by Lari Smythe
* * *
I explained to Jason what had transpired since the accident. He remembered bits and pieces, but very little after the impact. There were clothes for us to change into—presumably left by Jason's mom or Elizabeth. We avoided the temptation and took turns changing behind the drape that pulled around the bed.
I wheezed as Jason hugged me.
"Sorry, you're going to have to keep reminding me—" he said, "it's going to take some getting used to."
"Ya think?"
"Yeah, you're going to have to be extra careful. Don't worry though, I'll keep an eye on you." He winked.
"I bet you will. What's that smell?"
"Looks like they left some food. Hungry?"
"Famished. They really thought of everything." I put my hand on my stomach, the source of an unfamiliar growling sensation.
We ate the portions of hospital food—woofed them down really.
"Now what?" Jason said.
I looked over at the hospital bed and the call button that Elizabeth had taped to the railing. "I guess we push the button."
"Do you think we should? I mean from what you've told me, I'm supposed to be dead and you, maybe they want to figure out what you are. We could make a run for it."
"I don't think it's necessary, it doesn't seem like our parents left much to chance."
We walked hand-in-hand back over to the call button taped to the bed.
"Ready?" Jason said.
"Yeah, ready."
We kissed and he pushed the button. For a moment, nothing happened but then came the muffled swoosh of the door behind the drapes.
"Jason? Izzy?" It was Jason's mom's voice as she floundered in the drapery, looking for the opening. Finally she just stooped down and lifted them up over her head and stumbled into the room. When she saw us, she burst into tears. She raced across the room and flung herself into Jason's arms—kissing and hugging him. After a minute, she rested her head against his chest and our eyes met. She reached out and pulled me into their embrace.
We stayed like that for a longtime, until she had no more joyful tears to shed. Finally, she stepped back and grasp our hands—Jason and I were already holding hands. She asked us to bow our heads, and she prayed. She thanked God for his mercy, for his strength that saw us through the ordeal, and finally thanked him for angels and that he had allowed me to give up my wings to save Jason's life. She concluded with a reverent, "Amen."
"Where are my parents?" I asked.
"I don't know for sure," she said, "they left right after Elizabeth emerged from the room."
"Did they say anything?"
"Not before they left."
"Mom," Jason said, "you're avoiding Izzy's question, where are they?"
"Gone." she mumbled.
"Gone?" I gasped. "Where?"
"I don't know. Elizabeth said there would be things at our house that would help you understand."
"We have to go," I demanded, "I have to find them."
"Izzy, Elizabeth said you would want to look for them, but she said you would never find them."
"What? That was never part of the agreement."
"I'm sorry, you've paid so dearly for Jason's life. There's one more thing, I offered to look after you if you'll allow me."
"They abandoned me, what choice do I have? I'm sorry, I didn't mean that like it sounded."
"Of course not, I understand. It's a lot to digest all at once."
Jason pulled me tighter against his side. "For now."
I looked up into his dark, beautiful eyes filled with sorrow for what his life had cost me. I nodded, stroking his cheek with my free hand. "I love you."
"I love you." he echoed back.
Jason's mom, pulled back the drapes. Beyond the glass wall, it looked like the entire ICU staff had gathered in the hallway, even Frank, the EMT from the helicopter. To the last one, their faces reflected the wonder of witnessing a miracle. The walk out of the ICU was filled with hugs, tears of joy and expressions of wonder.
"Don't forget to put on your coats, it's bitter outside." Jason's mom said as we crossed the waiting area of the Emergency Room.
"Look." Jason said as we approached the exit.
Beyond the door there was a crowd of people. Jason's mom opened the door and waited until we walked outside to cheers of joy and celebration. People neither of us knew, shook our hands and offered prayers of thanks—many crossed themselves. There was a news crew, but they let us pass without pressing for an interview. I guess, in our case, a picture was worth a thousand words. The crowd parted as we followed Jason's mom to her car. Once we were inside, the people lined the parking lot row and the drive out of the hospital, waving as we passed. We were on Route 70, headed west toward Boonsboro before any of us spoke.
"I hope you don't mind," Jason's mom said, "but there's one more stop we need to make before we get home."
"The school?" Jason surmised.
"Yes." Jason's mom looked up into the rearview mirror. "Is that alright with you, Izzy?"
"Sure, it's the least we can do to thank everyone for their prayers. Could you turn up the heat? I'm not used to the cold—I'm freezing."
