Something Worth Living For
By
SweetInsomia
A Test of Faith
As Amber lets her feelings go, Bridge attempts to bottle his up. He stands, and waits for Mrs. Jackson to leave the room. Mrs. Jackson walks over to him, and puts her wrinkled hand on his shoulder.
"Bridge, things with Amber have gotten more difficult," she says know that Bridge now needs to know the whole truth. She knows that Amber wanted to tell him herself, yet she could not write the words. She wanted them to pass from her mouth to his ears. Bridge raises his head, and meets Mrs. Jackson's eyes.
"You mean?" Bridge asks unable to say it, the unable to let the words cross his lips. For so long he prayed that this wouldn't happen.
"She took a turn for the worse, after your visit. She hasn't told any stories, the whole building knows Amber, she wouldn't do that unless something was wrong," Mrs. Jackson says sitting Bridge down in a chair. "She is dieing Bridge, slowly but she is still dieing," She says sitting down beside him, with tears in her eyes. "We have done all we could, she was about one more year. We can only hope she gets better."
"I spend seven years away from her, and the moment I get her back, I'll lose her forever," Bridge says a few tears falling down his face. It has been years sense he cried, Amber has dragged that guilty emotion back into him. Along with the guilt, comes the anger at himself. "I should have never gone to S.P.D.; I should have stayed with her." Mrs. Jackson comforts Bridge like she did Amber, yet unlike Amber; Bridge is open to the comfort. After a while Bridge calms down enough, and to thank Mrs. Jackson.
"Your welcome Bridge, but you must remember something, all miracles start with a spark of hope. So we must hope that our Amber will be strong enough to fight like she always has," Mrs. Jackson says rubbing Bridge's head, just like she would do when he was little. "She has always fought, remember she has postponed her date with death before, she will do it again."
"She shouldn't have to fight," Bridge says looking down at his hands, those hands are the reasons for her constant need to fight. "She would have fought, anyway but, now she has to fight ten times as hard." Mrs. Jackson shakes her head at Bridge's logic; yes she would have to fight.
"All the things that have happened are God's ways of saying you are strong, yet I need you to be stronger. So I will challenge you, until you are strong enough," Mrs. Jackson says believing the words with her whole heart. "I know she is strong enough, and you have to believe that to Bridge. This is a test of our faith as much as it is Ambers." Bridge nods his head, still struggling with the thought of losing Amber. "Right now she is trying to create a lasting impression, so that we will all ways remember her. She knows our hearts will remember her, but she wants our minds to remember her as well. She wants something worth living for, besides us." Bridge nods his head again, now he can clearly see the reason that Amber was offend. His words said he had no faith in the company he keeps, so she could not have faith in them either. And that he has no faith in her either, because she is a part of that company to which he keeps.
"I need to get going, I still have to patrol," Bridge says standing up, hugging Mrs. Jackson one more time before getting into the elevator. Mrs. Jackson feels the pain her children are going though. Mrs. Jackson turns and walks back to Amber's room, the lioness den. Bridge drives his patrol route, twice just too clear is head. On the way back to base he wanted to stop back at the Cardiac Centre, but he knows that Amber has not forgiven him just yet. He goes back to base, determined to make this Amber's best year ever.
After checking the jeep back in, he slowly walked to the Command Centre, his mind clouded with thoughts. It seemed like a storm cloud was hanging over his head, turning his mood to gloom. He was glad to see that the room was empty. He saluted the Commander and stood there in an alert daze.
"No problems than Cadet," Cruger says noticing the difference in the normally smiling ranger. Cruger steps down from his chair, and stands in front of Bridge.
"On patrol, no sir," Bridge says stoically, reminding Cruger of another ranger completely.
"Than what is bothering you, Bridge," Cruger says hoping it's not what he thinks it is.
"Amber and I, we got into a bit of a fight before I left," Bridge says his gloom deepening. Cruger nods head and says.
"If I may ask what was it about?" Bridge looks up at Cruger, not knowing if he should answer this question.
"If the team should know all of mine and Amber's story," Bridge says knowing that Amber is right, but he just doesn't know how to tell them. Cruger knows the part to which Bridge wants to keep hidden.
