Right There: A Story of Friendship

Chapter Ten

I ended up going to the party with Matthew. I thought it couldn't be that bad, at least there would be more things to do besides walking around and giving out cards awkwardly. As we walked inside I kept thinking about what happened just hours before. Going to church and having an anxiety attack, then breaking down at the beach in front of everybody. It was weird. What was wrong with me? I wondered. Normally I am good at hiding my vulnerable side. It was one of my strengths. Was life really becoming that overwhelming for me?

Matthew led me into the large recreation room where the "party" was being held. As expected it was a bit crowded. A lot of the residents' family members were there, playing cards and board games. Some young children were running around, playing hide and seek from behind the piano and under empty tables. It brought a slight smile to my face to see them so happy. I want that kind of joy in my life, you know? Life seemed so much easier when I was a kid. To be able to go back to that would make all of this crap so much better, I thought.

Elizabeth spotted us from the corner at a table in the back and waved us over. Matthew smiled and we quickly went over to her. There was no one else at her table. But there were two envelopes placed neatly beside each other.

"How are you?" Matthew asked as he gave her a hug. Instantly her face lit up and I was once again reminded of how important those greeting cards he gives these people are.

"Better than most," she replied with a gentle grin. She then reached out at the envelopes on the table and pushed them toward us. "These are for you and your friend."

Matthew picked them up and gave one to me. We carefully opened them.

After I tore away the top part, I saw a brightly colored card and when I took it out from the envelope something fell out to the ground. I jumped back and stooped down quickly to pick it up. In my hand was a small, dark pink crocheted flower. I glanced at Matthew to see if he got one too, and he did. We looked at Elizabeth and thanked her.

"You're very welcome," she said with a gentle nod. "After our talk last week about flowers I picked up my crochet hook and decided to make some. I figured these are better because they will never die."

"That's an awesome idea," I told her, as I held the little flower in my palm and felt its softness. Suddenly I realized I wasn't feeling on edge anymore, but loved. Just being in the company of all these people and watching Matthew interact with them was like a warm hug around my soul.

"Would you like to play Old Maid?" Elizabeth asked us as we sat down. I smiled and nodded. We did a few rounds and before I knew it I was like a whole new person. I was laughing, talking and feeling at ease. Hearing of Elizabeth's stories of when she was a teacher and watching her light up as Matthew and I listened. It was like I had known them forever. I hadn't had such a fun time around people since I don't know when.

Hours passed before we realized what time it really was. Most of the tables had become empty and the residents had gone back to their quarters before one of the event coordinators came over to us to tell us it was time to wrap it up. Matthew looked at his phone and yelped.

"How did that happen?" he asked the coordinator. "It feels like we just got here!"

He was right. It felt like we were only here for fifteen minutes, and now it was almost eight o'clock.

The coordinator laughed as me and Matthew stood up from the table and put the cards back in the box. Elizabeth looked quite surprised, too. She couldn't help but smile at Matthew as he and the coordinator helped her into her wheelchair. She reached out to embrace us.

"Thank you both for spending time with me," she whispered to us softly. She kissed our foreheads each and went with the coordinator back to her room. Matthew looked at me and grinned. I quickly looked down at my feet and adjusting my purse strap to my shoulder. .

"Oh gosh," I said, coming back to reality. "My parents are gonna be so worried. I told them I'd be back by seven."

"My aunt too," he said with a sigh. "Guess we better get you home fast."

"Yeah," I said, my voice trailing off.

Matthew's aunt drove us home. As we pulled up to my house, I looked to Matthew and thanked him for inviting me to the "party". I didn't think I would have such a good time as I did.

"I had a really good time," I said as I got ready to get out. "Not bad for an old folks party."

He laughed. "Told you they know how to party," he said.

I smiled.

"Well, I guess I'll see you guys later," I finally said. I slung my bag over my shoulder and got out of their car. As I walked to my house I glanced back and saw them smiling at each other. I couldn't help but smile too. It was a very good night. I couldn't stop thinking about it. Even my family noticed.

"Have a good time?" My dad asked from the couch as I walked into the living room, practically walking on air. I smiled.

"Yeah, it was great. We played cards all night with this really sweet lady named Elizabeth. She made us these crochet flowers," I told him. "We lost track of time and ended up being the only ones there when it was over."

My dad smiled at me.

"I'm glad you had fun," he said, putting his book down beside him. "Mom felt good enough to cook tonight. It's in the microwave if you're hungry."

"Thanks, where is she?" I asked, looking around for her.

"She went to bed early tonight," he said, his expression slowly changing from happy to sad.

"So she really didn't feel good enough to cook, did she?" I said, my voice trailing off.

"No, but you know you can't really stop her when she is determined to do something,"

"Yeah...," I said, staring at the bookcase in the living room. My mom was a stubborn woman. I knew it was only a matter of time before her fighting spirit tried to overcome the chains Lupus put on her again.

I ate dinner in my room and looked at the crochet flower on my nightstand that I put next to the little sea shell Matthew gave me a few weeks ago. I thought about how cool it was to feel like I had friends again. It had been ages since I felt the way I did tonight. It was like all of my insecurities melted away and I could be myself as we laughed and shared stories at that small table in the corner.

I was halfway finished eating when my sister knocked on my door. I told her she could come in.

She came in wearing her brightly colored pajamas and plopped herself on my bed, looking at me funny.

"So," she began in her teasing voice. "How did your date go? Tell me all about it!"

I sighed and chuckled as I put my dinner plate on my nightstand carefully and turned back to her.

"It wasn't a date, Delia," I told her. "I just went to a nursing home and played Old Maid with this sweet lady."

"Yeah, but you were with that guy right?" she asked me. "You went out together-that's what a date is."

"I don't like him," I said. Then I paused. "Well, I do like him, but not like that. He's just a friend. I just met him."

"Uh-huh," Delia said as she rolled her eyes, unconvinced. "Sure."

As I lay in bed that night before I fell asleep, I looked at the seashell on my nightstand and felt the need to thank God for the day I had. But then I remembered, I don't believe in God anymore. But I thanked Him anyway.