Inner Beauty

Chapter Two

Chapter Two:

Life at Grace Point Hospital was basically the same routine everyday. Wake up in waiting room, check on mother, eat in cafeteria, check on mother, eat in cafeteria, check on mother, bathroom break, check on mother, eat in cafeteria, check on mother, fall asleep in waiting room, and repeat. People brought in cards, balloons, chocolates, gift certificates, pretty much anything to try and make us feel better we were given. Don't get me wrong I loved the support, but they just didn't understand.

It took my father about a week to break the news to us, but it took him about two and a half weeks to break it to everyone else. My mother was dying. We were originally told she'd have at least a year to two years left, but then they told us she might not even make it a year. My father was a complete and total wreck.

So there I was, spending the summer before high school in a hospital waiting room. My younger sister Allie Kate went to stay with my grandparents, and Mary Ann spent most of her time at the library reading who-knows-what. My father never left my mother's bedside. The nurses practically had to shove a tube down him just so he would eat. My father's love for my mother was just so inspiring. I remember wanting to marry a man who would love me as much as my father loved my mother. When he said, "for better or worse...in sickness and in health," he really meant it.

After another month stuck in the hospital and several surgeries later, my mother's cancer was only getting worse. They tried radiotherapy, chemotherapy and every other drug they had. Finally they told us she probably would only make it another couple hours and that we should say our goodbyes. My mother's parents went in first and when my grandmother came out she was absolutely hysterical. They had two Manila envelops in their hands that they opened as soon as they sat down. Then it was my aunt's turn to go in. She came out with mascara running down her checks and a Manila envelop also. Next my father went in and he probably took the longest. He came out and sunk to his knees. I had never seen my father so weak and raw before. He had the same Manila envelop that my aunt and grandparents were given before him.

Then Mary Ann went in, I could hear her balling her eyes out from the chairs outside my mother's room. Then before I knew it she came out. It was my turn.

"Audrey Rose,"

"Yes Mary Ann?"

"Mother would like you to take Allie Kate in with you,"

I grabbed Allie Kate's small little hands and walked into my mother's room. She was lying in her white bed wearing her white gown with little pastel flowers on it. She was as pale as a ghost and what was left of her hair was like a golden halo. She truly did look like an angel. Her sky blue eyes started to water when she looked at us.

"Mommy!" Allie Kate struggled from my arms and hobbled over to my mother's bedside.

"Hello my beautiful Allie Kate,"

I picked up Allie Kate and put her on the bed next to mother. Mother played with her hair and told her about angels and Jesus and a place called Heaven.

"Allie Kate, my baby, mommy gets to meet Jesus today,"

Allie Kate beamed as she said, "Mommy you can be an angel!"

"Yes sweetie and I will be your angel. I will always be with you no matter what. My trip to see Jesus will be a long one, but one day you will come and meet him too. Then we will both be angels."

Allie Kate was so happy about being an angel, but if only she knew what it truly meant.

"Mommy I'm gonna miss you,"

"I will miss you more precious,"

"I love you,"

"I love you too Allie Kate,"

Mother kissed Allie Kate on the forehead, and I picked her up and took her to my grandparents outside the room. Then I walked back in and knelt at my mother's bedside.