Willow and Mrs. Fiora ran to the elevator and took it to the seventh floor. They knew Grandma Trisha was in the Intensive Care Unit. When the doors opened, they followed the arrows to the ICU. They walked up to the desk and Willow recognized Nurse Froutner from their brief encounter on the staff elevator.
"Willow," said nurse Froutner, his expression somber, "your family's right through those doors." He noticed Mrs. Fiora. "You'll have to wait out here, Miss. Immediate family only."
Mrs. Fiora nodded. She grabbed Willow by both shoulders.
"Good luck, sweetheart."
Willow nodded and walked through the double doors. What she saw made her heart drop. Mrs. Krimble was sitting in a chair in the hall, crying hysterically, as Wyatt tried to console her.
"Mom!" said Willow, startling her family. "What happened?"
Mrs. Krimble stood up and tossed her arms around her daughter.
"Oh, Willow, I'm so sorry, Baby," she said, tears streaming down her face, "Grandma's ... she’s … " she couldn’t bring herself to say the words. Wyatt stood behind his mother, placing his hand on her shoulder.
Willow broke free from her mother’s embrace and peered into her eyes.
"Mom?" Willow’s expression was a blend of shock and confusion. "She's not … she can't be!"
Mrs. Krimble shook her head side to side, placing her hand over her mouth, not wanting to release the words caught in her throat. Willow wasn’t certain if her mother was responding "No" to her question or did her head-shake signify the worst?
"No, Baby … ” Mrs. Krimble said finally, “… she's not gone."
Willow breathed a sigh of relief, but it was brief as her mother continued.
“She's not gone yet, but there’s nothing more the doctors can do for her. She suffered a mild heart attack that left her very weak.”
Willow was distraught.
"But if it was mild - "
"There’s more to it than that, Willow. Your grandmother … well … she … ” Mrs. Krimble focused her attention toward the floor, not daring to look her daughter in the eye, “ … she’s lived with chronic heart failure for over a year now and … she made me promise not to tell you kids.”
After what seemed to Mrs. Krimble like an eternity of silence … "How could you keep this from us, Mom!” Willow’s tone was a mix of shock and anger. "Didn't you think we had the right to know! We're her grandchildren!"
"I know, Willow," said Mrs. Krimble, placing her hand on Willow's shoulder, forcing herself to see the anguish in her daughter’s eyes. “She didn’t want to upset you and she thought if she continued taking her medication and followed the right diet ... People can live with heart failure for a long time and - ”
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Willow shrugged her mother’s hand off her shoulder. She was furious at both her mother and her grandmother. How could they not have told her? True, they were unaware of her gift, but she still had the right to know if someone close to her was sick, especially after losing her father.
"I wanna see her!" Willow demanded.
Before Mrs. Krimble could respond, Dr. Flirsten stepped into the hall from a nearby room.
"I’m afraid that is out of the question," he said, making notes to his clipboard. "I've stabilized her as best as I could and she is resting in a private room where we can still keep a close eye on her. I don’t want her getting too excited, so, for the moment, we will not be allowing any visitors. Perhaps in a little while - "
"I NEED TO SEE HER NOW!" barked Willow. Mrs. Krimble was taken aback. She wasn’t used to seeing her daughter in this state. Even Wyatt looked a bit surprised.
"As I stated," replied Dr. Flirsten, his condescending tone rearing its head, "you can not see her at the moment."
"I need to see her before it's too late."
Dr. Flirsten directed his aloof expression toward the 13-year-old.
"I’m afraid it is already too late," he said. “Her condition is at Stage D, and heart failure brought on by hypertension at her age - ”
“I’m not interested in your fancy medical terminology right now, Doctor,” Willow cut across Dr. Flirsten in a tone that made Mrs. Krimble uneasy, “I just want to see my grandmother!”
Dr. Flirsten’s expression changed from indifferent to agitated. Who did this little girl think she was speaking to?
“The best thing for you to do now,” he said, adjusting his glasses, “is let her rest a bit and then maybe - "
"Maybe? Maybe what? She's my grandmother and I need to see her!"
Dr. Flirsten could not help himself; he rolled his eyes before responding.
