Heavenly Refuge

Heavenly Refuge ~ Ch. 17

Flashback

      Luna was tired. Really tired. She tried and tried to open her eyes but to no avail, her eyelids wouldn’t lift. Distantly, she heard people yelling around her, the beeping of her heart. Wait, she had to do one more thing; she just had to.

      With a small burst of energy, she opened her eyes.

      Doctors and nurses were hovering over her, and some gave surprised looks that she was even conscious at all. They didn’t know just how hard it really was, staying awake the whole time.

      “Leave.” she said, her voice hoarse.

      Everyone just stared at her in shock.

      “Leave.” Luna repeated. “Get out!”

      “Do it.” someone said.

      They shuffled out. Dad wasn’t in the room. They must have gotten him out before this happened. Luna had to act fast, she could feel it. She reached over and got the first piece of paper that she encountered.

      It had writing on it. Simon’s writing on it. She scanned it briefly, then let out a sigh. I love you. That was all she had to read.

      With steadier hands than she thought she had, Luna folded her last paper crane carefully, determined not to mess this one up. Crease well, fold right, do the same on the other side... the instructions were ingrained in her mind for some reason. But as time ticked on, she could feel her body feel like lead weight.

      She tweaked the head, and with a content and exhausted sigh, she whispered. “Be strong.” The crane went back on the night stand. That did it. Luna made one thousand origami cranes.

      Luna smiled, and went back to sleep, and for the last time, she looked at the earth’s sunlight streaming into the windows. She gave one last shuddering breath, and Luna Moon was gone.

      It was strange, she didn’t feel any of the chest pains that she’s had the past month, and she felt better than she had in her whole life. It was still dark all around her, but there was a doorway of light far away.

      One more time, she looked behind her, and was surprised to see Simon. He was laughing with a bunch of his friends, shoving playfully. He was eating lunch, and looked content and a bit nervous. Luna smiled back at him and even though he couldn’t see her, she waved good-bye to him.

      At last, she was finally able to do what she’s always longed to do: Move forward and towards the light that meant home.

      Now

      Simon stood by Luna’s Dad throughout the entire funeral. He wept the entire time, but Simon couldn’t find the strength to cry like he did. That black hole just threatened to suck him in. Who knows, maybe Simon would let it, then he’d be with Luna right now.

      Throughout the day, he refused to look in the white casket where she lay, unmoving. He didn’t look at how the people dressed her in a simple white dress, how they put makeup on her, to make her get that “innocent” look.

      Almost everyone in Lotus Florida, where Luna came into contact with, they came to the funeral. Chisa, Mrs. Vang, Coach Larry, Lennie, even the florist that sold Luna the poppies came.

      “She was so bright, gave a smile that could rival the sun.” he had said.

      Chisa was bawling her eyes out, smearing the makeup she had on. “I’ll keep my promise.” she whispered. Simon had no clue what she was talking about.