Short Stories

Wishes

     Looking to the window, I saw how streaked it was from the rain. I couldn’t see outside, so instead my eyes fell to the bleak curtains which matched my gown. The room was in shadow from the dark clouds outside, and I was reminded of how much time I had left.

     I turned to the woman sitting across from me, her eyes taking everything in. I couldn’t seem to find the right words, but she knew. Even when I said just the simplest things, she knew what I was trying to say.

     “I forgive him for what he did. Even though he killed our child, that allowed me to start a family of my own with no strings attached to him. What Jason did was terrible and I hope he learns to do better, but I forgive him.”

     That wasn’t everything I wanted to say, but I was running out of time. The woman sitting across from me typed away, much more than I physically said. How to explain that what my ex did was terrible, but everything had worked out for the best? That it was inexcusable, but I hoped his life turned around for the better? I may still have the scars caused by him, but scars heal. I just hoped that one day he would realize his sins and repent for them.

     The woman finished and I told her to write a letter to my mother next. She was the one who helped me put my life back together, who braved the storm with me as I pushed through. I would have been lost without her, and I couldn’t have raised Amory had she not been there every step of the way. Running away with Jason was a mistake, but I made the right decision going back to my mother. I am eternally grateful for her forgiveness and acceptance.

     The final letter was addressed to my little girl, Amory. My little rainbow child. After giving birth to her a rainbow shot through my life, and I never felt pain or despair again. She may be young, but I want her to know I will always be with her. I will no longer have to fight for life, instead I can watch her grow up peacefully from above. The light inside her shouldn’t stop shining just from me dying, instead it should continue as a guiding beam for others.

     I felt tears prick my eyes and roll down my face. I knew I was making the right decision. I was only causing them pain by trying to fight off my tumor and I didn’t want to drag out my pending death any longer. Still, it wasn’t easy making the decision to leave the ones I loved.

     The nurse walked in with the anesthetic tube and I knew it was time. I thanked the woman typing my letters, and asked the nurse to give her whatever cash was left in my wallet. This person I hired was amazing at what she does, and I knew the letters would be perfect.

     The nurse asked if I was ready, and I told her I was. Soon it wouldn’t matter if I had no hair or looked sickly or couldn’t get out of bed. It wouldn’t matter that the colors in the room sucked the life right out of you, it would all be gone.

     The mask was lowered onto my face and I inhaled the anesthetic, welcoming the coming peace. The last thing I saw was a faint, blurry rainbow shining down on me from the rainbow maker in the window.

Prompt: Fictional, An hour left to live