Chapter Five

They released Logan from the hospital and looking forward to her date with Charlie. Sandy tries to convince her not the date him. If she told Logan the truth about Charlie, she would not believe her. Logan is full of young love and would believe nothing negative about Charlie. Logan sees Charlie as being perfect. Perfect for her and perfect in every way. She has a deep admiration for Charlie. She needs him. She feels like Charlie is the first and only person to love her. Sandy knows she has a distorted reflection of Charlie in her mind. She idealizes Charlie and she would give anything for him. Her love for Charlie is blind and there is nothing Sandy can do to change her mind. Logan exaggerates all his good qualities and stops valuing her on. She feels less of a person since she has been sick and still weak.  

Charlie takes Logan out to dinner. It surprised her when he parks at the local Botanical Garden. They walk hand in hand viewing all the beautiful flowers and trees. In the park is a wall of love. Couples put two locks interlocked on the fence. We believe that if the locks are together, the couple will be together as well. Charlie whispered into Logan’s ear; I love you. That was a magical time for Logan. She knew then Charlie still loves her. She knew that every year they could return to see the locks of their love still together. This is how the future would be.  

They stood beside the bed of roses. There were roses of all colors. They were beautiful, and the aroma filled the air with a sweet scent. As Charlie was getting closer to Logan, her heart skipped a beat. His soft, warm lips were gently pressed against her lips. The moment of the kiss silenced her thoughts. It transported her to another world. A world of comfort, happiness, enjoyment, and love. Her whole body tingled as he wrapped his arms around her. She felt like time had stopped as they stood in the rose garden. It was the true love she was feeling. Love she never felt before. A desire for the moment to never end. Charlie then stepped away from her and ended the moment. 

They walked back to the car. Charlie opened the trunk and grabbed a blanket and picnic basket. He spread the soft blanket on the ground and provided her with a pillow to sit on. He leaned over and gently kissed her on the cheek. She closed her eyes, hoping for a kiss like the one before. He helped her to sit on the pillow. From the picnic basket, he retrieved the dinner. Fried Chicken, French fries, and a roll. He served her on a bamboo plate. The perfect dinner for a picnic. 

As they sat and ate on the blanket, a thunderstorm started brewing in a distance. The wind started blowing hard. Lightning lit up the dark sky. The thunder started roaring. The leaves in the trees started flying. All the different colored leaves, orange, yellow, and bright red, spiraled in the air. The thunderstorm was approaching fast. The tall trees started swaying back and forth. Logan started hearing the wind blowing through the trees. She was feeling sprinkles of rain on her skin. She sits in the car waiting for Charlie to put the items from the picnic in the trunk. The sound of thunder gets louder, and lightning is closer. Logan is ready to go home. 

Jennifer is in her bedroom, staring out the window as the thunderstorm approaches. She remembers what it was like to dance in the rain. She remembered how the first few drops of rain felt as they fell on her uncovered head. The coolness of the water as it gently runs down her cheek. The dark cloud was overhead. The world surrounded her with the smell of rain. For a long time, the sound of thunder echoed around. She had a smell of rain and the wind rustled through her hair. A refreshing smell that only nature could provide. She suddenly felt the urge to dance. She felt free from all her troubles. The rain had washed them away. She was swirling with the free spirit of the moment. She was floating in the air while dancing. It soaked her entire body with water. She felt a chill over her body. She wished she could experience the feeling of dancing in the rain just one more time. This time, she would cherish the moment. 

Jennifer cried. She knew she could never dance again. She was living the life of a normal teenager, then in the blink of an eye, she was paralyzed. She could not do the things she enjoyed. She had to learn how to live in a new body. She had to relearn how to do the simple things. She must learn how to sit up, how to get dressed, how to shower, how to operate the wheelchair. It was so easy to step into the shower and now she cannot. It was easy for her to put her pants on and now she cannot. Why did this happen to me? Tears fell down her face as it frustrated her with the inability to do the simple things in life. She could no longer take care of herself. 