"See here, young lady, I think I am a bit more qualified to know what is best for my patient and I'm telling you - "
"Your patient?" Willow interrupted. "Your patient is my family - my blood - and I think I am a bit more qualified to know what’s best for her seeing as I have known her my entire life!"
"Willow!" Mrs. Krimble snapped at her daughter. "What's gotten into you? I know you're upset, but you can't - "
"I need to see Grams right away, Mom!" Willow insisted. She considered, for a moment, telling her mother the truth about her gift. If it was the only way for her to see her grandmother … to save her ...
"For your information, young lady," Dr. Flirsten addressed Willow before her mother could respond, the arrogance in his tone elevated, "your grandmother left me strict instructions not to allow any family member into her room; she does not wish to upset anyone. However, seeing as you will not listen to reason, you've got five minutes. She needs to rest!"
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"Thank you, Doctor" said Mrs. Krimble.
Without another word, Willow brushed passed Dr. Flirsten as she rushed into the room he had emerged from earlier.
Once in the center of the room, Willow drew back the curtain before her, revealing a withered looking Grandma Trisha, lying in a bed, connected to several machines monitoring her. Her eyes were shut and her breathing was slow, but steady.
It's better that she's asleep.
Willow could heal her grandmother and no one, including Grandma Trisha, would be aware of it. Willow reached for her grandmother's limp hand when suddenly …
"NO!"
Willow was startled by her grandmother’s sudden plea.
"Grams?"
"Willow … " Grandma Trisha muttered as she tried to nudge herself up on her bed. Willow watched her struggle and motioned to help her. "No, Willow!"
Willow retracted, shocked by her grandmother's curtness.
Grandma Trisha managed to pull herself up into a semi-sitting position.
"Willow, you shouldn't be here."
"I needed to see you, Grams. I need to ... help you," Willow reached for her grandmother's hand and, once again, Grandma Trisha recoiled.
"Willow, please … you mustn't."
Willow looked stunned.
"Grams?"
"Yes, Willow ... I know. I know what you can do. I knew if I told you I was sick, you would try to save me."
"How do you ... Why don't you want - "
"Oh, dear Willow. You are so deserving of what you possess. You've always been so selfless. I need you to be selfless now. Please ... let me go."
Willow was unnerved by her grandmother's dialogue. Why would she not want to be saved? Didn’t she want to witness her granddaughter grow into a woman ... attend her college graduation ... her wedding …
"But I can make you better, Grams," Willow pleaded. "You can go home tomorrow. You can - "
"Go home to what, Willow? A large empty house? No … It's time."
"You can come live with us. Mom's been asking you for years. You can have my room; I'll move to the guest room."
Grandma Trisha beamed at her granddaughter.
"This is why you mean the world to me, Willow … but I miss your grandfather. My life hasn't been whole since he passed. I was shattered the day I got that call from the hospital. I may not let on, but I find myself thinking of him in the simplest tasks I perform."
Grandma Trisha turned her head away from Willow as she continued to speak, staring up at the ceiling.
"The lives we built together ... the children we brought into this world ... the places we traveled… It's all but a faded memory whenever I look at his photograph." She took a deep breath, exhaled and turned to face her granddaughter once again.
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"I'm old, Willow, in case you hadn't noticed. But 88 years on this earth was a good run. When I found out I was sick last year, it was almost a relief. I can go now because I’ve had a full life. My time is done here, don't you see? There’s nothing left for me."
"How can you say that? What about your family? What about me?"
Grandma Trisha smiled. She instinctively reached out to touch her granddaughter's face, but suddenly withdrew her hand.
"You don't need me, Willow. Look at you; you never let that leg stop you from doing anything. You lost your father when you were so young, and still you have remained so strong. Your mother could never run that house without you. God knows I love all of my grandchildren, but that brother of yours is no help at all; sweet boy, but lazy as they come. Thank goodness he and your mother have you, and I've known for a long time that you're - "
" - just a kid! A kid who needs her grandmother. Grams … please ... don't do this to me."
