Lyrics by Mozilla
By the end of the week, Ruthie had returned to Glen Oak. Of course, it had been a struggle on both sides and she was currently residing in Lucy and Kevin's house, but she was back.
That same week, Eric and Annie had called a family meeting and Lucy, Kevin, Mary, Carlos, Matt, Sarah, Martin, Sandy, and Ruthie were all waiting to hear the news. The children were all at Lucy and Kevin with T-bone.
"So what's going on Dad?" Matt finally asked as the family had finished greeting one another and had settled down in a noisy heap on the floor and the couches.
"Well I have some bad news" Eric began as the door flew open and Simon called out "I missed my flight! Am I too late?"
Eric smiled tenderly at his son before engulfing him in a hug and replied "You're just in time" and with that he looked at his family and said "I have an enlarged heart and the doctor is giving me one year to live"
Ruthie POV
I watched as everyone looked at my dad in shock and then it went chaotic. Matt and Sarah jumped up spouting off medical research and doctors off people they knew, while Mary promptly burst into tears and went off into the kitchen.
Lucy then jumped up and grabbed my arm pulling me into the dining room.
"Did you know ahead of time" she asked me as I nodded and replied "Yes, Dad finally told me why I had to come back and I did"
"How are you doing?" she asked me as I shrugged. I wasn't doing well but we all weren't doing well. There was never a time I thought that my dad would die before I graduated college.
"Are you okay with the whole Martin and Sandy thing?"
"That they are engaged?" I asked as I prayed that my facial expression would give nothing away.
"Yes. Also I promised them I would be the celebrant at their wedding"
"That's nice of you" I woodenly replied before the realization of the meaning hit me.
My father would most likely die before my high school graduation and Martin was going to marry Sandy. He was actually going to spend the rest of his life with someone other than me. I wasn't stupid, I knew that he would never see me for anything but a friend but I thought some time apart would help. Obviously it didn't.
That was when the tears started flowing. I choked back my cry of distress but Lucy heard me as she wrapped her arms around me and whispered "You're stronger than this. You are stronger than all of us. I promise you, we will get through this together"
I mumbled back something incoherently when Simon walked in and saw us. He immediately took Lucy's place as he nodded that she should go back inside the living room.
After a few minutes I stepped out of Simon's embrace and hastily wiped the tears from my cheeks.
Simon smiled before saying "I'm going to stay here for the year and if you want you can live with me."
"Really?" I asked feeling overwhelmed. I loved staying with Lucy but I knew that once the reality of my dad's news hit everyone, they would start focusing on other things like a wedding. I definitely did not want to be anywhere near that.
"Sure. I'll talk to Mom and Dad about it, okay?"
"Okay. Thanks Simon"
"No problem" he replied as he smiled and walked out. I took a deep breath and walked out of the house. I needed to think.
Martin POV
I watched as Lucy grabbed Ruthie and pulled her out of the living room and then watched Simon followed. I also noticed that Simon did not look at Sandy while she spent the whole looking at him. It didn't bother me as much as it should have.
At that moment my cell phone rang and I saw that it was Mac calling. I excused myself and walked outside.
"What's up?"
"Where are you? I thought we were going to speak about this marriage thing"
"We are but Rev. Camden and Mrs. Camden just returned from Scotland and they made their announcement"
"So are they getting a divorce?"
"No. Did Ruthie call you as well?"
"Actually I called her, just to see how she was doing and she told me that she worried about them coming. Did they bring her back?"
"Yes they did"
"Good and how is she?"
"I'm not sure. We haven't really had a chance to speak alone. I've been busy with Sandy and Aaron and she needed to get ready for school and..."
"Well does she seem happy?"
"Well Mr. Camden has been told that he has a year to live, so I don't think so. She has just been unnaturally quiet"
"Interesting. So can you meet me? I'm at the church"
"What are you doing there?"
"I've been following Ruthie and that's where she went in"
"So why did you just ask me all those questions? Obviously you can see for yourself how she is doing"
"You are right. You also are blind"
"Blind? About?"
"Ruthie. She's gorgeous"
"I never said she wasn't gorgeous. I thought we were focusing on her feelings not her physical attributes"
"What ever, come on down soon"
"Okay."
"Oh and Martin?"
"Yes?"
"How did Ruthie take the news?"
"She seemed fine with it"
Mac chuckled as I impatiently sighed "what is so funny?"
"You really are blind"
By the time I had reached the church I could see Mac sitting in the back and I heard the piano playing and someone singing softly. The voice was pure and strong yet not very loud.
"Who's that?' I asked as I took a seat next to Mac.
"Why don't you sit and listen and then I'll tell you"
It's almost like you had it planned But I don't blame you anymore It's how you wanted it to be
It's like you smiled and shook my hand and said
"Hey, I'm about to screw you over, big time"
And what was I supposed to do?
I was stuck in between you and a hard place
We won't talk about the hard place
That's too much pain to store
It left me half dead
Inside my head
And boy, looking back I see
I'm not the girl I used to be
When I lost my mind
It saved my life
It's like you played a joke on me
And I lost a friend
In the end
And I think that I cried for days
But now that seems light years away
And I'm never going back
To who I was
"So who do you think she's singing about?" Mac asked me as I rolled my eyes and replied "How am I supposed to know? I don't even know who is singing"
Mac looked at me and replied "It's Ruthie. You really are blind" and punched my arm.
"Ow" I said loudly as I rubbed my arm. Immediately the song stopped and Ruthie Called "Anyone here?" Mac held my mouth as I was about to respond and waited until the music began playing again before he said "Listen to the words and then we'll talk tomorrow about this whole wedding fiasco" and walked out.
I think I cried for days Cause I don't blame you anymore That life seems like light years away
Cause I don't blame you anymore
That's too much pain to store
It left me half dead
Inside my head
And boy, looking back I see
I'm not the girl I used to be
When I lost my mind
It saved my life
But now that seems light years away
And I'm never going back
To who I was
That's too much pain to store
It left me half dead
Inside my head
And boy, looking back I see
I'm not the girl I used to be
When I lost my mind
It saved my life
Light years away
And that life seems like light years away
Light years away
Once the music stopped, I hid in my spot as I watched Ruthie stand up and wipe some tears from her cheeks before blowing her nose. Boy I really was blind.