he bought at the café. He also bought lemonade for Himari when she got home. Himari sat at the table. Rowan looked at Himari. "Let me guess, she didn't want you back and she slapped you?" Rowan asked "Yeah." Himari replied. "Well, go get dressed, we're going to hang out today!" Rowan shouted. "I don't know, I feel like sleeping today." "You have no choice; I demand you to get dressed and ready for today." Rowan said with a bossy voice. Himari groaned and went to get dressed. Himari put on a band shirt, black jeans, and white socks. She went downstairs and Rowan was waiting at the door. Himari put her shoes on, and Rowan walked out to the car. He started the car and sat in it, he waited for Himari. "Don't forget to lock the door." Rowan reminded. Himari tied her shoes and locked the door behind her. She walked to the car and got into the passenger seat. Rowan turned on his favourite music, Boneless Day. He drove the car out of the driveway and hit the road. "Hold on, you like Boneless Day too?" Himari asked with excitement. "Yeah, they have the best music on this radio!" "What's your favourite song from them?" Himari asked. "Probably "Power Goes Out" it just has a part in it that I think is catchy." Himari gasped and jumped up. "No way! I love that song!" Rowan started to sing along with the song and Himari joined in.

They went to a mall and bought clothes, books, movies, and games. After that, they went to a restaurant for lunch. Himari ordered a sandwich with some sauce and fries. Rowan ordered a hamburger with fries and sauce, he also ordered ice cream after. They went to a fair after and went on some roller coaster rides and played games. Rowan played a game, and he won a big stuffed bear. They went to the car after and put the stuffed bear in the back seat and buckled it in as if it was a real person. They went to the beach and watched the water as the sunset. Rowan put his swimming trunks on and jumped into the water. Himari did not bring a swimsuit. However, Bridget's swimsuit was still in the car. Himari hesitated to grab the suit, but she smiled and took a deep breath. Then she went to the change rooms, and she changed into the swimsuit. She ran into the water with Rowan, and they played around in the water. They splashed each other with water. They took a picture of them in the water with the sunsetting behind them. Himari felt much better that day. After the sun went down, they lied down on towels on the beach and looked at the stars. Himari still missed Bridget, but Rowan showed her that life is more than losing people and being stuck in a loop.