Between the Pages Chapter 6

Elianna woke up early the next morning and prepared breakfast. At 10 years old she couldn’t cook a whole lot of things but scrambled eggs and toast was easy. Rose woke just as she was making plates.
“ I hope you don’t mind. I thought it would be nice if you woke up with breakfast for once.”
“ That is very nice of you dear. Who taught you how to make scrambled eggs.”
“ I saw mamma make them when I was little. Eventually one day I got hungry enough to try it myself, one of the few times we actually had eggs.”
“ How long has your mother been gone?”
“ 5 years maybe more. I was really young.”
“I am so sorry Elianna.”
“ Me too. I miss her terribly.”
A moment of silences settles amongst them as the finished eating.
“Do you need a ride to Charlotte today? Its Saturday, I do not open the shop today, but I can still drive you.”
“ Charlotte can do without me one day. I thought about helping you clean up around here today. It’s the least I could do after all you have done for me.”
Rose’s eyes lit up and a smile overtook her face. “ That would be wonderful.”

All day Rose and Charlotte tidy the house, bringing back the shine and glam from dusty and dull. By the end of the day Elianna’s feet and hand were sore and her muscles ached like never before. Cleaning was hard work indeed, more than she had anticipated.
Rose ordered pizza for dinner declaring they both had worked far too hard to make dinner.
After filling her belly she soaked in a nice long bath and fell fast asleep. Rose tipped toed into her room, softly covering her with a blanket and wondering “Goodnight”.

Sunday morning Rose is greeted by a bubbly and refreshed Elianna. Rose had not seen this side of her, hyper, talkative and a little dramatic. Rose loved seeing her true personality starting to shine through. She decided today would be a special day for Elianna and started questioning what she liked to do.
“ I am not sure. I like going on walks and being in nature.”
“ What if we went to pick flowers and I can teach you how to persevere them?”
“ That sounds fun. I think flowers are beautiful.”
“ Did you know most flowers you can eat and they have really good benefits for you?”
“ Really? Like what kind of benefits?”
“ Vitamins and minerals our body needs and special properties that help with pains, fevers, wounds, and illnesses.”
“ Wow I had no idea.”
Elianna excitement grew as Rose provided more and more details about the day’s plans of picking flowers. They packed a picnic along with her very own notebook and clear tape.
Once they reached the field of wild flowers Rose she pointed to each species naming them and their properties. She showed Elianna how to pick the perfect specimen to preserve and then how to seal it between two pieces of tape. She then taped it to a page in her notebook, jotting down every piece of information Rose told her. Essentially, she built her very own field guide for identifying each flower and plant the Rose covered that day. Next time her belly was rumbling, the options might not seem so dim and hopeless.


One Month Later
Elianna carefully cleaned the glass chandelier in the dining room. It was made from beautiful crystals that gleam and glow in the twinkling light. Elianna loved the chandelier and deemed it the most beautiful thing about the house. She enjoyed cleaning each piece one by one ensuring each was shined to its greatest luster. By mistake, a piece slipped from her fingers, hitting the stepstool and crashed to the floor with an earth shattering sound. Elianna panicked and hopped from the ladder slipping in the glass. The glass cut deep into her leg causing blood to drip amongst the shattered glass. Elianna cried in disbelief, fearing how Rose would react to not only her believed chandelier ruined but now her floor as well.
Rose rushed in after hearing the glass shatter, knowing exactly what it was before she even made it there. She debated weather it was too dangerous for Elianna to clean the chandelier, she had almost fallen herself a couple time but the child was so persistent, adamant she was fully capable of cleaning it without incident. Rose expected the shattered glass, she did not expect the blood or the panic on Elianna face. Rose skipped over the broken shards and scooped Elianna into her arms, surprising herself with her own strength.
“ I am so sorry. It’s ruined. The chandelier, the floor.” Eliann sobbed uncontrollably certain this would end their relationship. How could Rose possibly forgive her.
Rose hugged her tight while applying pressure on the wound.
“ Sssshhhhh it’s okay honey. It’s not ruined. We can replace the broken section and clean up the floor. “
Elianna continued whaling so desperately needed the comfort of Rose’s arms. Rose squeezed her tight. Whispering reassurance while trying her best to tend to the wounds.
Rose finally broke through to her and the crying slowed stopped.
Elianna apologized again. But Rose stopped her mid sentence.
“ Accidents happen. I am not angry. Just glad you’re okay. The bleeding has stopped but we need to dress your wound. Can you make it to the bathroom?”
Elianna nodded and slowly limped to the bathroom. Clutching tightly to Rose the whole way. Elianna watched with admiration as Rose cleaning her hurt leg, and bandaged it perfectly, it didn’t even hurt one time. She looked at Rose with a quivering lip.
“ I should probably leave now. Thank you, Thank you for everything.”
“ Go? Where to?”
Elianna shrugged her shoulders.
“ Because of chandelier?”
Elianna nodded unable to speak for the lump in her throat.
“Heavens no you shouldn’t leave because of that. I would never want to force you to stay against your will but a little bit of blood and broken glass isn’t a reason to toss you to the curb.”
Elianna pondered on her words for a moment. Repeating them to herself as if to verify she heard them correctly. When she was certain she pulled Rose close and hugged her.
“ Thank you!”
Rose sat there for a long time, locked in an embrace that felt like it could heal the world. She dare not be the first to end it, instead she relished in the moment. Nothing was more important than right where she was at that moment. Before long Elianna fell into a deep sleep and Rose decided the mess could wait until later. When Elianna opened her eyes she was surprised to see and feel Rose still holding her tight. She nestled into her breathing in her sweet aroma, not her mother’s scent but just as lovely and sweet. Rose softly stroked her hair in response, neither willing to let go just yet.

The next morning Rose dropped Elianna off to see Charlotte for the day. On the way to the book store, she reflected on the last few weeks. Elianna had stuck around despite her consistent attempt to say otherwise. How long, she was not sure, but for now she was more than happy to help fill a hole in the little girl’s heart. It touched her when she recalled cuddling from the night before. It saddened her to think how long it had been since Elianna had felt a loving hand. No child should have to endure what she has.

Around lunch time Rose sat behind the counter waiting for the next customer to arrive. Instead of a customer she saw Elianna seconds before she burst through the door visibly upset.
“What’s wrong? How did you get here?”
“I walked. Can I stay here until we go home?”
Rose noticed the use of the word home.
“Of course. What’s wrong?”
“It was Charlotte’s time. She died last night.”
“I am so sorry dear.”
“I knew it was coming but it still hurts so bad.”
Rose hugged the girl tightly while she cried for her friend, at a loss for what to do. She was prepared to handle adult death. That was normal. But a child losing a friend to cancer, that is another world entirely.
Elianna retreated to Rose’s favorite seat and buried herself into the fabric, not wanting to face life at the moment.
Rose checked on her periodically throughout the day offering warm hot chocolate and snacks. Her heart broke for the little girl and all the pain she has had to witness. This world truly was unfair and harsh. She had already seen enough for one lifetime and life just kept throwing more at her.