“No, child,” said Matthew gliding into the room with his golden, glowing crown. “You are not going to hell. That’s not how this works.”
“A-are you God?” she whispered. Matthew laughed, shaking his head.
“Not even close,” he smiled. “But I will help to take you to where you need to be. To a place where you’ll finally be at peace. You can watch over your mother and grandmother, and others.”
She took in a deep shuddering breath and released it as if she were releasing all the pain in the world. Turning, she smiled at Cam, Adam, and Ben.
“Thank you. I’m not sure what sent me here but I remember thinking that I couldn’t leave until someone knew why I did what I did. I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”
“Just seeing you smile again makes it all worthwhile,” said Cam. “You should go with Matthew now. He’ll take you to where you need to be.”
Matthew held out his big, bear paw and the young woman placed her own in his. As they slowly walked away, the light of Matthew was reduced to a flicker, then gone from their view.
“Wow,” said Ben.
“Wow, indeed,” grinned Cam. “I think we need to go visit Ms. Rose.”
An hour later they were seated on the front porch of Ms. Rose’s home with her mother and several neighbors. It was a wonderful community that was intent on keeping watch over the two old women.
“I can’t believe y’all actually paid all this off,” said Ms. Rose shaking her head. “A new nurse has been here already. She was wonderful with mama and they got along so well. I’m feelin’ like a new woman now. Even have a few wisps of hair comin’ in.”
The men laughed and Cam looked at Adam and Ben, wondering which one would tell the story of Edie.
“My Edie has moved on, hasn’t she?” she smiled.
“How did you know?” grinned Adam.
“A mother knows, honey. Did you speak with her? Did you ask her why?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am, we sure did,” said Cam. “Ms. Rose, did you know that Edie had gone for a mammogram last month?”
“No,” she whispered. “Why? Why would she do that? She was young, not of the age to have one.”
“Your breast cancer diagnosis scared her. She wanted to be sure she didn’t have anything suspicious.”
“Oh, lord,” she whispered. “She did. Didn’t she?”
“Yes, ma’am. Her mammogram showed suspicious results. She didn’t want you and your mother to go through this with her.”
“But she went through it with us! We’re family, that’s what we do, we take care of one another.”
“Believe me, ma’am, we understand that and I think deep down, Edie did too. She just kept thinking about having to give up the second job, being sick and y’all having to take care of her. It was too much for her.
“If it’s any consolation, she said she regretted her actions and felt terrible for having done this to you both. She said that in that moment she just felt hopeless.”
Ms. Rose nodded, pursing her lips to fight back the tears. She understood that kind of pain but she wished her daughter had spoken to her.
“Well, at least I know why now. I can’t change it and neither can she but knowing at least tells me she was doing what she always did. She was thinking of us, not herself.”
“That’s a good way to look at it, Ms. Rose. A lot of folks would say what she did was selfish,” said Ben.
“No. No, I’ve felt myself there on more than one occasion,” said Ms. Rose. “Never really thought it all through but it doesn’t mean it didn’t pass through my mind. It wasn’t selfish. It was her thinking about others before herself. I can see that. I don’t agree with it but I can see it.”
“You’re a special woman, Ms. Rose,” smiled Ben. The older woman laughed, rocking back in her chair as the neighbors laughed with her.
“Young man, you best watch yourself. I’m gettin’ my strength back and I might be chasin’ you round them trees out there.”
Cam, Ben, and Adam laughed, nodding at the old woman.