"You're strong, Willow, stronger than any woman I've ever known. Stronger than I've ever been. I have no fears about leaving you now. You've grown into a fine young lady and soon you'll be an amazing woman. And I leave you with Razzel; oh how I adore that girl. Never lose her, Willow. You two are opposites, which is why you need one another. With her around, I know you'll always have someone to lean on, learn from, (Grandma Trisha smiled) and teach.”
Willow broke down; it was all too much for her.
"Oh come now," Grandma Trisha tried to comfort. "This is a happy day, a joyous day. I get to join your grandfather and your father, knowing you are in good hands. We’ll always watch over you, you know that."
Willow shook her head as tears slowly streamed down her freckled cheeks.
"It won't be the same, Grams. Please ... please ... "
Grandma Trisha’s expression changed; for a moment she looked like her old stern self.
"Willow Krimble, don't you dare prove me wrong! You have always put others before yourself and your dear old grandmother is asking you to do this one final thing for her. Can you do this for me, Willow? Can you let me go?"
Willow looked into her grandmother's eyes. Grandma Trisha smiled at her and Willow suddenly understood. In all of the time she had been sharing her gift with those in need, she had never realized … not everyone wants to be saved. She knew she could reach out and touch her grandmother without anyone stopping her, but she wouldn't. She did not have to agree with her grandmother's decision, but she would respect it. She took one step back, giving her grandmother a slow nod, not bothering to wipe the stream of tears cascading down her face .
"Thank you, Willow. I won't ask you to take care of your mother because I know I don't need to."
Willow nodded once more.
"I really should rest now, dear." Grandma Trisha edged her way back to a lying position. She closed her eyes before saying one final thing to her granddaughter… "You'll be hearing from me soon, Willow."
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Page 78
Willow watched as her grandmother's chest slowly rose up and down, each breath getting deeper and longer. After a few more agonizing moments of counting the seconds between each breath, Willow watched Grandma Trisha’s heart monitor go flat-line as her chest ceased to rise. Willow shook her head and was overcome with emotion. Disregarding the promise she made moments earlier, she flung herself onto her grandmother and held her tightly. She kissed her forehead, oblivious to the Stratlin Medical personnel who had flooded the room. At that moment, Willow received the answer to a question she had been asking herself for a long time: yes, she could heal others ... but once they had passed, she could not bring them back.
Next Chapter
"Willow," said nurse Froutner, his expression somber, "your family's right through those doors." He noticed Mrs. Fiora. "You'll have to wait out here, Miss. Immediate family only."
Mrs. Fiora nodded. She grabbed Willow by both shoulders.
"Good luck, sweetheart."
Willow nodded and walked through the double doors. What she saw made her heart drop. Mrs. Krimble was sitting in a chair in the hall, crying hysterically, as Wyatt tried to console her.
"Mom!" said Willow, startling her family. "What happened?"
Mrs. Krimble stood up and tossed her arms around her daughter.
"Oh, Willow, I'm so sorry, Baby," she said, tears streaming down her face, "Grandma's ... she’s … " she couldn’t bring herself to say the words. Wyatt stood behind his mother, placing his hand on her shoulder.
Willow broke free from her mother’s embrace and peered into her eyes.
"Mom?" Willow’s expression was a blend of shock and confusion. "She's not … she can't be!"
Mrs. Krimble shook her head side to side, placing her hand over her mouth, not wanting to release the words caught in her throat. Willow wasn’t certain if her mother was responding "No" to her question or did her head-shake signify the worst?
"No, Baby … ” Mrs. Krimble said finally, “… she's not gone."
Willow breathed a sigh of relief, but it was brief as her mother continued.
“She's not gone yet, but there’s nothing more the doctors can do for her. She suffered a mild heart attack that left her very weak.”
Willow was distraught.
"But if it was mild - "
"There’s more to it than that, Willow. Your grandmother … well … she … ” Mrs. Krimble focused her attention toward the floor, not daring to look her daughter in the eye, “ … she’s lived with chronic heart failure for over a year now and … she made me promise not to tell you kids.”
After what seemed to Mrs. Krimble like an eternity of silence … "How could you keep this from us, Mom!” Willow’s tone was a mix of shock and anger. "Didn't you think we had the right to know! We're her grandchildren!"
