Dandelion

<<>37<>>

I got up as soon as my alarm went off and scrambled to the hospital. The jitters were still present, though I knew she would be okay.

I think I was nervous because I was worried about why she did it. Did she take the drugs herself? Why would she do that? Surely that man made her...

The hospital parking lot was almost empty, and I got a spot almost at the front door. I grabbed my bible and journal from my back seat, and headed into the building.

The route to her room was burned in my mind, and I followed it all the way to the nurses station on her floor.

The same two nurses that took care of Emery yesterday sat at the desk. They both recognized me immediately. "How is she?" I asked between heavy breaths.

"She is still sleeping, but she's going to be fine." The one that said Emery was pretty answered.

"Can I see her?" I asked hopeful.

They shared a glance, before one spoke, "yes, but you can't try to wake her up or anything..."

"I won't, I just want to sit with her."

The nurse pointed to her room with a slight smile on her lips. I cautiously made my way into the dimly lit room. Her body appeared more relaxed today with her head falling to one side. She seemed to be in a peaceful sleep rather than a stiff body as she was yesterday.

As I was grabbing the chair from the corner, I noticed that all the Dandelion seeds had fallen off from their core. Some had fallen to the floor, but most still surrounded the jar. My eyes started to burn with tears at the sight. No...they can't fall off. I thought. They just can't, not here...

I walked swiftly out the door and back to the nurses station. Both of them looked alarmed at my reappearance.

"Do you have a bag? Like a ziplock or something?" I asked.

"Uh, I think we have something.." She said, beginning to search through drawers. "Ah, here's something, will this work?" She asked, holding up a small sandwich bag.

"Yes, thank you." I said, taking it. "And can I borrow a permanent marker?"

She handed me one from a cup holder with a curious look on her face. "Thanks." I said, then returned to Emery's room.

I scooped every seed I could find into the bag, filling the whole bottom. With the marker, I wrote on the bag "you still have hope", then I placed it into the front of my journal.

Several pages flipped beneath my fingers. I watched as words flew by, covering nearly every page in the entire journal.

My life for the past few months was all written in these pages. All the changes, all the struggles, every thought, and every last feeling that exposes my true heart was right here.

I read her note in the front one last time while clutching the necklace in my hand. I thought back to the day I first opened it; oh how different I am now.

"Emery, whether you take me back or not, I'm still grateful that I met you. I would have never realized that I was on the path to destruction without this note..."

I closed my journal in front of me, and then flipped through my bible to find the only highlight I had made; Emery's favorite verse. I read it out loud to her, just in case she had forgotten it. "He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge. His truth shall be your shield and armor. Psalm 91:4."

I took her hand after closing my bible. "Emery, He is still protecting you. You told me once that no matter what happens, your soul is always safely with God. Please, don't forget that."