The Gift

Brittany was the first to show up. Walking into the room, she looks around and says, “Is something going on?”

“Hey chickee, come in. Small gathering,” I say.

“Your text sounded… weird.”

“Come here and give me a hug, stumpy.”

She laughs and walks over and gives me a hug. I have Ben move to the other side of the bed.

More small talk as we all sit around. I have Brittany tell my parents about herself to pass time. About forty-five minutes after my text, Holly comes racing into the room. “What’s happened?” she asks, out of breath.

“That’s what I asked,” Brittany says.

“Gathering,” I simply say. “You got my stuff, right Ben?”

He nods.

“Come sit, Holly,” I say, pulling Ben higher up the bed towards me.

Holly sits at my feet. “What’s this about hon? You got all of us here for some reason,” Holly says.

“Call it a hunch,” I say mysteriously. “I want to tell everyone how special they are to me, since you’re all here anyways. I love you all.”

No one says anything at first, until Ben says, “I love you too,” and the others follow suit.

Oh hell, what can they do, ground me? I pull Ben to me and kiss him. Not long, no tongue, but apparently long enough for my mom to say, “Young lady…”

“Relax.” I pull Brittany closer and can see she’s wondering what I’m going to do but will go with whatever I do. I turn her head and kiss her cheek.

Ben lets go of my hand, figuring what was coming next. He stands and motions Holly forward.

“Why do I get a bad feeling about this?” she asks me.

“Oh, please,” I say, kissing her cheek as well.

She returns to her spot and Ben sits back down and takes my hand again.

“Oh wow,” I say. “Is it just me or did the lights just go out?”

“What are you talking about?” Brittany asks.

Uh oh. “Ben, the next time I see you, you’ll see me back. Soulmates?”

“Soulmates,” he replies.

“Everyone remember our talks yesterday,” I say. “Don’t forget what I said,” I say, but it actually comes out mostly gibberish.

“Amanda?” Holly asks. “Amanda? Ben move!”

He gets up out of the way, moving against the wall.

“Amanda, talk to me,” Holly says to me. Holly lifts one of my eyelids, which are now closed and only finds the whites of my eyes.

I am able to see this because I’m standing next to Ben, holding his hand.

“Brit, hit the emergency call button,” Holly says, pulling the emergency lever on the bed, dropping the head of the bed.

I watch as my body trembles like I’m on one of those vibrating beds.

Holly pulls up on my eyelid and screams, “Jason! Anna! Someone! Get in here now!”

The code blue alarm is already going off since Brittany ran to hit it. Jason comes running in and sees me seizing. “What happened?” he asks starting to check my body.

“Seizure,” Holly says. “Blown pupils too. Another stroke I think.”

Anna is next in but isn’t a part of the code team, so she stays by the door, holding a crying Brittany.

Various people come rushing into the room, bringing in all sorts of equipment, but Jason stops them. “Sorry, but the kids hit the code button, but she’s a no code.”

Holly turns and grabs Ben and they hug, both crying.

I’m okay with that, not jealous… much.

Mom and dad are crying and hugging.

People start filing out until only my friends and family are left in the room.

Ben pulls away from Holly and says, “Amanda asked me to do a few things should this happen. First, a request to mom and dad.” He picks up my phone. “She wanted this played at her funeral.”

He hits play and If I Die Young starts playing. “She said it should be her theme song. Next, I have something for Holly and Brittany.” He pulls two boxes out of his pocket and hands one to each girl. Everyone seems to ignore the blind boy walking to each girl and handing them the small boxes.

“To the three of us kids, like she said, remember and take to heart what she told us yesterday. Mom and dad, the same but today instead.

“Anna and Jason, thank you for being there for her. She said to remind Jason about her suggestion this morning, but it’s still up to Anna – and you. I think his part was a joke but… She said to name your first-born girl after her. That’s it.”

“What’s in the boxes?” my mom asks.

“I dunno, I’m blind, remember?” Ben says, jokingly.

Brittany opens her box first. I had Ben ask a nurse for an old medicine box and cotton, which he wrapped with newspaper.

Inside her box was a single marble I had swiped along with a note that says:

In case you lose your marbles, you can rely on mine.

She laughs through her tears and reads the note to everyone.

Holly was next and her box contained the other marble and the glass rock that Jason gave me. The note to her says:

When in doubt, you can lose the round marble and of several ways, but the other you have to purposely get rid of. That choice is always yours.

She reads the note and holds up the two items.

Ben comes up to Jason and whispers, “She didn’t think you’d mind for a good cause.”

“She was right. Again,” Jason says.

I see Ben look around and then walk back over to the wall next to me. He says, “I will see you again. With working eyes.”

I take his hand although it passes right though and still get that calming feeling.

I hear, “You all set?”

I turn my head to see Lucas standing next to me. “I guess,” I say. I try to give Ben one last kiss and then say, “When do I start?”

“Right now, if you’re up to it,” Lucas replies.

“I guess. It’ll take my mind off of this – for now,” I say.

“Then we’re off,” Lucas says, and the room disappears in a bright white light.

THE END (FOR NOW)