The Hope of Eden

His Turn

1921
Lynchburg, Virginia

Rosalie took a very very deep breath.

She was being careful and mindful, as Mr. Carmen instructed.

Mr. Carmen knew a lot more than she imagined a person could ever never know.

Before he left this morning, he came to her and checked her temperature.

"98. Very well, sweet Rose."

He patted her on the head and handed her a drop.

"To tehk if your throat becomes sore."

He knew what she was thinking before she could even say it.

He was amazing.

Amazing and kindly.

He was her favorite person ever aside from Eden.

Eden.

She loved, loved, loved Eden.

Once only known as Sissy, the name was forgotten as Mommy fit like a glove.

Her first memory wasn't of Mother or Father, but of Eden.

It was a fuzzy memory, but one she held to.

It made her heart happy to recall seeing Eden for the first time.

Eden was always nice, warm, cozy, and loving.

She never yelled at her or called her a hybrid like Father did.

Father hated her.

Mother wanted to spit on her.

She didn't understand why.

Now, she never had to.

Father didn't matter anymore. Mother didn't either.

They were all the way in California, far away, stuck forever.

She had Eden and Mr. Carmen now.

A smile grew on her face.

They both loved her and she hoped she and Eden could stay with him forever and ever.

"Rosalie! Do I need to bring your soup or do you want to sit at the table?" Eden called from the bottom of the stairs.

"The table, please!"

Rosalie stood carefully, crossing her fingers and looking upward. "Let us stay forever, please God."

"Coming, Mommy!"

-

Later in the evening, Carmen arrived dragging himself up the entry steps and into the house.

Today was wearisome for the man.

In a rare occurrence, he could not save a person no matter how hard he tried.

This marked the fourth patient who passed in his clinic this year.

The young man was brought in by three friends, fearful and anxious about his battered state.

Bumbling as they were, Carmen managed to discern that the young man had run away from a bad situation.

When he reached his friends, he lost consciousness and they carried him to the clinic.

Carmen had to drown every emotion he felt that raged within him at the sight of the boy, nearly a child, in such a deathly state.

Four nurses joined him in the feat of saving the young man from death's hand, but after six hours of surgery, his heart stopped.

With their heads bowed in respect of the boy, Carmen, and his nurses prayed to the Lord, thankful yet sad as he was now safe in rest.