“Why?”
Pausing to compose my answer, I admitted, “Someone I love taught me life is precious. She taught me not to do anything to jeopardize the adventure. And I listened.”
“Rune,” Poppy said, a catch in her throat. “It is precious,” she whispered, “so very precious. Don’t waste one single second of it.”
Poppy lazed against me, watching the beauty of the grove. As she inhaled a deep breath, she quietly confided, “I don’t think I’ll see prom, Rune.” My body stilled. “I’m feeling real tired.” She tried to hold onto me tightly, and she repeated, “Real tired.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and pulled her close. “Miracles can happen, baby,” I replied.
“Yes,” Poppy said breathlessly, “they can.” She brought my hand up to her mouth and kissed each of my fingers. “I would have loved to have seen you in a tux. And I would have loved to dance with you, under the lights, to a song that made me think of you and me.”
Feeling Poppy begin to tire in my arms, I held back the pain this image conjured up and said, “Let’s get you home, baby.”
As I went to stand, Poppy reached for my hand. I glanced down. “You’ll stay by my side, won’t you?”
Crouching down, I cupped her cheeks. “Forever.”
“Good,” she whispered. “I’m not quite ready to let you go, not just yet.”
As I pushed her home, I sent a silent prayer to God, asking Him to give her just two more weeks. He could bring my girl home after that; she was ready, I’d be ready. Just after I gave her all her dreams.
Just let me give her this final wish.
I had to.
It was my final thank-you for all the love she’d given me.
It was the only gift I could give.
Poppy
Two weeks later
I sat in my chair, in my mama’s bathroom, as my mama coated my lashes with mascara. I watched her like I’d never watched her before. She smiled. I watched, making sure I had etched every part of her face in my memory.
The truth was, I was fading. I knew it. I think deep down we all knew it. Every morning that I woke, Rune curled by my side, I felt just a little more tired, just a little weaker.
But in my heart, I felt strong. I could hear the call from home getting stronger. I could feel the peace of its calling flow through me, minute by minute.
And I was almost ready.
As I watched my family over the past few days, I knew they would be fine. My sisters were happy and strong, and my parents loved them fiercely, so I knew they would be okay.
And Rune. My Rune, the person I found it hardest to leave … he had grown. He had not yet realized that he was no longer the moody, broken boy who had returned from Norway.
He was vibrant.
He smiled.
He was taking pictures again.
But better still, he loved me openly. The boy who’d returned hid behind a wall of darkness. Not anymore; his heart was open. And because of that, he had let in light to his soul.
He would be okay.
Mama went to the closet. When she returned to the bathroom, she was holding out a beautiful white dress. Reaching out, I ran my hand down the material. “It’s beautiful,” I said and smiled up at her.
“Let’s get it on you, shall we?”
I blinked, confused. “Why, Mama? What’s happening?”
Mama batted her hand in dismissal. “Enough with the questions, baby girl.” She helped me dress, slipping white shoes onto my feet.
The sound of the bedroom door opening made me look around. When I did, my aunt DeeDee stood in the doorway, her hand upon her chest.
“Poppy,” she said, tears filling her eyes. “You look beautiful.”
DeeDee glanced over to my mama and held out her hand. My mama held her sister, and they stood there, looking at me. Smiling at the look on their faces, I asked, “Can I see?”
My mama pushed my chair in front of the mirror, and I stilled at the sight of my reflection. The dress looked so pretty, prettier than I could have imagined. And my hair … my hair was pulled to the side in a low bun, my favorite white bow pinned in place above it.
As always, my infinity earrings stood out, loud and proud.
I ran my hands down the dress. “I don’t understand … it looks like I’m dressed for prom—”
My eyes darted to my mama and DeeDee in the mirror. My heart lost control of its beat. “Mama?” I asked. “Am I? But it’s not for two weeks! How—”
My question was cut short by the ringing of the doorbell. Mama and DeeDee looked at one another, and Mama ordered, “DeeDee, you go answer the door.”
DeeDee went to move, but Mama held out her hand and stopped her with a hand on her arm. “No, wait, you take the chair, I have to carry Poppy down the stairs.”
Mama lifted me onto her bed. DeeDee left the room, and I heard my daddy’s voice downstairs, muffled with others. Thoughts were scrambling through my head, but I dared not get my hopes up. Yet I wanted so badly for those hopes to come true.
“You ready, baby?” my mama asked.