Watching Her Sleep

I watched her in her bed, her eyes fluttering as she dreamed. Her skin was flush, kissed by the lips of a deep sleep. I reached out, smoothing her blankets around her, and she sighed. Her little frame twitched and in her sleep, she reached for my hand.

I have spent every night here, beside her. These were my favorite moments. The moments where she was peaceful, where nothing was hurting her. Her tiny body tried to turn, but the cacophony of tubes and monitors hugged her in place. I wished so much that I could scoop her into my arms to hold her next to my heart. To comfort her and offer her some semblance of human contact, human touch, human love.

Machines beeped and clicked. IVs dripped. Nurses and doctors of Sunset Mountain Pediatric Center peeked in to see how she was doing. Their tight smiles and sad eyes told me they knew what I feared. This was really it. We wouldn't be going home this time.

Cancer. How does a tiny six-year-old get cancer? I had spent months trying to wrap my head around the idea, consulting every website, every book I could find. Why would God put my darling baby daughter through this torment? Six months of chemotherapy, blood draws, x-rays, radiation treatments… Six months watching her body give out on her. She was barely old enough to understand the concept of death, let alone grasp what was happening to her. All these years, I had expected to have this painful discussion with her about a family pet, not her own life.

Now, she murmurs in here sleep; something about a unicorn. Tears prick at my eyes and I stroke her warm, dreaming face. Like a sunset over a mountain; something so beautiful, but so complete. There was nothing more we could do for her… just wait.



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Word count: 310
For "COLORING THE WORLD CONTEST TEMP. CLOSED " , Round 187