"That is up to you and Amber but, if you ask me they deserve to know. They trust you Bridge, and should know all they can about you. Just like you know all about them," Cruger says knowing he was hid a few things, and still some more, from this rangers.
"Thank you Commander," Bridge says hoping that Cruger doesn't ask about Amber's condition, even if it was part to the agreement.
"Her condition," Cruger says praying that his last update was wrong.
"Deteriorating, she was about a year left, unless something changes," Bridge says making Cruger's fears come true.
"I see, if at any time you want to see her Cadet, just ask," Cruger says trying to think of the next move he needs to make. Bridge nods this head, and re-salutes the Commander. He heads to his room hoping for some quite time. Cruger goes back to the chair, and rubs his mussel. Cruger knows the rangers will grow closer to Amber, now that they know about her. Perhaps it's time for him to visit her himself, and not just read the letters she sends him.
Though if she is as bad as he thinks she is, it maybe be too little, too late. Even with Bridge back into her life, it maybe to late. He knows that over the years, she waited, for him to visit. When he didn't she switched to the hollophones, yet she could not bear to see him like that. So she moved to letters, she took it old school. Yet still he couldn't find time to answer most weeks, than months.
"Is something wrong Commander?" Kat asks having just passed the melancholy Bridge. It is not often that she gets to see that ranger in a foul mood.
"Ms. Carson has gotten worse," Cruger says knowing that the girl has already made it long past her expiration date. The doctors have her until she was eightteen, some how she found strength for five more years.
"Surely you don't mean," Kat pauses thinking of Bridge's heart break feeling. Cruger nods his head solemnly, thinking the same. Their blue ranger, has turned emotionally blue. "It has become a test of faith, may we have faith in her too," Kat says knowing that not all tests of faith end well.
"She is strong and willful, she will not go unless it is on her terms. I don't think that terms are hers, she will fight," Cruger says having seen human nature in action. The personality to that human girl is what makes her strong. It is what will push her though this test of faith.
"I hope that is true Commander," Kat says not doubting Cruger, or Amber's will to fight. She is simply doubting for how much longer Amber can survive this constant fight. Even the strongest of us all will fall into darkness. "If she doesn't, I can only image Bridge's pain," Kat says starting her work, to take her mind off of what is wrong.
While they talked Bridge has made is way down the hall. The other Cadets avoiding him, not for his rank, but his mood. He doesn't even look up, as he walks. Bridge lets his feet carry him towards his destination. He thinks of Amber, of what he can do to make this year count for all those he missed. Bridge walks past the Rec. room, where the other rangers are, not even glancing at them. They find this strange, he is always watching here he is going.
Z stands from her spot on the couch, ready to find out what is wrong. Yet Sky has already made his way out the door. Z starts to follow them, until Syd grabs her arm.
"Syd," she says wanting the other ranger to let go. She needs, not wants, to know what is wrong.
"Let Sky handle this," Syd says slowly, "Bridge will only talk to Sky when he is upset. Those two have been like brothers for years. "
"Yeah, but Sky isn't going out with Bridge," Z says shaking her head, sitting back down.
"That maybe but, I don't think Bridge will spill his guts to you just yet," Syd says reading her book. "It takes Bridge along time before he will tell anyone, anything when he is upset." She thinks of the one only time that he came to her. He was having girl issues, she wouldn't answer her hollophone calls. He never said her name, but soon he was happy again. Having gotten her hand written letters.
"You don't think, something went wrong when he visited Amber do you," Z says having thought of a few possiblieties. The more she thought about Bridge's sister, the more she saw her as a dear friend. Syd closes her book, like Z she didn't know what to make of Amber at first.
"I hope not, Amber seemed cool. I'll stop and check on her tomorrow it's my turn to patrol," Syd says thinking Amber would be a fun person to hang out with. The girls go back to reading their books, while Sky goes into his room. He stands at the door having heard a scream, muffled by more than just the door. He enters the room, and walks over to saddened Bridge.
Now everyone knows just how sevre Amber's condition is. Yet is Cruger right, will she, will they survive this test of faith. We all face trials in our lives, that could make or break us. Now Amber must face one to decide if she lives, or dies. Will Bridge tell Sky what is going on? If you have any suggestions, please message me.
~Sweetie
