Pearl White liked to think of herself as talented, not that she was cocky, she wasn't, honest, but she was proud. Prima Ballerina of her dance academy, senior in high school, straight As, and an amazing girlfriend to boot, what more could she ask fo...
Sky turned over as the light fromthe window shone in her eyes. The machine beeping next to her toldher where she was. She rolled over to look at her cousin, but Pearlwas still fast asleep. A peaceful look on her face, which was arelief because these days all she had been looking like was sorrow,sickness, and pain.
Sky sat up and pulled on her slipon sneakers before quietly going into the bathroom and gettingdressed for school.
When Pearl woke she was alone. Herbody felt like in weighed a ton, her stomach felt like someone tookit out shook it up and then put it back in, upside down.
The bathroom door opening draggedPearls attention to the person walking out.
"Oh good morning Pearl, did Iwake you? I was trying to be quiet..." Sky said, walking aroundthe room cleaning up her things.
"No uh... you didn't wakeme..." Pearl said.
"My moms going to come overbut she didn't sleep well so it's going to be just a little later,okay?" Sky explained.
"Sky... can you get a nurse?"Pearl asked, completely disregarding what Sky said.
Sky just nodded and rushed out ofthe room. A moment later Sky and nurse Zircon came rushing back in.
"What's the problem pearl?"The younger nurse asked.
"I-m gonna... " shestarted, but gagged.
Zircon nodded and grabbed a pukebag from across the room. She held it to Pearls face as
Pearl threw up, violently, hardlyable to catch her breath in between.
"Shh... it's ok." Zirconsaid, rubbing her back.
Pearl nodded when she was finishedand shut her eyes.
"Can you call my mom..."She asked in a whispered tone.
"Yes, I-I'll call her rightnow..." Sky mumbled searching for her phone.
"Hello?"
"Aunt B?"
"Sky, is something wrong?"
"Pearl just, wants you...she's not feeling good and she asked for you."
"I'll be right in. Let mejust get dressed."
Sky nodded and hung up, tellingPearl that Blanche was on her way.
"I can wait here, until shecomes. If you'd like." Sky offered.
Pearl nodded and made room on thebed for her cousin. Shifting just slightly as Sky climbed into thebed.
"I'm sorry you have to takecare of me... I'm older, I'm supposed to do that..." Pearl said,her eyes shut but cuddling Sky.
"You're only a month olderthan me Pearl. Always trying to be the grown up." Sky teased.
About fifteen minutes later Blanchecame rushing into the room. Looking frazzled and out of breath.
"Pearl? Are you ok?" Sheasked, moving to her daughters side.
"I'm fine, I just, wantedyou... I'm sorry if you were busy..." She said, sitting up abit.
"Sky you're late for school.Get going alright?" Blanche said, "and Pearl, I am never tobusy for you."
They spent the next few hours justsitting and playing board games, Pearl not feeling up to much moving.
At nearly four, there was a knockon the door to her room.
"Come in." Blanche calledand stood from her spot on the side of Pearls bed.
Rose walked in a second later, asmall rose in her hand. She stepped close to Pearls bed, handing thesmall girl the rose, no readable expression on her face. She shiftedfrom one leg to the other silently.
"Hey..." she mumbled notmaking eye contact, "do you think me and pearl could have amoment alone?"
Blanche nodded and searched theroom for her purse.
"I'm just going to head homefor a shower and maybe get some paperwork done, you text me when youwant me to come back alright?"
Pearl nodded and smiled at hermother as she left the room.
"Hey," Pearl said with asoft smile. "I've missed you, you haven't really been by... Imean I understand but I still missed you."
"Listen Pearl..." Rosestarted but Pearl stopped her.
"Whenever anyone starts with'listen' it means that the person they're talking to won't want tohear what they're saying..."
"I just... I think that weshould end this..." Rose said, not making eye contact.
"W-what?" Pearl asked,sitting up, "you don't mean...."
"I-I can't handle all thisstress...the cancer and everything, it's really just to much forme..." Rose said.
"Y-you can't handle thestress!?... YOU!" Pearl sat up straight and yelled.
"Pearl I will always lo-"
"NO! No you don't get to saythat! fuck you Rose! You don't have cancer, I DO!!" Shescreamed, tears falling from her eyes. "Is this about Greg? Areyou leaving me for him?"
"Pearl..." Rose mumbled,looking sullen but not nearly as heartbroken as she should.
"Ya know... just... just getout..." Pearl said, pointing to the door.
"I'm sorry my pearl..."Rose said and then left without another word.
Pearl sat, staring at the door fora long time. Really it was only about a minute before something loudin the hallway broke her concentration.
She stood up carefully from the bedand made her way to the window sill. She climbed up onto the smallledge and watched from the window as Rose walked out of the frontdoors of the hospital toward a waiting van.
She saw Greg step out of thedrivers side, wrap his arm around Rose and lead her to the car,giving her a quick kiss before closing the door and getting in on hisside. Then driving away, leaving Pearl and her broken life behind.
She sat, in the window for at leasta couple of hours, not moving, not thinking, just watching peoplewalk by.
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"Hey Pearl I was just coming tosee if you wanted- Pearl?" Garnet said as she walked into theroom to find her new friend sitting on the windowsill.
Pearl didn't even turn when sheheard the voice.
"- are you alright?"Garnet asked taking a few steps closer, she noticed the crumbled uprose and rose petals all over the bed.
"Y-you aren't supposed to haveflowers in here..."
"Good, throw it away."She said in a chilling tone all to similar to her mothers angryvoice.
