The Planet Among the Stars (Completed)

Chapter 12

"Can you hold this please?" A man with a smoke-covered jacket handed me the picture. The frame was made of steel or something and felt pretty hot. However I held onto it with my life.

The firemen loaded the sketchers into the helicopter. Finally a lady grabbed my hand and helped me into the copter, "Is there any family you know of related to the man or boy?"

"Jane Evans."

"Relationship?"

"Grandma of the boy," I said.

"Okay. We'll try to contact her. Do you know her phone number or anything?"

"No, I'm sorry."

"It's okay. We can find records," the lady said, scratching her head.

Worried, I asked her, "Will they be okay?"

"The boy is doing quite well."

"Shaun-Calvin Evans. That's his name."

"Thank you for telling me. Is he your brother?"

"No," I said.

The lady gave a sympathetic look, "Well, his father isn't doing as well. He may need to spend a few weeks in the hospital."

I tucked my hands into my pockets. I still had the picture frame of the family and the picture of Venus Shaun gave me.

"Don't worry. They will be given the best care."

I tried to take her advice. I looked towards the back of the copter, seeing Shaun's arms covered in ash and burns.

We reached the hospital in a few minutes.

The lady handed me a phone, "You should call your parents or guardians."

I nodded and phoned my mom. I tried to explain how I managed to get lost and disappear for a few days. My mom however was extremely calm and just said she was glad I was safe. By the time she came, Shaun and Mr. Evans had been in the E.R. for a few hours. My stomach was aching with worry.

As my mom hugged me, I noticed an older lady with light brown hair stepping outside. She walked over to me, "I'm Shaun's grandma."

"I'm Lodi. Nice to meet you," I said.

She shook my mom's hand, "I'm Jane. And your daughter is a hero."

I protested her praise, "All I did was call 911. Shaun was the one who noticed the burning."

Shaun's grandma nodded, "Well then, I owe the credit to both of you. My son might have died if it weren't for you."

My mom looked worried, "Will they be okay?"

"Well, Ben is suffering from lung damage. However, Shaun looks like he's only gotten a few 3rd-degree burns. Pretty serious but not life-threatening."

I felt the picture frame in my hand as I saw the worried expression in Jane's eyes, "I think you might want to have this."

She took the frame in her hands and immediately had tears well up in her eyes, "Oh my beautiful Abby. I remember sewing that dress and I was right- that color did go well with her eyes."

I smiled, tearing up as well, "She was my best friend."

"She was lucky to have you."

A nurse with a baby blue uniform stepped in front of us, "Shaun's awake." She looked at me, "You can come in now."

I followed the nurse inside the room.

Shaun's eyes were barely open.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

Shaun mumbled something like, "well I'm alive."

"Why did you go back inside?"

"I don't know." Suddenly he looked at me urgently, "Is he alive?"

"Your dad?"

"Is he alive?!"

I looked at the nurse.

She spoke, "He's on an oxygen machine."

Shaun's grandmother walked into the room and immediately ran over to her grandson, "Oh my word, I'm so glad you're awake."

Shaun blinked, "Is dad awake?"

"Not yet, but he's breathing."

He nodded, "dad saved me."

"I know Shaun."

"If he dies, it will be my fault."

"Shaun, don't think like that," Jane shook her head.

"But what if he dies?"

"No, don't think that. Not so close after Abby's death." Shaun's grandma put her hand on Shaun's arm, "Think about something else. The doctor said he'll be okay. Meanwhile, you should know how lucky you and your dad are that Lodi called the firefighters in time."

"I- thank you Lodi." Shaun nodded to me.

I shrugged, "All I did was call 911."

"No," he whispered, "You stayed with me in the valley. You convinced me to stay with my dad. What if we hadn't stayed. My dad would have died. You did so much more."

"I did what I had too. Abby's my best friend. It's only fair I help her family after her death."

Jane put her arms around me, "Thank you."

"The funeral-" I began to say.

"I'm going to postpone it."

I nodded and made a mental note to let Alven know. For now though, the nurse said Shaun needed some rest and we ought to go home for now.

I messaged Alven once I got home and curled up on my bed. I pulled out the picture of Venus and decided to hang it up. I grabbed a few thumbtacks and hung it up.

Then I noticed small lines on the back. I folded the paper upward.

    Thank you for everything

        -Shaun