For the next week, Christi did nothing but lie in bed and clutch the box to her chest. She would not eat, sleep, talk or move. Bernice and Annabeth offered ice cream sundaes, apple pies, chocolate cake and even some ambrosia!
Christi lay in bed, frizzy, tangled hair spread against the tear stained fabric. Her eyes were red and puffy, her nose like a tomato. She snuggled closer to the box and watched fresh tears stream down her nose.
Her heart was broken into a million tiny pieces. She missed Rose, she missed her smiling emerald eyes, her cheery air, her fiercely gentle personality and the Shakespeare books she used to bring to Y.C.U.C.T. room.
Ever since Rose's passing, Christi hadn't as much as looked at a pen or a piece of paper. She was no more active then a slug. Dr. Byron walked into the room, clutching a clipboard.
"Good afternoon, Christine," he said. "How are you feeling?" He knew there'd be no reply and there was none. "You're family is here today, would you like to see them?"
Christi blinked and ignored him. She was locked in her world of darkness, despair and heartbreak.
Dr. Byron shook his head sadly and exited. Outside the door, the Jacksons were waiting. Annabeth, nestled in the crook of Percy's arm. Her blonde hair was back in a messy ponytail, her neon orange shirt wrinkled. Percy's ebony hair stuck up on the left and was lifeless on the right. On his lap was a sleeping five year old. She was wrapped in a Winnie the Pooh blanket and her blonde hair was greasy. Jay rolled Thomas trains on the ground and continued to yawn. Hazel sat in the spare chair, curled in a ball and writing in her journal.
Dr. Byron cleared his throat and the family sat upright. "Doctor?" Annabeth asked, her heart pounding loudly.
"She's not well, I'm afraid. She's suffering from severe depression. If we don't snap her out of it, she's going to loose the will to live." Annabeth froze, Percy's eyes widened and Hazel shrieked. The doctor shook his head. "And unfortunately, I'm only permitted to let one of you in. If you'd like, you can come back tomorrow and see how she's doing."
Annabeth jumped up. "I'll go." She turned to Percy. "Babe, are you okay with that?"
Percy nodded. "I got the kids."
Hazel sprang to her feet. "Mom, please let me go in there. I'm her older sister. I know what to say. Please."
Annabeth caressed Hazel's blonde hair. Out of her four children, only Christi had inherited Percy's dark hair. "Alright," she said hesitantly.
Hazel buried her face in her mother's slender side and whispered, "Thank you." Dr. Byron lead the ten year old into the hospital room. Christi lay motionless in the bed and at first, Hazel thought she was dead. Then she detected the rise and fall of Christi's chest.
"Ten minutes, okay?" Dr. Byron said.
"Okay, thank you," replied Hazel softly. The door clicked shut as the doctor left. Hazel sat on the end of Christi's bed. "Hi."
Christi heard her voice faintly, but didn't react. The only voice she wanted to hear was Rose's. Hazel touched Christi's foot lightly. "It's me, Hazel. Your big sister." Hazel's eyes filled with tears, but she wiped them away.
"Please, Christi. You've got to listen to me!" Hazel felt determination rise inside of her. She had to snap her sister out of it. She looked desperately for something and spotted it: the box.
She reached forward and snatched the wet, cardboard box out of her sister's hands. "Christine Madeline Jackson! Snap. Out. Of. IT!" Christi screamed and launched forward. Screeching, she flailed for the box. Hazel jumped off the bed and waved the box tauntingly. "GIVE IT!" Christi sobbed, shaking and kicking.
At least she's moving, Hazel thought. "You have to snap out of it!"
Christi leaned back against the pillow and buried her face in the linen folds. She wept, heart broken and spirit crushed. Hazel slumped. It pained her to see her baby sister in so much agony. She rubbed Christi's back, racking her brain for something to talk about.
"Look, I know it hurts," whispered Hazel.
"NO!" argued Christi, sitting up and rubbing her swollen eyes. "You don't, Hazel! And you never will! My best friend just died."
Hazel wiped another round of tears from her own swollen eyes. "Alright." Hazel took Christi's hand. "I may not know what it feels like, but I know what helps to mend a broken heart."
Christi sat up and leaned against Hazel's chest. "I don't think my heart will ever be mended."
"Do you think Rose would have wanted you to lie around in bed? If I remember correctly, the lesson she taught you was to live. While you still can. Christi, you're killing yourself. Rose is probably…infuriated! Her last wish was for you to live life like you mean it! Christi! Snap out if it."
Something inside of the seven year old clicked and Christi swallowed hard. "You're right." She blushed.
Hazel looked down at the box. "What is this, anyway?" "I don't know," murmured Christi. "I haven't opened it." Then, after a moment, she added, "It's from Rose."
Hazel read the yellow sticky note on top. "'Since I won't be here to enjoy the next big events in your life, I've written letters that you can open when they happen! But no peeking! Love, Rose Thomas'."
Hazel pried the duct tape off the sides and opened the lid to find piles of white envelopes. The few titles that were on top were random; 'Night Before Wedding', 'First Child', 'After Prom', 'Eighteenth Birthday' and 'First Tax Letter'. The first envelope was titled; 'OPEN NOW'.
Christi slowly ripped it open and handed it to Hazel. She leaned back against the pillow and sniffled. "Please read it."
Hazel nodded and read aloud, "'Dear Christi. If I know you, and I do, you're probably not reacting to my death well. I bet your sitting in bed right now, feeling sorry for yourself. Well, get off you butt and out the door. Live life! 'Cuz it's the only one you got. Smell the crisp pine trees! Chase the vibrant butterflies! Write your little heart out!
"' I don't want you to feel sorry for me! I've completed my mission in life: to teach kids in the hospital why it's important to live life to the fullest. To give you the will to give your best. As I write this, sunshine falls across the page. It's pretty and golden and so…gentle. I'll sure miss it when I go. I'll sure miss you.
"'I want you to write more. When I was feeling particularly bad, I'd just listen to you reading me your newest piece. My heart would lift. Your writing creates a picture, Christi, you have talent! Don't you ever forget that!
"'I've filled this box with letters. I'm trusting you to open them at the times that there supposed to be opened!
"'I miss you, Christi. Keep your spirits high. I'll be watching! Love, Rose Thomas.'"
Hazel looked up slowly and saw fresh tears sparkling in Christi's eyes. "Do you need a minute?"
"No," she replied. "I need a pen and paper. I'm going to write a novel. About Rose."
I need one more review to post the next chapter of Nico and Thalia's Kids! Please visit that along with MJ-D543's new story in the Sonic section. Thank you all for the support and I truly hope this chapter touched your heart or made magical rainbows appear over your head. I thought I needed to incorporate a bit of a…sister moment! Thanks again!