Noah's Winter

Chapter Twenty Six

*FLASHBACK CONTINUED*

Willow's P.O.V

     I stormed out of Winter's room. I could not help the sob that escaped out of me as I walked aimlessly down the bright halls. I knew it was wrong to be mad and yell at Winter for wanting to go home and...die in piece. I just couldn't let her go and I wanted to do everything I could in my power to save my baby girl. My numb legs wouldn't carry me any further and I collapsed to the cold ground, clutching my chest taught. It felt like someone had brutally ripped my heart out. Finally realization caught up with me, I had failed to protect my daughter from this harsh world, and there wasn't a damn thing I could do. How could I simply let go of my baby girl? My sweet daughter that I raised? How do you let some one go that is a huge part of yourself? I knew it would be selfish to make her endure another horrid treatment, especially if there's a huge chance she won't...make it. As I lay sobbing on the hard ground I remembered Winter when she was so care free and happy...

**Flash back within a Flash back**

I was scrubbing a bowl at the kitchen sink, while gazing out the open window watching Jake and Winter throw water balloons at each other. The sun was bright and warm. I could smell the sunflowers from the garden just outside the window and I inhaled deeply.  Winter ran over to Jake with her tan arms up in surrender with a huge grin on her face. She whispered something in Jake's ear and his brown eyes lit up with joy. He quickly ran away, her chasing after, and went behind the white picket fence. I giggled at my kids, well teenagers, I was just happy to see them play like this even though they were practically adults.

 I returned my attention back to the sink full of soapy dishes, but dropped the glass cup I was washing when I heard, "Ah, Mom! Help!" The scream came from Winter who sounded deathly afraid. The glass fell to the ground shattering in to a million pieces and my heart thumped quickly in my chest. I ran outside, across the green lawn, and quickly out of the gated fence...only to be attacked with about ten water balloons. I took a startled step back glancing down at my now soaked body. I looked at Winter and Jake laughing hysterically on the ground, clutching their stomachs, and any anger I had quickly vanished, and I joined in on the fit of laughter also. 

**Flash back within a Flash back end**

An endless amount of tears fell from my gray eyes as I thought about Winter. Before cancer, she had tan flawless skin sprinkled with freckles, such deep gray eyes – that when you looked in to them you could see so much care and love in them, beautiful soft red hair that fell down her back perfectly, and the body of a swimmer with muscle that showed she could do anything; Now, her skin was pale as snow, and her eyes were dull and lifeless – seeming always vacant, as if they were just waiting for death,but never any fear, because my baby was so strong. I knew she would take death graciously for her families sake. Her beautiful hair was gone, which just about tore her to pieces, and her skin clung to her bones so tightly looking like the tiniest thing would break her in half. There was nothing like watching your daughter die. The pain filled my core these past months as I watched her wither away in that hospital bed. Why Winter? She didn't deserve this! I prayed a countless number of times that we could switch positions. I wanted her pain to be gone...and that's when I realized, so does Winter, and that's what she was asking for; that she could finally rest in peace. I sobbed as I pictured our life without our Winter and I wanted to scream in as the agony filled me. Suddenly I felt John's strong arms wrap protectively around me. I don't know how long we sat there, and just cried in each other's arms. We would let our precious baby rest in peace.

*END OF FLASHBACK*