"I know, Willow," said Mrs. Krimble, placing her hand on Willow's shoulder, forcing herself to see the anguish in her daughter’s eyes. “She didn’t want to upset you and she thought if she continued taking her medication and followed the right diet ... People can live with heart failure for a long time and - ”
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Page 75
Willow shrugged her mother’s hand off her shoulder. She was furious at both her mother and her grandmother. How could they not have told her? True, they were unaware of her gift, but she still had the right to know if someone close to her was sick, especially after losing her father.
"I wanna see her!" Willow demanded.
Before Mrs. Krimble could respond, Dr. Flirsten stepped into the hall from a nearby room.
"I’m afraid that is out of the question," he said, making notes to his clipboard. "I've stabilized her as best as I could and she is resting in a private room where we can still keep a close eye on her. I don’t want her getting too excited, so, for the moment, we will not be allowing any visitors. Perhaps in a little while - "
"I NEED TO SEE HER NOW!" barked Willow. Mrs. Krimble was taken aback. She wasn’t used to seeing her daughter in this state. Even Wyatt looked a bit surprised.
"As I stated," replied Dr. Flirsten, his condescending tone rearing its head, "you can not see her at the moment."
"I need to see her before it's too late."
Dr. Flirsten directed his aloof expression toward the 13-year-old.
"I’m afraid it is already too late," he said. “Her condition is at Stage D, and heart failure brought on by hypertension at her age - ”
“I’m not interested in your fancy medical terminology right now, Doctor,” Willow cut across Dr. Flirsten in a tone that made Mrs. Krimble uneasy, “I just want to see my grandmother!”
Dr. Flirsten’s expression changed from indifferent to agitated. Who did this little girl think she was speaking to?
“The best thing for you to do now,” he said, adjusting his glasses, “is let her rest a bit and then maybe - "
"Maybe? Maybe what? She's my grandmother and I need to see her!"
Dr. Flirsten could not help himself; he rolled his eyes before responding.
"See here, young lady, I think I am a bit more qualified to know what is best for my patient and I'm telling you - "
"Your patient?" Willow interrupted. "Your patient is my family - my blood - and I think I am a bit more qualified to know what’s best for her seeing as I have known her my entire life!"
"Willow!" Mrs. Krimble snapped at her daughter. "What's gotten into you? I know you're upset, but you can't - "
"I need to see Grams right away, Mom!" Willow insisted. She considered, for a moment, telling her mother the truth about her gift. If it was the only way for her to see her grandmother … to save her ...
"For your information, young lady," Dr. Flirsten addressed Willow before her mother could respond, the arrogance in his tone elevated, "your grandmother left me strict instructions not to allow any family member into her room; she does not wish to upset anyone. However, seeing as you will not listen to reason, you've got five minutes. She needs to rest!"
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Page 76
"Thank you, Doctor" said Mrs. Krimble.
Without another word, Willow brushed passed Dr. Flirsten as she rushed into the room he had emerged from earlier.
Once in the center of the room, Willow drew back the curtain before her, revealing a withered looking Grandma Trisha, lying in a bed, connected to several machines monitoring her. Her eyes were shut and her breathing was slow, but steady.
It's better that she's asleep.
Willow could heal her grandmother and no one, including Grandma Trisha, would be aware of it. Willow reached for her grandmother's limp hand when suddenly …
"NO!"
Willow was startled by her grandmother’s sudden plea.
"Grams?"
"Willow … " Grandma Trisha muttered as she tried to nudge herself up on her bed. Willow watched her struggle and motioned to help her. "No, Willow!"
Willow retracted, shocked by her grandmother's curtness.
Grandma Trisha managed to pull herself up into a semi-sitting position.
"Willow, you shouldn't be here."
"I needed to see you, Grams. I need to ... help you," Willow reached for her grandmother's hand and, once again, Grandma Trisha recoiled.
"Willow, please … you mustn't."
Willow looked stunned.
"Grams?"
"Yes, Willow ... I know. I know what you can do. I knew if I told you I was sick, you would try to save me."
"How do you ... Why don't you want - "
"Oh, dear Willow. You are so deserving of what you possess. You've always been so selfless. I need you to be selfless now. Please ... let me go."
