Sapphire Stone - The Story of Survival

Prologue

"Dad, you won't believe what an amazing day I had."

The constant buzzing of the machines seemed to deafen the sound of my voice. It also told me that my father was still here, somewhere. With a sad smile on my face, I gently ran my fingers through his wet hair. The nurse just finished washing it.

"Mom said she'd come by in a few. She's been here for two months now, barely leaving you for a second. I bet you've heard her, seeing as she can hardly ever stop talking."

Chuckling at my own lame attempt of amusement, I laid my head down on his bed and stared up into his pale and thin face.

"I don't know how this happened. One minute you were sitting up laughing and telling us there was nothing to worry about and the next..." My words trailed off.

Tears trickled out the corner of my eye and dripped onto my father's hand.

"I miss you, dad."

My voice sounded choked and I swallowed loudly so the tears and sobs wouldn't take over like they always did. I straightened up and forced a smile onto my lips once more.

"Angie is throwing me a birthday party this weekend. I'm finally turning seventeen, can you believe it? Just thinking back I feel like I should still be that naive thirteen year old girl who used to work on the car with you. I miss that too, you know. I miss everything we always did together."

I pushed away that thought and instead focused on trying to keep a shaky smile in place.

"Mom said we might go visit Grandma some time, when you're better. She wanted to be here too, but you know how busy the diner keeps her. As you know, she doesn't have the patience to train another employee."

I chuckled lightly at the thought of my grandmother.

She was hidden somewhere in the woods, in a little town very few people knew existed.

"I can already imagine her strangling someone if they messed up her job. Can you remember that one time we visited and she scolded me for throwing vinegar in everyone's coffee?"

Laughing lightly at the memory, I wiped away another few stray tears.

"Will you please wake up daddy? I don't want to spend another month talking to you and not knowing if you're listening."

I knew my voice had grown smaller by now. Into that of a little girl, but I couldn't help it. I wanted my father back. I wanted him to give me that brilliant smile again. I wanted to see the pride in his bright green eyes. Most of all, I wanted to hear his strong voice filled with love and devotion. I wanted him to make my mother laugh again. I wanted him to tease her for talking too much. I wanted my family back together so I didn't have to pretend that everything was fine anymore. I was tired of forcing my happiness and tired of trying to keep my mother sane, just so I could give her a kiss and remind her that she still had me. I also wanted to walk into the house after school and find it filled with the aroma of freshly baked cookies rather than emptiness and the reminder of the people missing from my life.

"Mom's been distant since you lapsed into a coma. It's like she's silently dying as well and I don't want to lose both the people I love. Please daddy, just come back." I whispered.

I shot up straight when his heart monitor suddenly gave a jolt.

"Daddy?"

My uncertain question was answered when it jolted again but this time, it was followed by my father's body starting to shake. The nurses came running in and shoved me out of the room. I was about to start protesting when a doctor ran in and slammed the door in my face.

"What's going on?"

My call fell on deaf ears and I felt my entire body freeze over with shock. The shock was overshadowed by anguish when I picked up the words being spoken inside a few minutes later.

"Maggie, write it down. Time of death is 13h00."

The doctor's words made me stumble backwards and into my mother, who clutched at my arm like a drowning woman. I glanced at her to see the same stricken expression I knew was on my face. She barely met my eyes before collapsing at my feet. I sat down beside her and clutched her to my chest while the sobs escaped her pale lips. I stared at the door when it opened but this time the doctor stood in the path and I couldn't see past him. He gave me a sorrowful look and finally said the words I knew would cause my mother to give up completely.

"I'm sorry for your loss."