Jennifer felt she was an unwelcome burden on her family. She did not want to tie them down. Not only had her life changed, but the life of her family has as well. Someone had to be with her all the time. She could not manage on her own. As the day’s past, she saw the impact of having to take care of her changed her family. Lisa was always happy-go-lucky. Now she was sad. It had taken a toll on her to see Jennifer in that condition. She quit her job to stay home and take care of her. Joe, Jennifer’s Father, appeared to always be worried. Worried about the medical bills. How would he ever get them paid off? It was hard enough to support his family. The medical bills were an extra burden on him. He would do anything in the world for his little girl. 

Joe started working a second job. Jennifer would wait up late at night to see him. He was gone when she woke up in the morning. It was after midnight before he came home. He was so tired, all he wanted to do was sleep. He would take a shower and go to bed. The next morning, he would get up and do it all over again. When he had a day off at one job, he was working at the other job. He never had time to spend with the family. When he was home, all he wanted to do was sleep. She saw the distance growing between her parents and knew it was her fault. Her parents were happy and deeply in love until the accident happened. Not only was her life destroyed. It hurt her seeing the marriage of her parents fall apart before her eyes. 

The pain Jennifer felt was unbearable. She took another pain pill. If only for a moment, she wanted relief from the pain. She was desperate for relief. The pain pill did not ease the pain. She lay in her bed and cried herself to sleep. Lana, the physical therapist, awakened her in the morning. During the therapy, the pain was more than she could bear. She told Lana how much it hurt. Lana would always reply. No pain, no gain. She must endure the pain for a chance at recovery. She wanted to recover, but did not know how much more pain she could handle. After Lana left, she took a pain pill and cried until it took effect. Even with the pain pill, she still felt pain. She was afraid to take another pain pill. 

Sandy called Charlie and asked if he would meet her for lunch at the Subway. She wanted to talk to him. She wanted to confront him about Jennifer. He agreed to meet her. Charlie wanted to talk to Sandy. He wanted Sandy to accept his relationship with Logan. The two sat in a quiet corner in the Subway. Sandy asked Charlie if he was devoted to Logan? Charlie replied I love her and want to make her happy. She then asks him about Jennifer. He stated we were just friends. Sandy did not believe him. She told him about for visit with Jennifer. Jennifer called him her boyfriend. She asked him to explain the trip to NASA. Sandy shakes her head with a grim smile on her face and says never mind. Just stay away from Logan. Leave her alone. Do not call or see her. Find your way out of her life. She deserves better than you. Then she walks out the door. 

Jennifer is laying in her bed. She is in extreme pain. She looks at the clock. It has only been three hours since she took the medicine. The prescription states she can do them every four hours. The pain is more than she can bear. See, take another pain pill. She can not wait another hour. The longer she waits, the more pain she will feel. She sits and cries. Lisa walks by her bedroom and hears her crying. She stands outside the closed door and prays for God to help Jennifer. Please take the pain away. Please give her a peace that only you can give. She then walks into the room. It hurts her to see her little girl in so much pain. She wants to hold her in her arms and take the pain away. The pain eases off. Lisa encouraged her to sleep and rest. 

Jennifer remembers the excitement of playing basketball. Every time she scored, the team and fans were happy. She was happy. What a wonderful feeling. If she could only feel that again. She realized that her dream of going to college and playing basketball was over. Her life and all her plans were destroyed. Her life was destroyed. She could no longer take care of herself. She could no longer make anyone happy again. Jennifer was spiraling into a deep depression. The signs were being shown. She felt that her life was over. She did not know how much longer she could live with the pain. She never wanted to be a burden to her family. 

Charlie calls Logan to discuss the meeting with Sandy. Sandy threatened me to stop seeing you. She is going to make you believe that Jennifer and I are lovers. You know that is not true. I love you and always have. I broke up with Jennifer before we ever meet. Sandy and Jennifer are trying to destroy our relationship. Sandy and Jennifer are friends now. She meets Jennifer at the hospital. Jennifer told her lies. Anything she could like of to break us up. You know me better can that. You know how Jennifer is don’t believe the stuff she said. I love you and will never hurt you. 

Logan becomes furious and walks downstairs to talk to Sandy. Sandy is sitting in the living room reading the Holy Bible while drinking a cup of coffee. She is reading the Bible to gain peace and comfort to help her in the time of tribulation. She seeks for God’s guidance and support. Something to help her understand why this happened to her. Something to help her stay strong in her faith. 

