Chapter 11:

My Sickness

Over the course of several days, Steven began to notice something particularly odd about the house. It was in disarray, as there were clothes lying everywhere and the kitchen was as dirty as ever. He opened the pantry to look for some food, but when he did, he found that there was none. He checked the refrigerator, but it was the same result, there was no food, milk, or anything edible. So finally he said to himself, "What's going on?" He walked over to where Garnet was sitting, as she was reading the newspaper, then he asked, "Is everything alright with Pearl?"

Garnet simply folded the newspaper, set it down, then stood up and said, "Let's go to the store, Steven. We need groceries." As the two were leaving, Steven turned his head and noticed that the white gemstone on the temple door started glowing, then the door opened. "I can take care of it," Pearl exclaimed, as she stepped forward and began walking towards them. She grabbed Steven by the hand, then looked down at him and smiled as she said, "Steven can come with me. Besides, I already know what he likes!" Steven smiled, as he held Pearl's hand and they exited the house, then he looked back at Garnet and waved goodbye.

The Walk

While in route to the grocery store, he began to look up at Pearl as he noticed something different about her. He saw that her gemstone was no longer bright and illuminated as it once was, and the touch of her skin felt hot. He looked up at the corners of her eyebrows and noticed that she was sweating. Steven became concerned, so he finally asked, "Pearl, are you feeling okay?" As they were walking, she looked down at him and said, "I'm feeling fine Steven. Why do you ask?" Then he replied, "Well, you're sweating! Also, the house is a mess. Normally you hate messes, so that's why you clean it up."

Pearl placed a hand against her forehead, then she began to wipe her fingers across her eyebrows, after which she took notice of the perspiration as it glistened on her fingertips. "That's odd," she exclaimed. "I hadn't noticed." Then she looked down at Steven and said, "I apologize for the current state that the house is in. I've been slacking off these past few days, and for that I'm sorry. I've just had a lot on my mind lately." Then Steven looked up at her and asked, "Is it about Jamie? Is he the one who you've been thinking of?" Then she replied, "What!? Of course not! I already told you, that little event that took place has come and gone." Steven held her hand tighter as he replied, "I just want you to be okay, Pearl. I don't want anything bad to happen to you." Then Pearl smiled once more as she said, "I'll be fine Steven. There's no need to worry, I'm not going anywhere." Steven wrapped his arms around Pearl's waist as they continued to walk, then she rested her arm on his shoulder.

"If I haven't made it clear, then I'll say it again," Pearl exclaimed, as she gazed down upon him. "I'm sorry for hurting you Steven. I truly am sorry!" Steven rested his head against her they continued to walk and said, "It's okay Pearl. You don't have to say you're sorry. As long as you're here, that's all that matters." Then Pearl sighed, as she brought Steven in close to her and said, "Oh Steven. There's only one man who my heart belongs to, and he's not a government employee.."

The Grocery Store

When they finally made it into the Grocery store, Steven looked up at Pearl and noticed right away that she was completely drenched in sweat. He was about to say something until she commanded, "Go get a shopping cart, please. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can go home and I'll start dinner." Steven obliged, as he immediately grabbed a shopping cart, then he returned to her. "Okay, so it looks like we need Eggs, Bread, Milk, Fruit, etc." Pearl exclaimed, as she pulled out a grocery list and began navigating through it. "What would you like me to make for dinner tonight, Steven?" She asked. Then he replied, "Lasagna sounds good. Can we have that?" She looked through the list, then replied, "Sure. I can make that. But we have to buy the necessary ingredients first." She pulled out a pen and began jotting down extra items on the list, then they continued walking

As the two were shopping, Steven looked over towards the entrance of the store, then he saw Jamie walk inside. He immediately pushed Pearl inside the shopping kart, then began running down the aisle as fast as he could, with the cart in front of him. Pearl had her legs hanging outside of the cart, when she pulled herself up and shouted, "Steven! What are you doing!? Have you gone mad!?" But he ignored her, as he continued to push the cart, eventually hiding in a walk in cooler. Pearl was sitting in the cart, when she leaned up to observe her surroundings, and now saw alcohol products all around her. "If you're still angry with me I understand, but this is an odd way of showing it!" Pearl exclaimed. She began to rub her arms, as she felt cold, then she finally asked, "Why are we in here!?"

"Shhh!" Steven whispered, as he was standing alert and was guarding the cart. Pearl stared outside the cooler door, and when she did, she saw Jamie walking by. "Oh," she whispered. "Now I see…" She paused for a moment then continued to talk. "Look Steven, you really don't have anything to worry about. It's not necessary for us to hide. I'm okay with seeing Jamie. He's shopping for groceries just as we are." But Steven turned back to Pearl and pleaded with her, "Please Pearl! I don't want you to go back out there! Not until he's gone! Can't we just wait here for a few more moments!?" Pearl sighed for a moment, then replied, "Fine Steven. We can wait. But if I start to see signs of hypothermia, or if I see that you're getting a cold, I'm taking you outside!"

