A little girl named Grace sat on a white hospital bed, holding her faded purple teddy bear with the button eyes. She was staring out of the window, her gaze far away as if she was searching for a story beyond the four walls that held her prisoner. Grace’s pale, slender fingers wrapped around the bear as if it were her last hope in the world… her last friend. She did this every day, dreamed that she was someone else. But that was silly. Cancer patients couldn’t have dreams. The pink bandana slipped a little farther down her forehead, but she ignored it. It wasn’t as if people didn’t know. Her hair was gone. And besides, what was the use, anyway? “Hey there.” A quiet voice from the doorway. Grace turned her face, wide blue eyes taking in the strange boy that stood a few feet away. He had a light dusting of freckles across his nose, and a bright smile. He wore an old Yankee’s baseball cap that was a bit too large for his head. “Hi.” Grace didn’t recognize her own voice. She sounded so hopeless and lost. She bit her lip. The boy walked toward her, their gazes locked. “What’s the matter?” he asked her. Didn’t he know where he was? Grace scowled. “I have leukemia, you know. And you probably do too, because this is where they send people who have that.” “I’m Jake.” There was a long silence as Grace glared at him. She didn’t like repeating herself, and she didn’t plan on it. Besides, who was this boy? And what right did he have to go around and bother the other patients? But he just smiled and pointed at her bandana. “That’s a pretty color on you. I don’t usually like pink… but it’s nice with your eyes.” “Um…thanks. I’m Grace,” she replied. The compliment had angered her at first, but she felt a little tingle of warmth touch her chilled fingertips. Jake surprised her by sitting down in the chair next to her bed. “What do you want to be when you grow up, Grace?” She stared at him, angry again. “I’m not going to grow up. Besides, I’m a cancer patient. And that means that you can’t have dreams.” There was a brief pause. “Of course you can. Like me… I’m going to be a major league baseball player when I grow up. I’m going to win a World Series with the Yankees. They’re my favorite team, you know.” Grace watched him as he described his dream. His eyes had an excited gleam to them, and his breathing quickened. “Oh.” She didn’t really know what else to say. So she didn’t say anything, she just hugged her teddy bear and curiously watched her unexpected visitor. Jake caught her eye. “I have a bigger dream. But I can’t tell you what that is, because then it won’t come true. It’s a secret dream.” Curiosity piqued, Grace inquired, “A secret dream? What’s that?” Leaning forward, Jake grinned at her, revealing a missing front tooth. “It means you have a dream and don’t tell anybody else about it, and then it comes true.” Grace felt herself smiling. “Wow. That sounds cool,” she said. She found herself slowly forgetting about her sour mood from earlier. She scooted over to the edge of the bed. “I want to be a singer and have a big white house with a swimming pool on the inside,” she said, feeling excited to be admitting her dream to someone. And this time thinking about it, she almost felt hopeful. Jake grinned again. “On the inside? Sweet! Can I come and visit you?” “Sure!” Grace laughed. “And I’ll have a soda fountain too. And our moms won’t tell us that we can’t have any more sugar.” They both laughed. It was a bright, happy youthful sound. After a few moments of silence and the two of them silently thinking about their dreams, Jake stood up. “Well, I gotta go. But you should come and visit me tomorrow, okay? I’m in room 202 down the hall.” Grace held onto her teddy bear tighter for a long time after he left, thinking about what he’d said. Could her dreams really come true? … The next afternoon, Grace padded down the hospital hallway in her fuzzy bunny slippers and bathrobe. She found room 202, but couldn’t see a name posted on the board outside the door. She peeked inside the door, and saw a nurse tucking in the white bedsheets around a freshly made bed. There was no sign of a patient inside the room. “Um, excuse me… I’m looking for Jake. Did he move?” asked Grace timidly. The nurse turned and saw her then. “Oh…” the woman said, her eyes filling up with tears. “Honey, Jake passed away last night.” Grace felt her heart plummet to her feet. "But...he wanted to play baseball..." her voice faded, and she was unable to form any more words. The nurse gave her a teary smile. “But he did tell us that you would be stopping by today, and he wanted you to have this.” The woman held out a note. It had a drawing of a baseball on the front. Grace opened it with shaking fingers. Dear Grace, Don’t give up on your dreams. I didn’t, and mine came true, just like I said it would. My secret dream came true yesterday when I met you, and I guess I can probably tell you what it is now… I dreamed that I would have a best friend. Love Jake |
Author's Comments
I've had this in my head all day today, and I really felt like I needed to write it.
 I'm sorry its so sad... but it just had to end that way. -hugglesJake- -Eeferz EDIT: OMG ANOTHER DailyLitDeviations feature! I'm so beyond thrilled right now! Here's the article: [link] Many thanks to =julietcaesar for featuring me! |
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Comments
The ending is perfect.
instant favorite.
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If you like it, suggest it for a Daily Deviation!
dA is for the literary arts, too.
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I am a poet, but sometimes words fail me.
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If you like it, suggest it for a Daily Deviation!
dA is for the literary arts, too.
--
I am a poet, but sometimes words fail me.
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" ...he's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same, and Linton's is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire."
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It's a long way down
Just fall into place and you'll fall into me
We'll make it out
You'll see
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Comment, because you care.
Share your kindness, not your hate.
Love the art, before yourself.
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Life is like a rubix cube... it pisses you off.
... so who invented the horse anyway... so impractical
~Bobibillius~Darn-Im-Frustrated=Eefera=ForeverWriting*Maeix2*ShadowRaven1
It's beautifully written.
But, sad.
;D
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FAQ#16; How To Get FREE PageViews..?
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I am a poet, but sometimes words fail me.
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