Love Can't Conquer This

"Hey Sweetie." 1

I gave her a smile to let her know I heard her. I tried to talk, but no words came. My mind thought, my eyes saw, my ears heard, but my mouth could produce no sound. No voice. Just the look in my eye that you see your favorite teddy bear giving you when you need someone to hold. 2

Mother gently massaged my hair as she sat by my side. "I know you can hear me, sweetie," she whispered into my ear. 3

I know! I want to answer, I really do. Tears came rolling down my face, treating the tubes through my nose as mountains to climb but easily defeating the task. I wanted to wipe them away to show I felt no pain; to show I was strong. But I could not move. My body is useless to me, only my emotions work properly. 4

But only if I could move, I would show my parents the respect I have long held from them. The very people who are at my side now are the people I pushed away from my life; the very people I need most of all. Some say love conquers all. Well, they’re wrong. Love can’t conquer this. Whether or not I live is not the issue. Everything will change, if for the better, I do not know. But things will change.  5

The door opened. Father!  He sat beside my mother; beside me. Another soft stroke from my mother crossed my face. Thank you. "You’ll be ok. You know that, right?" my father assured me. 6

No father. I’m dying, whether you like it or not. My pain is real. More tears streamed down my face. She wiped them off and wrapped her arms around me. Thank you again, mother. It’s as if you know what I’m thinking. If you can understand, tell me why. God loves us all, I know. But why me mother? Why my life? 7

"Your father and I love you more than you know. Only God himself loves you more," cried my mother. 8

"And that we are not sure of, for our love for you spans further than heaven itself," my father said. A slight smirk appeared. It was gone. Maybe I imagined it.  9

More tears.10

The door opened and a young nurse entered, "Would everyone please leave? Her operation starts in a few hours. Let her have her rest."11

"Remember, no matter what, we love you. Good night. God bless."12

And so I did just as the nurse advised. A few minutes past, and I was asleep.13

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I woke up what seemed like minutes later. The nurse gently touched my neck, filling me with hope. She got up from the bed and headed for the door. No, come back! She was gone. 15

Then I realized how much better I felt. My head no longer hurt, my muscles were not cramped, and my chest ached no more of death. Then, as I was testing my body for other such miracles, I felt something I had longed for since the age of 13: the ability to move. I’m not talking about moving just my arms, but moving my whole body. Ever since I was diagnosed with liver cancer, I haven't been able to move. 16

I got out of my bed and headed for the door. As I reached the door, it swung open, feeling as if went straight my body. Mother. Father. No answer. Tears rolled down their faces, falling to the floor. The nurse comforted them as they walked towards my bed.17

No, mother. No, Father, I’m over here, by the door!18

They kept walking until they reached my bed. My mother fell directly to floor, but didn’t connect; my father had caught her. She looked unconscious. My father laid her down on the floor and knelt over what looked to be my body. 19

What! Who is that? Is that me?20

I looked down at myself, but saw only me; no difference in appearance and I felt like me. I fainted as my mother did before me, but, unlike her, I fell straight through the wall. I stayed there until a doctor entered. 21

He helped my parents out of the room and convinced them to go home. I sat in the car on the side I have always sat in and road home with my parents. 22

The walked up the driveway and into the house. I followed everywhere for the first night and slept in their room. 23

"Honey, remember our promise"? my father asked my mother.24

"Yes, dear. After we lost our first Child to God, not yet born, we swore on each other that if God took our last hope, he would take us with him." 25

"And do we still bide by our promise to God?"26

"Yes," my mother replied in rivers of tears.27

They both walked to the closet, each grabbing a pistil with one bullet.  Simultaneously, they pulled the trigger. NOOOO. But it was too late. 28