Survivor

              The sun snaked its way through the blinds and crept over the dark blue bedspread.  The golden light warmed the blankets and the body underneath stretched languidly in the sun’s heat.  The light poked its way to their face and gently urged their eyes to open.  They did, and shining orbs of emerald glittered in the early sunbeam, clouded with sleep.

         The eyes cleared quickly, becoming aware as their owner sat up and yawned loudly.  Bare feet touched down onto a cold wood floor, and the person rose slowly from the warm cocoon of blankets.

         The woman was tall, especially so as she raised her arms over her head and stretched up onto the balls of her feet, shaking off the stiffness of sleep.  Her pajamas hung off her bony frame and her face was pale and gaunt, yet a smile blossomed across her features.  She turned to face the window, padding into the strips of sunlight.  She pulled up the blinds and let the morning sun wash over her, smile growing wider as the light warmed her body.  Her green eyes gazed out the window, admiring the view.

         Pale oranges and reds spread over the horizon, pushing back the dark blue canopy of night.  The street was still, the neighborhood still sleeping soundly, nestled in the early light of dawn.  The only signs of life were birds chirping happily at the start of a new day, greeting each other with fervor.

         The woman ran a hand over her head, feeling the smooth skin of her scalp underneath her palm.  It was a new day for her too.  Today was the first sunrise she saw as a survivor.  Today was her first day as officially “in remission”.  Today was the first day of the rest of her life.  There would be no more needles after today, no more hospital stays, and no more haircuts that involved shaving her head.  Today was a new beginning.

         She laughed out loud, unable to contain the mass of emotion growing within her.  The beautiful sunrise outside the window only served to lift her spirits further, the pastel colors representing the hope she felt on this new day.  Standing in front of the window wasn’t enough.  She prepared to change her clothes so she could go outside and greet the brand new day.  She wanted to feel the sun directly on her skin, letting it usher her into her new life.

Word Count: 407

Written February 2010