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No answer came but almost immediately her best friend materialized.
Amber hid her shock.
Crystal’s hair no longer shone like spun gold and her emerald green eyes held no sparkle. Her cheeks were no longer reminiscent of ripened peaches. Instead, before her sat a skeletal version of the best friend, hair coarse like yellow straw, listless, dull green and grey washed out skin.
“Hey Crystal Lite,” Amber called cheerfully, engulfing her in her arms.
“Thank God you’re here.” Crystal wheezed out because Amber held her so right.
“God, I've missed you!” she added.
“I was just telling Amber the benefits of this new treatment.” When had Azul arrived?
And why was he ruining her reunion?
Releasing Amber with a sigh that sapped her energy she barely resisted rolling her eyes at her husband.
“Except I’m not doing any treatments Azul.”
“Amber?” he looked at her expectantly. Before Amber could respond, a deep pain rolled through Crystal’s body causing her to slump forward. Azul immediately rushed to her side helping her to bed.
“Don’t put Amber on the spot, she agrees that it is my right to refuse treatment. Don't you Amber?” In a clear display of loyalty Amber nodded.
Azul's posture straightened, filling the room with disapproval. He gave Amber a look heavy with animosity and, filled with retribution to follow. He then stomped out of the room, without a word to either woman.
“Crystal, you know I'll stand behind your decision, but you know I want you to fight. If anyone could stare Cancer down and kick its ass it's you.”
“If I thought I stood the slightest chance I would fight. I promise, but I know it's just a matter of time,” She said, searching for the remote that controlled her bed.
“I want to go out on my terms. My last days loving and being loved.”
“But...” Amber tried to interject.
“I don’t want to talk about that anymore, I need to lay back,” having found the remote she reclined the bed.
“Should I head out?”
“No, don’t go. Come sing to me Amber.” Crystal said, holding out her hands.
“What would you like me to sing?”
“You know.”
Amber’s voice fell over her like the most comforting of blankets as she sang the words of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water.’
Three short months later, as death claimed Crystal, she was at peace with her decision not to get useless treatments, which would just delay her death. She took comfort that her last laboured breath was taken with one hand in Azul’s and the other in Amber’s.
That solace would have been shattered, if Crystal had been aware that the moment after she left the earthly plane, Azul unceremoniously requested, with extreme vitriol, that Amber remove herself from his property.
Crystal’s heart would have been further broken to hear Azul tell Amber, he would never forgive her for hastening his wife’s death.
Origin
“Grief is not as heavy as guilt, but it takes more away from you.”
? Veronica Roth, Insurgent
Chapter 1