"I don't care if there are a hundred Jaime's shopping for groceries, we're leaving this icebox!"

Steven felt his heart jump, as his eyes filled up with tears, then Pearl replied, "I'm just playing with you Steven. For some reason I thought that would be funny, but clearly it's not." She reached out of the cart and wiped the tears from his eyes, as she spoke softly, "You know, it just now occurred to me how much you truly love and care about me." Steven nodded his head, as Pearl brought him in close and continued to speak. "Well, I love you too Steven! I won't ever lose sight of that love again, I promise!" As the two shared a moment, Pearl began to step outside of the cart but Steven stopped her. "No! Stay inside the cart!" he exclaimed. Then she replied, "Why? What if I want to step outside of the cart!? Maybe I'm tired of sitting!? A shopping cart wasn't meant to be sit in Steven! It's used for groceries!" But Steven turned to her and said, "Please Pearl! Just wait a few more minutes!"

Pearl sighed, as she sat back into the cart with her arms folded, then replied, "Fine Steven!" She began to stare at her legs, as they hung over the side of the cart, then she whispered, "This is beyond ridiculous..…."

The Temple

"Thanks Pearl!" Steven exclaimed. "This Lasagna is so delicious!" "You're welcome!" She replied, as she was washing dishes in the kitchen sink. "I'm glad you're enjoying it!" Amethyst lifted her head up from her plate and said, "Yeah P, you really out did yourself this time! I thought it was going to suck!" Pearl ignored her, as she finished off the remaining dishes. "Also, it looks good in here!" Amethyst said. "You really cleaned this place up!" Pearl had her eyes fixated on the dishwater, when she quietly replied, "You know, it wouldn't kill you to clean every so often. You are the primary cause as to why the house is so dirty, so you should clean up after yourself!"

Amethyst thought for a moment, then replied, "Nah, that's your job!" Then Garnet chimed into the conversation and said, "Actually, I agree with Pearl. Amethyst and Steven, the two of you need to learn how to take care of yourselves. Part of that care, is disciplining yourselves to clean up after the messes that you've made. We may not always be here to do it for you." After her last comment, Steven lifted his head up and said, "But you guys will always be here. You're not going anywhere." Garnet turned her attention back towards Pearl, and watched as her demeanor had changed. "Still," Pearl whispered. "It's always a good thing to know how to do." Pearl focused her attention on Steven, and said, "Tomorrow I'll show you how to do your own laundry. That way, you won't have to depend on me when you need clean clothes." Steven thought for a moment, then said, "I guess that would be cool. There are some things that I like to have washed, that you don't always wash Pearl. So, if I knew how to do it myself! That would be awesome!"

Pearl nodded her head, all the while she could feel herself dying inside, then Steven continued, "Maybe you could show me how to sweep and mop!? That way when Connie comes over, I'll make sure the house is clean for her! And then you guys can even teach me how to fix things!"

"I'll be just like the man of the house!"

Pearl smiled, as she wiped the tears that were forming from her eyelids, then whispered, "Yes Steven. You'll be the man of the house…"

After dinner, Pearl took Steven aside and said, "May I ask a favor of you Steven?" Then he looked back at her and replied, "Sure Pearl, what is it?" Then she said, "Can you take me into your mother's room? I'd like to speak to her for a moment if that's okay?" Then Steven exclaimed, "Sure Pearl, no problem." Suddenly, he grabbed her by the hand and said, "Come on, Let's go." The two were standing in front of the temple door, when Rose's gemstone lit up, then they gained access to her room.

Rose's Room

Pearl began to cry, as she stared up at the numerous pink clouds and felt a soothing feeling come over her. "Is everything okay?" Steven asked. Then Pearl replied, "Yes Steven, everything's fine!" She wiped the tears from her eyes and continued, "Now what I'm about to ask you may seem odd, but I have to."

"Is it okay if I have a moment alone with your mother?"

Steven looked at her and replied, "That's fine Pearl, but for some reason the room only responds to my commands. But you're welcome to try." Then Pearl stared back at him and said, "What!? Are you sure!?" Steven nodded his head, as Pearl turned her attention towards the clouds and shouted, "Rose!" But there was no response. She became frustrated and filled with emotion, as she shouted at the top of her lungs, "ROSE! WHERE ARE YOU! I NEED TO SPEAK TO YOU PLEASE!" Steven covered his ears to the sound of Pearls voice, then he placed a hand on her shoulder and said, "Let me try."

"Mom!" Steven shouted. And no sooner did Steven shout, there she was, his mother "Rose" now standing before him. Pearl dropped to her knees, and began staring up at Rose with tears in her eyes. Pearl looked over at Steven and said, "May I have a little privacy with her, please!? There's a few things that I would like to talk to her about!" Steven looked at Pearl and said, "Well, okay. But if I leave, my mom will leave too. The room only stays active, so long as I am in it." With that information, Pearl's heart sank, as she reached out to touch Rose, but her hand went straight through the image. Steven could tell that Pearl was upset so he did her a favor and said, "Hold on, I have an idea." Then he shouted, "Room! Give me earmuffs!" With his command, earmuffs were placed on the top of his head, then he shouted once more, "Now, I wish to be far away from here! Give me a train!"

