Between the Rage and Grace
Page 16
Is that Lark In The Clear Aire playing? It’s one of Daddy’s favorite medleys… remember Mama?... he’s waiting on you to get back… we’re all waiting.
The music was comforting, so much so that Clara considered just letting go and resting her weary spirit there for a bit until an illuminated footprint flickered within view.
Duffy? Her mind cried out, Uncle Duffy is that you? Don’t take her, not yet…
Mother please answer me….. I’m so lost.
A spark erupted briefly and she ran to it, where are you going? A second burst of light similar to a shooting star sped past her… then thousands of miniature bursts were all around her but the only one that remained steady was the orange flame that glowed warmly just out of her reach.
I’m coming for you mother. Say something… help me find my way to you.
Clara’s thoughts grew frantic as she chased each tiny sporadic glimmer.
“CLEAR!” Clara heard the warning but the word had no meaning as she clung to the woman on the bed. “Let her go.” Someone said pulling her out of reach, away from her mother.
Mrs. O’Bromley’s body convulsed under the electric current and the bed shook where she landed. “Do it again.” A voice ordered. “CLEAR!” And again the muscles contracted as she arched her back and fell limp with a thud.
Clara kept her eyes closed searching for the candle she had seen in the distance and calling out into the vast darkness help me Mama, I can’t see you. She probed the void in every direction but the flame had gone out.
“Time 11:45 PM.”
“No!” Clara said scrambling back to the chair pressing her hands to the cold damp flesh.
One of the nurses attempted to restrain her again.
“Leave her alone” the intern told her, “Give her some time.”
“I’m sorry.” They each said quietly as they passed by.
“Oh Mama please.” Clara cried laying her head on Mary O’Bromley’s lifeless chest empty now of sighs and laughter.
“Wake up! Wake up! What are you doing?” she begged and wept to no avail.
“Open your eyes Clara.”
Clara ignored the gentle voice and squeezed her lids tighter in hopes it wasn’t too late.
Linda’s mother had managed to reach her maybe I can do the same. She thought.
“Clara, look at me.”
The sorrow stricken child couldn’t resist the angelic voice and lifted her face to the harsh fluorescent lights which paled in comparison to the figure that stood before her.
“I’m so sorry Mama” she cried, “I was too late.”
“Hush now Clara Bell.” The woman soothed her, “Don’t you be sorry for me.”
“I can’t do this, not by myself.” Clara sobbed.
“You’re not by your self, look around you child at all the willing hands.”
Her mother spoke softly with a trailing voice as her essence began to fade. But Clara, like so many others found her self hoping for an impossible ending.
“Wait, don’t go yet.” The grieving daughter begged but her pleading words fell on cold tile floors and Plexiglas.
Clara studied every detail in the face of the corpse that lay before her. While knowing her mother no longer lived within the shell that was once Mary O’Bromley, she softly kissed the flesh above the deep furrowed brow and bid it farewell and mechanically made her way down the hall to her waiting family. There was nothing she needed to tell them, they had already accepted the inevitable ahead of her. As she approached the waiting room she paused to marvel at the site of the small crowd huddled together. There was Linda (in a wheel chair) with Ms. Latrull and Maggie, Mr. O’Bromley and Jim all helping one another and sharing their hearts.
Although the sun had not yet risen Clara could see a shimmering band of brightness looming over the five souls as they stood to greet her with outstretched arms at that place somewhere between the rage and grace.
Between the rage and grace an angel stands
With watching eyes and waiting hands
Where fear and favor oft times meet
Where bitter tears are turned to sweet
Twixt wrath and mercy, His right hand
Here you’ll find an angel stands
The End
Of another beginning
If you enjoyed Between the Rage and Grace you will want to be on the look out for the next novel in this series, Behind the Rage as the author delves into the history of Ms. Latrull and Mrs. Turner and what they shared… other than Levi Turner.