As Logan walks into the room, Sandy gently sits the Bible on the end table beside her. When she looked at Logan, her lips were tightened. The corner of her mouth pointed downward. Something flared her nostrils outward. Her eyelids were squinted. Sandy knew by the expression she was angry. Logan stated in a loud voice how could you do that. Sandy asks her to sit down on the couch so they could discuss the problem. She slumps down on the couch and crosses her arms, while saying, How can you do this to me? Why are you treating me like a baby? I am old enough to decide who I want to date. You have no right to interfere with my relationship with Charlie.

Sandy asked her to calm down. I think Charlie is bad for you. He is seeing you and Jennifer. He did not visit you in the hospital. He does not care about you. You need to leave him alone. I don’t want to hurt you. I love you and trying to protect you from being hurt. Logan states, I do not need you to protect me. I am not a baby. You think this does not hurt. Well, you are wrong. If you love me, stay out of my relationships. She then walks outside and slammed the door. Sandy was worried she had never walked out like that before. They had always had a close relationship and could talk things out. 

Jennifer looks at the pill bottle on the nightstand beside her bed. She wants to take another pill. It has only been two hours since the last one. The pain in pulsating from the back of her neck though her spine. The dull constant never ending pain had not started pulsating. Jennifer screams, Mama, please help me. I can not take the pain anymore. Please do something. Tears are flowing down her face. She wants another pain pill but is scared she will overdose. Lisa cries as she sees her little girl in so much pain. She rubs her back. The touch of her gentle finger hurt. Jennifer asks her to stop. Lisa feels empathy for her, and it cuts through her like a knife. She doesn’t just feel sorry for her. Lisa feels the pain in her body. She can not put into words the pain she feels inside. There was no way to kiss the boo and make it better. She could not hold her in her arms and comfort her. Deep down inside, she feels there is something she can do. She has never felt so helpless in her life. She prays for God to help Jennifer. 

Lisa calls Doctor Alexander and meets him in the Emergency Room. The pain Jennifer is feeling has increased. There must be something else causing the pain. The pills are no longer helping. Doctor Alexander admits Jennifer into the hospital and orders a test. The test results show that she has a rare condition. Meningitis B. Jennifer was treated with intravenous antibiotics, corticosteroids, and increased pain medicine. It exposed Jennifer to the Meningitis B the day when Logan vomited on her in the bathroom. She had unknowingly contracted the illness. 

While Lisa is sitting in the room beside Jennifer, she shakes all over with a chill. She has difficulty breathing. She cannot tell Lisa what is going on. Then she hyperventilates. She can not catch her breath. She stops breathing. Lisa calls for the doctor. The nurses run into the room. They ordered Lisa to leave the room. She hears Code Blue over the intercom system. The nurses run into the room with the crash cart. The nurses and doctors attempt to resuscitate Jennifer. Her organs have shut down and they cannot resuscitate her. The doctor talks to Lisa and Joe and lets them know Jennifer has passed away. Lisa is hysterical with grief. The doctor gives Lisa a shot to calm her down. Joe takes her home.

At the funeral for Jennifer, Lisa looks at the casket while walking into the room and stops. She can not take another step. The closer she gets to the casket; she cries and realizes it is real. It is not a dream. Joe puts his arm around her, and they sit down in the front of the Chapel. Sandy walks up to the casket and places a rose in Jennifer’s hand. Logan can’t believe her eyes. Jennifer is her age and has passed away. As she sees Jennifer laying in the casket, she begins is feel sad. This is the first time she has attended a funeral. Sandy and Logan walk to the back of the Chapel and sit down. Charlie walks in and looks at Jennifer in the Casket and cries. He sits with the family. When the obituary is read. It listed Charlie as her fiancé. Logan knew then Sandy was Trueful with her. It devastated her. 

After the funeral ends, Charlie calls Logan on the phone and asks her out to dinner. Logan is hurt and tells him she will never see him again. Do not Call Again. She hangs up the phone. As she sits on the side of her bed, the phone calls to the floor. She lays in bed and cries for hours. Late she pulls herself together and apologies to Sandy for her actions. Sandy hugs her says I Love You.    

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