With his final command, a mini train appeared underneath him, as he began to speed away. As he was leaving, he turned back to the image of his mother and said, "Stay here with Pearl, please. Answer any questions that she has, Mom."

A conversation with Rose

"Rose? Is that really you?" Pearl whispered. Then Rose's figure replied, "It's me in the sense that my memories still exist in this room. They are here to serve my son." Pearl's eyes began to tear up as she said, "I just needed to talk to you!"

"Over the last few weeks, something pretty significant has occurred! And right now I'm struggling because I don't know how to deal with it!" Then Rose's figure stared down at Pearl and said, "You're here because you're uncertain of your pregnancy…"

Pearl wiped the tears from her eyes, then said, "I'm not uncertain! I just never thought it would happen!" Pearl stared back at the figure, and her eyes were now swollen red as she said, "I'm not like you Rose! There's no way I could have fallen in love with that man, like how you fell in love with Greg! I already made my decision, but for some reason my body has already started the process!"

The figure of Rose was silent for a moment, until she said, "Perhaps maybe you were affected by the concept of love? If you search your thoughts and feelings, you may find this to be true." Pearl thought for a moment, then she replied, "Well what about the changes that I'm going through? If I don't want this to occur, then why is it still happening!?"

"Because you haven't quite made up your mind yet," Rose's figure exclaimed. "There's something holding you back, but the decision is simple, really."

"If you give up your physical form, you will create new life, and you will join me in immortality. Your son or daughter will enjoy the gifts that you will have bestowed upon them, and they will inherit a new family."

"If you decide not to, we will still see each other."

"I live through my son. Everything that is him, is me..."

With Rose's last statement, Pearl began sobbing uncontrollably, then she finally said, "I just want you back Rose! I just wish you were here!" Then Rose's figure pointed off into the distance where Steven was waiting, and replied, "I'm still here. I haven't gone anywhere." To Pearl's surprise, her eyes became wide as she could feel the sensation of the figure's hand wiping the tears from her face. "The decision is simple," the figure exclaimed, as she gazed down at Pearl. "Either you want to leave, or you want to stay."

"Now what is your decision my friend?"

Pearl was mixed with all kinds of emotions, as she stared back at the figure, then she shouted,

"I DON'T KNOW ROSE!"

"I GUESS I CHOOSE STEVEN!"

"PLEASE LET ME CHOOSE STEVEN!"

Waking up from a dream

Steven was kneeling down beside Pearl, as he started to lift her head up and asked "Pearl!? Are you okay? Can you hear me?" She was laying on her back and was now facing the clouds, as she gradually started to open her eyes. She had tears streaming down her face, as she looked up at him and whispered, "I choose you Steven!"

Steven was dumfounded, as he looked down at her and said, "I don't know what you're talking about, but whatever it is, I guess that's awesome! Thank you for choosing me!" As he was helping her to her feet, he continued and said, "Sometimes things can get a little mixed up in my moms room, but its still fun to hangout in!"

"Were you able to talk to her?"

Pearl stared up at the pink clouds, then spoke softly as she said, "Steven, your mother was wonderful!" She kneeled down to hug him, she gave him a kiss on the cheek, then she whispered,

"Lets get out of here. I heard everything that I needed to hear."

When the door opened and as they were leaving, Pearl stared off into the distance of the room. She saw Rose's figure waving goodbye to her, so she reciprocated by waving back.

When Steven and Pearl finally left, the figure spoke softly and said, "I'll see you soon friend.."

A sickening feeling

Pearl stepped outside and immediately felt that something was wrong. "I'll be back in a little bit, Steven!" She exclaimed, as she immediately opened her door and went inside her room. Before Steven had a chance to respond, he saw that she was gone, and the door was now closed behind him.

Pearl felt her body shaking and convulsing, as she leaned over the side of the waterfall and began to vomit. Her body was hot again, as she began sweating profusely and she quietly said to herself, "Why is this happening to me!?" Garnet was standing off to the side in Pearls room, when she kneeled down beside her and asked, "What did Rose say?"

Pearl had tears in her eyes, as she replied, "She said that I would have to make a decision! And it's the hardest decision that I've ever had to make, thus far!" Pearl kneeled down, as she held her abdomen, and began vomiting once more. Garnet gently held Pearls hair back, so as to prevent it from getting dirty. She observed Pearl's gemstone and saw that it was pulsating once more, then she whispered, "I guess you've already made your decision.."

Pearl looked up at Garnet and said, "Please don't tell Steven! We need to keep this from him! I don't want to break his heart!" Then Garnet replied, "You know as well as I do that that's impossible. Steven will watch as your appearance changes. So it's better if we tell him."