"Certainly." She turned the knob on the dash and the fan came on full.
Jason pulled me closer. I leaned my head against his shoulder and we rode in silence, except for the soft Christmas music from the CD his mom put on.
When we crossed the mountains, the scene outside turned to a winter wonderland of freshly fallen snow. We rode though town and approached the scene of the accident—the pole where we were hit was still bent, but the window I'd been thrown through was covered with plywood. I started to cry—tears actually flooding out of my eyes, down my cheeks. Jason pulled my face down against his coat so I wouldn't see anymore as we passed. Finally, we turned up the road to the school parking lot. Jason gave me a tissue to wipe my face.
There were orange cones out front of the school and Jason's mom followed them past the packed parking lot to the curb just outside the doors. We parked behind the fire truck that had transported Jason to the stadium.
"You two go ahead." Jason's mom said. "I'll be along."
"Come with us, Mom."
"Please," I added.
"Very well."
Jason opened our door and we slid out. A gust of wind blew a cloud of snow over us.
"Just like the helicopter." I mumbled.
"What?" Jason said.
"Can we go inside, it's freezing?"
We rushed across the shoveled sidewalk to the main entrance. Jason opened the door and held it until both his mom and I were inside.
"Your lips are blue." He observed as the door closed behind him.
"Ms. Moore's Office first." his mom said. She opened the front office door and we went inside, crossed the lobby and then stepped into Ms. Moore's office with a combined gasp.
Her office was crowded, the firemen were their, the local EMTs, Officer Burns, Coach and of course Ms. Moore. They knew what they were seeing, but you could see in their faces that they couldn't believe it.
The firemen and EMTs filed out shaking our hands as they left. Jason thanked them for saving his life and I kissed each and every one of them on the cheek.
Officer Burns stopped while he was shaking Jason's hand. "The Curly's are going to be awfully glad to hear you made it." he said.
"Izzy said she thought it was an accident." Jason said.
"Derrick blew a .135 and got behind the wheel—throw in the weather, well, alcohol, ice, driving, it was a lethal combination—almost." He patted Jason on the back. "Real glad you pulled through." He looked over at me and then back to Jason. "I wouldn't let that one get away. What she did—pretty darn amazing."
"I don't plan to." Jason said.
They shook hands again and Officer Burns followed the firemen out of the room.
"For once, I'm speechless," Coach said, hugging Jason gingerly.
"That all you got old man?" Jason teased and squeezed Coach harder. There
were happy tears from both of them—from all of us.
Ms. Moore wiped her eyes. "I don't know what to say either, Izzy. What they say you did—what I saw that night at the hospital—the courage—the sacrifice that it took is beyond words. You are truly blessed."
"Thank you." We hugged, to my surprise, she pulled me off my feet.
"Are you up to another appearance?"
Jason looked toward me. "I'm good, you?"
"Sure."
Coach and Ms. Moore led us down the hallway toward the gym. I clung to Jason tighter, as we past the bathroom where I had been abducted.
"I remember watching you walk down this hall in the Beauty and the Beast dress." he whispered. "You were so beautiful. Try to remember it that way."
I rested my head against his shoulder. We stopped at the doors, just like that night.
"You sure you're up to this?" Ms. Moore asked.
"You don't have to, not now." Coach added.
Jason and I looked into one another's eyes and kissed. "We're ready." Jason said.
Coach opened the doors and the random crowd noise that there had been as we approached fell silent. Ms. Moore motioned for us to go in. We wrapped an arm around each others waist and walked into the gym. Jason's mom followed and then Ms. Moore and Coach. There wasn't a sound.
Mrs. Snyder hobbled up to us on crutches and kissed Jason and I on the cheek. "Thank God you are alright. It truly is a season of miracles, one none of us will ever forget.
"Praise the Lord," a white-haired woman called out from the edge of the bleachers closest to us.
"Bless you, Judy." Jason's mom responded.
Judy started singing in an incredibly, angelic voice.
Jason leaned over and whispered. "Judy's the soloist at church."
"...When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works
Thy hands have made"
Jason kissed the top of my head. I looked up and we were both crying.
"I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout
The universe displayed"
Judy looked over at us through tear filled eyes. "Then sings my soul..."
Everyone stood and joined Judy in the chorus, "How great thou Art, How great thou Art."
