Sarah wiped at the blood seeping from Caleb’s mouth as if she could save him by making space for him to properly breathe. Horror in his eyes, he watched her. She was the epitome of bravery. She even smiled at him. “You’re okay. You’re okay. I have you.” Her dripping tears landed on his neck as he nodded to her. Mud smeared his forehead as she pushed away his bangs. “And I won’t let go.”
She didn’t.
Sarah held him through his very last breath…
She held Caleb until Dale appeared, gently prying him from her arms.
1 ? “Let’s Get Lost” — Beck & Bat for Lashes
2 ? “I Need You” — M83
3 ? “Fuel to Fire” — Agnes Obel
Chapter 15
Peaceful Perceptions
Imagination or illusion…?1
This was a time in my life where time felt, and possibly was, altered. The shock was simply too overwhelming for my young mind. We had lost two treasured fellow fosters in a matter of two weeks. The implications of how outsiders would view this were limitless. Hence, the perilous situation, beyond the life-changing loss of Caleb.
Maybe it was divine interception. Maybe my heavenly guardians were, once again, trying to spare me. With what had transpired, Caleb’s life wasn’t the only one coming to an end. Once officers would arrive and learn a foster home had lost control over all the dependents, who were out for blood, dressed in all black, in the middle of the night, to avenge another lost foster, there would be an investigation. All the remaining Misfits would be rehomed. How tragic would that have been? How would that have honored a special soul like Caleb’s? Or our Baby Blue?
Truth be told, who but Dale, Harmony, and Kristen would be able to tend to us better? They were our only chance to survive the horrors of our past. And they damn well knew it. So, as they made consequential decisions to save those whom they still had a chance to rescue, this is how my mind perceived it.
In headlight streams, Dale picked up Caleb’s dead body…
We may be young, but we have eyes.
Kneeling next to our shocked forms, Kristen cried to us all, “They will shut down the Weathers’ house…”
We may be young, but we understood.
On the side of the road, Harmony cried to Dale, “Caleb has no one but us! He’ll be alone in a grave…”
We may be naïve, but we are wise.
Wrapped in a blanket, Dale carried Caleb to the van…
We may have no choice, yet we choose.
Harmony, standing by the wrecked car, watched us drive away…
We may not be blood, but love with linked souls.
Home, in our pajamas, we all acted worried for Harmony when officers brought her home…
We may be truthful, yet we lie.
Crying, Dale pulled the blanketed form from under the gazebo…
We may follow rules, but we break laws.
Caleb was taken to a chosen spot in the corner of the backyard…
We may run out of time, but steal each moment.
Shakey hands each grabbed a shovel…
