Caroline's Butterflies

Chapter 5

Butterfly eyes are made of 6,000 lenses that can see ultraviolet light. It seems they would be extremely alert but there are some things that you won't ever see coming until it hits you.

The next few days were spent in my room. I haven't seen Oliver since the night I fell. Maybe that's a good thing based on the fact that he literally made me pass out. Only you Caroline, only you. Yet, it seemed I still couldn't get the image of his face out of my head. His striking green eyes, his messy adorable hair, the smile that caught me off guard no matter... Uh! Get a grip Caroline!

I grabbed my 'adult' coloring book filled with a bunch of different species of butterflies to fill in. That was supposed to distract me but no matter what I did I couldn't stop thinking about the boy I'd probably never see again. I began to shade harder and harder until I ripped a whole in the page. Slamming the book shut, I pulled out my phone and began to look at nothing. Never have I been this restless. Oliver what did you do to me?!

At noon my parents came in and played checkers with me. My mom and dad let me win, like always, and then they left to get some food. At two they came back and my mom talked about work while my dad pretended to listen. At four my dad admired my butterfly drawings covering just about every inch of the wall. My mom told me I should pursue a career in art. As if I could have an actual job. At five my parents told me how much they loved me and then headed home to feed Maggie, the cat.
Then it was six and at six something amazingly crazy happened. At least in my mind.

My nurse, Janet walks in my room. I assume she is here to take my vitals or whatever but she is not. She has a mischievous look on her face and I don't know what to expect.

"I'm not sure if this is even allowed," Janet is holding the door open a crack with one hand. "But there is someone here to see you Caroline." Janet gins and opens the door all the way.

"You said I should see your room sometime so..." Oliver stands in the doorway swaying back from his toes to his heels. "I hope you don't mind." A slight smile appears on his face. I can't help but to smile myself.

"I'll leave you two alone!" Janet makes her way out of the room leaving me with the most obvious wink of all times.

I  lean up in my bed and sit criss cross applesauce. Oliver sits in a chair by the door. "I like it. Your room, it's uh pretty cool." He says.

I smile and then realize I haven't made a sound this entire time. Say something Caroline! "I like it too!" No! Wrong thing to say! "I mean thank you."

Oliver laughs. Thank goodness. He rests his jaw on his palm. "I mean I'm not sure it's as cool as mine but..."

I gasp sarcastically. "Hey! Watch it."

Oliver laughs again. His laugh was so cute. "So Caroline, may I ask, why butterflies?"

I purse my lips before responding. "I'm not sure. I guess I like them because, well, they're free. And they are beautiful and delicate. They can go anywhere they want anytime they want to. They're everything I wish I could be."

Oliver frowns. "I don't get it. Well I get the freedom part, totally get that but Caroline... you are beautiful."

I freeze for a second. Beautiful? Oliver just told me I was beautiful? Nearly bald, lung cancer girl, beautiful? I didn't know how to respond so I decided to pretend like it wasn't the biggest deal in the history of things people have ever said to each other.

"You want to know something Oliver? I haven't even seen real butterflies. Not that many anyways. My disease has kept me pretty busy."

"Well then Caroline," A silly smile spreads across his face. "I guess we'll just have to make that happen one day, won't we?"