Hope in Our Hearts by Lydia Proffitt

Chapter Twenty-Four

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Don't lose hope. When the sun goes down, the stars come out.

- Anonymous

When you walk through a field of dandelions, you can either see a field full or weeds or a field full of wishes.

Jason didn't know why this quote was echoing in his head as he followed Kinsley down the hospital halls. He had read it somewhere and started using it when the kids were struggling with situations in their lives. He had no idea who came up with it, but he was trying to think of wishes. He had many wishes at the moment that he wanted to happen, but he couldn't see them for all the weeds.

Jason was burning up. The fluorescent lights of the hallway made him feel like he was walking into the sun. People Jason had seen in Lucy's room where giving him solemn stares as he walked by. They were all moving out of his way––parting like the Red Sea.

Jason could feel his heart pounding in his chest and his shirt sticking to his sweaty skin. Kinsley was talking to him, but Jason couldn't hear her over the pounding of his heart that was echoing in his ears.

When you walk through a field of dandelions, you can either see a field full of weeds, or a field full of wishes.

Jason closed his eyes and recited the quote over and over again. Jason used his forearm to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

She's alive. There is still a field of wishes, he kept reminding himself.

Up ahead, nurses were yelling for people to get out of the way. Jason and Kinsley moved against the wall letting them pass by. Jason looked seeing them rush a baby down the hall.

"Jason, follow them," Kinsley said, pushing him to follow them.

Jason followed the group of professionals as the rushed down the hall where Jason had come from. Jason moved out of the way when he heard more nurses behind him telling him to move.

Jason jumped to the side as nurses were sprinting with another baby in a little bed. The nurses parted halls, and Jason wasn't sure who to follow. Jason was stuck on which way to go. He didn't know whether to turn and go back to Lucy, to the kids, or follow one of the twins. Jason saw Caleb down the hall whom was standing next to Kathleen.

Jason sprinted down the hall to his mother, knowing he needed her help.

"Mom I need you. Caleb––"

"I got them go," Caleb finished for him. "I got Kale and Meg."

Jason told Kathleen to follow one twin. Jason stood there wondering whether to go back to Lucy or to follow the other twin. Jason could feel Lucy telling him to go with their baby. He knew what she would have wanted.

Fight for me, Luce, he said following in the direction of one of his babies.

He was standing outside the room with tears still running down his face. He was trying to rub them away, but they were forming faster than he could make them disappear. He couldn't keep his mind off Lucy. He felt something must be terribly wrong if no one has updated him yet. He hadn't heard about anyone, and Jason didn't think he could handle all three of them dying. He hoped this wasn't all for nothing.

Jason could see them putting one of the twins on a ventilator, but he couldn't see the baby very well with all the doctors. Jason was pressing his face against the small window in the door to get a better look. One doctor moved, and Jason caught a glimpse of the baby's feet wiggling. Jason smiled, he suddenly forgot about all the weeds when he saw the baby moving and kicking. He could see the little bracelet around the baby's foot.