Rainbow in the Darkness

Chapter 21

I woke up in a darkroom. All the pain in my shoulder and leg were now gone. I was very confused about my surroundings. I remember being shot and then everything went black, but Mark didn't take me. I remember Derrick being next to me as I fell asleep. So then where was I?

I stood up, feeling absolutely no pain. A light illuminated a five foot circle around me. I looked down at my leg and saw that there wasn't a wound there anymore. I was still in the same clothes that I was in when I got shot, so I know no time has really passed.

"You are probably very confused," a woman said from behind me. I knew that voice, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

I turned around and saw an old, petite woman in the shadows. "What's going on? Where am I?" I ask very confused.

"Oh, honey, have you forgotten about me already?" the woman said stepping out of the shadows, cradling something in her arms. It was my grandma. How could I not figure out that it was her? Her voice was exactly the same.

"Grandma? But you're dead..." The realization hit me. "I'm dead?!?"

"Oh, no, honey. You are in a coma. You can decide to go back or you can decide to move on to the other side. It's up to you, honey." A baby starts to cry. "I brought this little guy for you." She walked closer and I can see that she is holding a baby in her arms. The baby is wrapped in a light blue blanket, showing me that it is a boy. I grabbed the baby, not sure why my grandma was giving me a baby. "This is Jeremy."

I looked up at my grandma, shocked. "J-Jeremy? My little baby?"

She nodded. "Yes, honey, he is you little baby boy."

I started sobbing. I was meeting my little boy. He was alive over here on the other side. He could still live a nice life.

"I'm sorry, grandma. I know I shouldn't have done it, but I was so scared and young. I was selfish when I made my decision and I regret it everyday. Are you angry at me?" I looked up and saw that she had a smile on her face.

"I'm not angry at you. And I am also not disappointed in you. I heard you at my grave, honey. You have done nothing wrong. You have just been dealing with life. No one is angry about you decision. Jeremy will live a happy life with me. He will grow up and you will see him again when your time is right, but, honey, now isn't your time." My grandma put her arm around me, comforting me.

"I know. What happened after I passed out? Did Mark go after Derrick?" I asked, looking at my grandma.

I really hoped that Derrick did not get hurt because I tired so hard to not have him get hurt. If Mark had gone after him and hurt him I don't know what I would do.

"He is fine, honey," my grandma said, stopping my thoughts in their path. "You passed out from too much blood loss. The paramedics came to get you pretty soon after you passed out. They were going to take you to the hospital alone, but Derrick refused to leave you side. He was very worried about you; he still is. He had been in the waiting room this entire time." My grandma gestured to the floor, sawing me that Derrick was indeed in the waiting room.

"Derrick, come home with me. I'll bring you back as soon as she wakes up. You need to get some rest," a man, clearly his dad, said to Derrick.

"I'm not going anywhere until she wakes up. I need to know that she is going to okay and survive, dad." From here I could see that his eyes were bloodshot and his eyes were puffy. He had been crying. He was sad not knowing that I wasn't okay. My heart swelled with love for him. He really cared for me and if the roles were reversed than I would be where he is, refusing to leave just like him.

"You need to rest," his dad said, clearly wanting Derrick to come home with him.

Derrick at his dad and said, "I love her, dad. I'm not leaving her. Not this time. I am staying here until she wakes up so I can be there for her and never let her go."

His dad smiles at his son. "You really love this girl. I said similar words when I was your age to your mother. Hold on to her. Don't let her go."

"I won't, dad. I plan on keeping her." Derrick smiled a genuine smile and it made my heart to skip a beat. I really loved Derrick because of moments like this. He was sweet and kind and very loving. He made me feel special and loved.

Derrick hugged his dad as his dad said, "Make sure to bring her over for dinner once she is feeling better. Your mother and I want to meet this girl that has changed our little boy."

"I will, dad. I'll bring her as soon as she is out of here..." His voice fades when he starts to realize that I might not survive.

"She will be okay. She will wake up," his dad says, trying to comfort him.

"I will wake up. I'm coming back to you, Derrick," I whispered to myself. Turning to my grandma I said, "How do I get back to them? I want to go back."

She smiled. "You need to focus on your heartbeat. That will allow your soul to go back to you body."

I wrapped my arms around her, taking in the feel of her arms around me, making sure to remember this feeling. "I will miss you, grandma."

"I know, honey, but you will see me again. You will see both of us."

I looked down at Jeremy and couldn't help but smile. "Mommy loves you, Jeremy. I will see you again. I'm going to come back to you." I placed a kiss on Jeremy's forehead and gave him back to my grandma. "Thank you, grandma."

"No problem, dear. Now focus on your heartbeat and get back to your parents and Derrick."

I smiled at her and started to focus on my heartbeat. I focused on its rhythm. It was very steady. It slowly got louder and louder until all I could hear was my heartbeat. Then I heard the heart monitor beeping annoyingly to my right. I was back in my body in the hospital.

I slowly opened my eyes, blinded by the bright lights.

"Honey?"