Chapter 5: Last Goodbyes
Eight months later, Alexander sat in the waiting room of a hospital with tears rolling down his cheeks. His mother had already been admitted here for a month, but the doctor urgently called him that morning. He had been in the ICU for most of the day after her heart had almost stopped. They managed to resesitate her but had told him bluntly she likely wouldn't make it through the night.
He had arrived as quickly as he could and was now waiting for one last experiment treatment to finish before visiting her.
As the doctor left the room, Alexander lurched to his feet, though the man just shook his head and stated, “She’s holding on, but the treatment wasn't effective. There is nothing else we can do.”
The youth of just 17 years swallowed back his sorrow and stammered, “Can I see her.”
The woman hesitated before responding, “To conduct this last treatment requires very invasive measures. The way your mother appears now is not the way she wanted you to remember her. She has communicated with us to not allow you to see her.” The youth was ready to fight this doctor, but the woman added, “Rather, we have acquired a Medical Emergency Permit that will allow the two of you to spend as much time in Eden together as you need.” She gestured to a side door and finished, “You will find a headset in there; your mother is waiting online.”
Unwilling to waste time arguing, the youth ran to the side room and logged onto the game.
Once his character was actuated, he looked around frantically before spotting his mother sitting on the edge of the mountain peak they had been camping at. It was called the Sky Reaching Mountain and was the tallest of the Green Mountains. From its height, it was possible to see the silhouette of Camelot Castle on the distant horizon.
In a frantic and scared voice, the young man barely managed to blurt out, “Mom!” As he sprang toward the woman and hugged her tightly. Pulling away from her, he met her eyes and pleaded, “Please, you can't go; I need you.”
The woman smiled at this and laughed affectionately, responding, “My dear Alex, I'm not going anywhere…” She paused to put a hand on the boy's cheek, then added playfully, “I should be okay for the next hour. After that, then you can complain.”
The boy looked at her, still awash with sorrow, and angrily yelled, “Can you take anything seriously…”
Alexander's mother hugged him tenderly and said, “Oh my sweet dearest, don't be sad. Death is a natural part of life. If God has decided it's my time, then who are we to argue.”
The youth trembled at this and got out, “It's not fair. You didn't do anything wrong.”
The woman stroked her child's hair and explained, “Alex, don't be so childish. Bad things sometimes happen to good people; if they didn't, life would be very boring.” She broke the hug, tears in her eyes as she added, “It hurts me too to think of having to leave you all alone…” She put her forehead against his and softly uttered, “But I know you're strong enough and kind enough to get by on your own. Though I'll certainly be looking after you from heaven.” She let out a deep sigh as she finished, “I'm so glad I've gotten to travel this far with you. Fifty-six mountains isn't what I had hoped for, but it was enough for me to see you so happy. I have no regrets, and I hope you don't either.”
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The boy sobbed in a broken voice, “We really don't have any more time.”
His mother laughed and resumed, “We have all the time that's left, and that should be more than enough.” She moved her child's trembling body with a gentle hand so he was lying on his side with his head in her lap. He looked out over the vast and beautiful horizon as she sighed and stated, “Now then, let's talk.”
The woman took the lead, speaking about her past. She talked about being careful with who you love, living your life to the fullest, and following your dreams. After this, she began talking about the future and her wishes for her son. That he would find lasting love, that he would find a dream and press it happily, that his life would be full of meaning, friendship, and joy.
The youth eventually calmed down enough to engage in this conversation and occasionally asked questions or made comments. They joked and talked for nearly three hours before the woman's hand moved to her chest as she paused halfway through a teasing remark about any feelings he might have for the girl Allana he had been tutoring. She looked down at her son and smiled while saying, “I actually thought of a song I want to share with you. Do you want to hear it?”
The boy knew something wasn't right but nonetheless nodded, “Of course.”
The woman smoked and brushed back her hair as she responded, “I'm glad this was a song your grandmother left me, and now I want to leave you.”
She closed her eyes and, in a soft and sweet voice full of emotion, sang out:
At journey's end, we now stand, saying our last goodbyes.
I know it's sad, but don't you cry, the pain will fade in time.
I promise better days will soon arrive full of joy and cheer.
So please, my dear, don't fall apart or wallow in the dark.
Because even when I'm gone, I'll always be in your heart.
As she sang the last verse, the wind picked up around them, and Alexander felt a shiver pass through his mother's body. He sat up to meet her gaze, which wasn't sad in the slightest; rather, it contained a deep sense of joy, fulfillment, and love. With her dazzling blue eyes that seemed to put sapphires to shame, she smiled and stated, “Goodbye, Alex, always remember that I love you.”
His body began to shine with light, and tears swelled in the boy's eyes. Despite his raging emotion, he steeled himself and got out, “ I'll always love you too.” he blocked as his eyes began to burn and blurted, “I'll make you proud, Mom.”
A few final tear drops spawned not from sadness but from affection and peace escaped the woman's eyes, which dissolved into shimmering light. She revealed a smile that possessed all the happiness of a lifetime and responded, “You already have.”
As if waiting for this moment, the wind returned more powerful than before and muffled the women's gathering form. She dissolved into pure, sparkling light that was carried by the breeze. As if in control of nature itself, the light curled back around and wrapped around the youth form in a final, warm embrace. It only lasted for a moment before the light was scattered and carried off into the distant horizon.
Alexander watches the lights be carried away into the endless lands of Eden.
For a few moments, the world grew still as a lingering warmth filled him. However, soon, the warmth faded, and he realized he was entirely alone. His emotions swelled: sadness and happiness, hate and love, peace, and conflict as these things and more raged within him. His human heart could not bear such a burden, and he could feel the moment it broke within him. A tear escaped his eyes as his mouth opened and closed in silent sobs. The next moment, he realized a cry of sheer unbridled emotion out into eternity and began to sobe.
He cried for hours and collapsed on the peak of the world.
He cried so much his tears began to pool and flow in thin streams over the edge of the mountain, creating miniature waterfalls of emotion.
He cried as countless happy memories raced through his mind and the weight of knowing those days were over set in.
Hours passed as his body lost strength, and his sobs turned into a mournful silence. Depleted of strength, the youth closed his and let the sweet embrace of nothing overtake him.