I stood up from my seat, noticing the storm outside starting to subside. I moved to light the remaining candles, adding more brightness to my humble living quarters. My eyes drifted to the wall above the couch where Makayla sat, spotting the pirate hat Jonah had given me.

"Just above you, there's the pirate hat Jonah had gifted me."

Makayla, holding Amanda's old teddy bear, turned around. She climbed onto the sofa, grabbed the pirate hat, and placed it on her head before racing off to the mirror to admire her reflection.

"How do I look?"

With a smile, memories of my own childhood in Hopeland Village flood back. "You look wonderful. At your age, I too fancied myself as the captain of a pirate crew, embarking on quests for treasure on islands that others dared not visit."

Makayla continued to gaze at her reflection, holding Amanda's beloved teddy bear closely. "I dream of having friends like Ashley and Jonah. Life would seem so much more exciting and fuller of joy."

"Friends who truly want to be part of your life will show up when you least expect them. Not everyone you meet will be a friend, but a select few will genuinely care about you and make your life richer."

"You really should meet my brother. You two would hit it off instantly. The way you talk about yourself reminds me so much of him."

"We'll consider that after the storm has settled. But for now, let's get back to the story. I want to finish it so we can both get some rest."

Eagerly, she scampered back to the sofa and settled in, ready to hear the rest of my tale involving the Godmother.

━━━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━━━━━

I shut my eyes, silently reassuring myself that everything would be okay. Deep down, I felt a strong intuition, an almost tangible sense that change was on the horizon for me too. Upon reaching the hospital, Nurse Angela led us towards the elevator.

"Okay, let's get going."

As the elevator doors opened, the coordinator exited and immediately noticed me.

"Angela, why is young Samuel out of his room this late at night?"

Angela, caught off guard, hesitated for a moment, searching for an explanation. Fortunately, I had earlier staged a fall from my bed, injuring my elbow. I presented my elbow to the coordinator, showcasing the scrape.

"I fell off my bed. I was being naughty."

The coordinator scrutinized the injury, adjusting her glasses. "That looks like it could become infected. Given your medical condition, you need to be examined right away." She then redirected her attention to Angela. "Have you informed Dr. Deveraux?"

"I believe he was checking a patient in room 344 on the third floor. We were on our way there."

The coordinator nodded in understanding. "Alright, I'll step aside then," she said, making room for us to enter the elevator. Just as we were about to move, she added, "One more thing, young Samuel." She paused, fixing her gaze directly on me. "Behave yourself."

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"It won't happen again."

As the elevator doors slid shut, the coordinator's watchful eyes lingered on us until she was out of sight. Once hidden from view, Angela's tense posture softened, relieved that the coordinator hadn't pressed for more details.

"I am going to be honest with you; I was not expecting to find her here."

"You're welcome," I said with a playful smile crossing my face.

"Yes, you did good. Thank you."

Upon reaching the third floor, the elevator doors parted right by the nurses' station. Angela opted to pause there, exchanging greetings with the other night-shift nurses. It was then that I spotted Amanda, motionless in her wheelchair, just outside her room. She was staring intently at her door when suddenly, the Godmother materialized before her.

At that moment, I distinctly heard the Godmother say, "It's time." She extended her hand, gently touching Amanda's forehead with her index finger. A radiant burst of light enveloped us, with Amanda gradually bowing her head. I felt the world around me stop; every single emotion I've felt all those weeks piled up into a sudden blast inside my gut, that froze every cell in my body. Amanda's teddy bear slipped from her grasp, dropping to the floor as her life began to fade away.

In a state of panic, I started to shake my wheelchair back and forth, shouting at the top of my lungs.

"No! - wait! Don't do this to me!" I screamed, as loud as I could, but it was too late. I watched helplessly as the Godmother took Amanda's spirit by the hand, leading her towards the light.

In a desperate bid for autonomy, I fiercely gripped the hand rims, propelling the wheelchair to spin of my own volition. My hands possessed an unusual strength, causing the chair to tilt and ultimately cast me onto the floor. The commotion drew the immediate attention of the nurses, who rushed to aid me as I grabbed Amanda's teddy bear, pulling it close.

The situation spiraled into turmoil; Amanda's still form remained in her wheelchair as the nurses attempted revival efforts. I realized then I would never have the opportunity to express my true feelings to her. The fear of this unspoken truth was overwhelming as if a significant part of my existence had been torn away. The anguish was excruciating, surpassing any physical ailment. Tears streamed down my face without restraint, as I silently witnessed Amanda's departure from this world.

After a while, nurse Angela returned me to my room, my shirt soaked in my own tears. I held her teddy bear on my lap, remembering the great time we shared together. The nurse stood in front of me, touching my hands with care.

"I am deeply sorry, Samuel. Witnessing her departure is something that won't be easy to forget."

I wiped the tears on my face, still gazing at Amanda's favorite teddy bear. "She reached the finish line first, that's all."

"Okay let me help you get in your bed, it's really late."

"Could you please leave me alone for a while? I'll call if I need anything,"

Angela acknowledged my request with a nod and exited the room, leaving me in solitude. Gathering my strength, I tried to stand and managed to take a few steps towards my bed before collapsing to the floor once more. Lying there, I was overwhelmed by a deep sense of loss, my face truly showing the depth of the love I felt for her.

As I lay on the ground, enveloped in grief, an unexpected comfort came in the form of a helping hand. This gentle force lifted me from the floor and carefully placed me back on my bed. When I opened my eyes, I was met with the compassionate gaze of the Godmother standing before me. Her presence calmed my aching heart, feeling empathy radiating from her as she seemed to share in my sorrow.

With tender care, she took Amanda's teddy bear and placed it beside me, a gesture that felt like a bridge connecting me to her memories. The Godmother's presence, in that moment of deep vulnerability, offered a comforting reassurance that I was not alone in my grief.

"I understand you have questions. In due time, all the answers you seek will be revealed. For now, you need to rest and allow your soul the time it needs to heal."

Struggling to keep my eyes open, I felt the moment when she tucked the blanket around me and dimmed the lights, creating a tranquil environment for me to rest. I held Amanda's teddy bear close to my heart, as my tears gently fell over its fur. Slowly, sleep began to envelop me, it provided a temporary respite from the pain, a momentary pause amid my grieving heart's journey toward healing.