Willow was unnerved by her grandmother's dialogue. Why would she not want to be saved? Didn’t she want to witness her granddaughter grow into a woman ... attend her college graduation ... her wedding …
"But I can make you better, Grams," Willow pleaded. "You can go home tomorrow. You can - "
"Go home to what, Willow? A large empty house? No … It's time."
"You can come live with us. Mom's been asking you for years. You can have my room; I'll move to the guest room."
Grandma Trisha beamed at her granddaughter.
"This is why you mean the world to me, Willow … but I miss your grandfather. My life hasn't been whole since he passed. I was shattered the day I got that call from the hospital. I may not let on, but I find myself thinking of him in the simplest tasks I perform."
Grandma Trisha turned her head away from Willow as she continued to speak, staring up at the ceiling.
"The lives we built together ... the children we brought into this world ... the places we traveled… It's all but a faded memory whenever I look at his photograph." She took a deep breath, exhaled and turned to face her granddaughter once again.
___________________________________
Page 77
"I'm old, Willow, in case you hadn't noticed. But 88 years on this earth was a good run. When I found out I was sick last year, it was almost a relief. I can go now because I’ve had a full life. My time is done here, don't you see? There’s nothing left for me."
"How can you say that? What about your family? What about me?"
Grandma Trisha smiled. She instinctively reached out to touch her granddaughter's face, but suddenly withdrew her hand.
"You don't need me, Willow. Look at you; you never let that leg stop you from doing anything. You lost your father when you were so young, and still you have remained so strong. Your mother could never run that house without you. God knows I love all of my grandchildren, but that brother of yours is no help at all; sweet boy, but lazy as they come. Thank goodness he and your mother have you, and I've known for a long time that you're - "
" - just a kid! A kid who needs her grandmother. Grams … please ... don't do this to me."
"You're strong, Willow, stronger than any woman I've ever known. Stronger than I've ever been. I have no fears about leaving you now. You've grown into a fine young lady and soon you'll be an amazing woman. And I leave you with Razzel; oh how I adore that girl. Never lose her, Willow. You two are opposites, which is why you need one another. With her around, I know you'll always have someone to lean on, learn from, (Grandma Trisha smiled) and teach.”
Willow broke down; it was all too much for her.
"Oh come now," Grandma Trisha tried to comfort. "This is a happy day, a joyous day. I get to join your grandfather and your father, knowing you are in good hands. We’ll always watch over you, you know that."
Willow shook her head as tears slowly streamed down her freckled cheeks.
"It won't be the same, Grams. Please ... please ... "
Grandma Trisha’s expression changed; for a moment she looked like her old stern self.
"Willow Krimble, don't you dare prove me wrong! You have always put others before yourself and your dear old grandmother is asking you to do this one final thing for her. Can you do this for me, Willow? Can you let me go?"
Willow looked into her grandmother's eyes. Grandma Trisha smiled at her and Willow suddenly understood. In all of the time she had been sharing her gift with those in need, she had never realized … not everyone wants to be saved. She knew she could reach out and touch her grandmother without anyone stopping her, but she wouldn't. She did not have to agree with her grandmother's decision, but she would respect it. She took one step back, giving her grandmother a slow nod, not bothering to wipe the stream of tears cascading down her face .
"Thank you, Willow. I won't ask you to take care of your mother because I know I don't need to."
Willow nodded once more.
"I really should rest now, dear." Grandma Trisha edged her way back to a lying position. She closed her eyes before saying one final thing to her granddaughter… "You'll be hearing from me soon, Willow."
___________________________________
Page 78
Willow watched as her grandmother's chest slowly rose up and down, each breath getting deeper and longer. After a few more agonizing moments of counting the seconds between each breath, Willow watched Grandma Trisha’s heart monitor go flat-line as her chest ceased to rise. Willow shook her head and was overcome with emotion. Disregarding the promise she made moments earlier, she flung herself onto her grandmother and held her tightly. She kissed her forehead, oblivious to the Stratlin Medical personnel who had flooded the room. At that moment, Willow received the answer to a question she had been asking herself for a long time: yes, she could heal others ... but once they had passed, she could not bring them back.
Next Chapter
