In Death There Is Life
Phoebe and Piper ran toward Prue's fallen body. Dropping to
their knees and ignoring the pain in their own bodies, they reached out to
cradle her in their arms. Phoebe and Piper were sobbing uncontrollably and
pleading that somehow this wasn't real- that they could turn back time and that
this would have never occurred.
Piper reached out and gently touched Prue's neck, hoping against
all hope that she would find some faint sound that Prue was still alive. No
assurance came. There was no pulse, no heartbeat, no breathing- nothing that
proved her beloved sister had somehow survived.
Phoebe picked up Prue's head and began to rock back and forth.
She started to hum a simple tune Prue used to sing to her when she was a child.
Piper looked up at Phoebe wondering if she remembered that it
was Prue who use to sing her and Phoebe to sleep with this lullaby The words
were spinning around in her head- "Hush little baby, don't you cry…" Just words
thought Piper – they didn't mean anything. Prue wasn't here to make everything
right and she never would be again.
Behind the girls, Leo was waiting. He knew that had to have time
to say good-bye, but they were hurt themselves and he would have to convince
them to get medical attention.
"Piper, Phoebe," he started out slowly, "Come on, it's time to
go. I need to get you both to the hospital and take care of Prue." Slowly
approaching them, he reached down to take Prue's battered body from their arms.
"Don't touch her. Don't ever touch her and anyone of us again,"
Piper screamed, frantically pulling Prue's body in a tighter embrace and away
from Leo's waiting hands. "You could have saved her. You just didn't try. Why,
why did you let her die!" shouted Piper.
Phoebe reached out to Piper, grasping her shoulder. Peering into
her sisters eyes, she saw something she had never seen before. Her trusting,
mediating, peace-loving sister was seething with such hatred, such loathing.
Unable to handle the horror of seeing Prue's beaten tattered body fall in front
of her and feeling the terror that Piper wasn't quite right, Phoebe looked at
Leo with tearful, puffy eyes. "Go away Leo. Just leave us alone, Leo."
Leo backed away leaving the sisters to their unrelenting vigil.
He wondered what will Prue's death do to the sisters. They were so
interconnected. Losing Prue would be like losing a part of themselves. He
watched as the sisters gently stroked Prue's hair and took turns lightly kissing
her forehead. Somewhere the sisters were lost in their own horrible nightmare
and he didn't know how he could reach out and comfort them. The sisters were
oblivious to everything except their sister. They didn't seem to feel their own
physical pain and weren't ready to accept the reality of what occurred. The
sisters didn't even notice that just minutes before Grams, Patty and Andy had
left the room and gently descended into heaven,
Prue eyes fluttered open as her spirit was gently being raised
and taken into heaven. Her body felt the warmth radiate throughout her. She was
at peace. Slowly she begin to hear sobbing. Looking down from above, Prue could
see her sisters. She could feel their unbearable grief. Looking at them crying
was heart wrenching. It caused a pain deeper than she had ever known. The pain
was deeper than any mortal wound she had ever felt. Prue had no idea that
leaving her sisters would be this difficult for her and for them.
"Prue" Prue heard a voice from behind her. It was Grams. She
turned to see Grams, Patty and Andy approaching. "Welcome Home, Prue."
Patty gently reached out and touched Prue's cheek. Her hand came
back with wetness as she slowly wiped a tear from Prue's face. "I know that it
hurts you to see your sisters in such pain, but this had to be."
"I know that, Mom. But I wish I could have at least said
good-bye to them and explain why I had to die. They need to know that my death
had a purpose- that I didn't die in vain." Prue answered melchanoy
"Come with us, Prue. We have something to show you and someone
for you to meet." Andy stated gently taking hold of Prue's hand and squeezed it
slightly.
Prue felt the squeeze- it felt real. She slowly took his hand
and moved it up toward her face, softly kissing his fingers. How long, it seemed
she waited to be close to him. But for her sisters' grief, everything was
perfect. She was at home with her beloved mother and Grams and had finally
reunited with her one true love.
Prue approached a large open space – it was perfectly white.
Everything looked new like freshly fallen snow in the early morning.
Methodically approaching a large stoned area, she saw before her beings. Prue
wasn't sure is the beings were angels or some other type of spirit. They
appeared almost as pure light and energy. Prue was not afraid for whatever these
beings were, she was meant to be with them.
One of the beings spoke. "Welcome, Prudence Halliwell. We have
been expected you. For a long time, we have been watching and waiting for you to
come. Do not be afraid for we want to bring you nothing but the peace and love
that deserve. You have given your life freely and openly to protect those
innocent. It is true that you are now in much better place than you have never
known. No harm shall to come to you in the arms of our Lord. However, we know of
your sadness. Prue, we will grant you the opportunity to say good-bye to your
sisters. You will return briefly to your sisters. The time with them will be
short, so use it wisely Prue."
"I will." Prue stated with confidence and joy for being the
opportunity that so few are granted. She slowly felt her spirit go back into her
body and her body awaken. Slowly, her eyes opened and she reached out to grip
both of her sisters' hands.
"What the…" Phoebe started off, shocked.
"Now sister, I would think you would be happy to see me, even if
it is just for a short time." Prue said as a half smile came upon her
face.
"Prue, you're alive. I am happy beyond words," Phoebe was
weeping with new founded joy.
"Now that's a first," stated Piper teasingly, so overcome with
joy that she fell back into a familiar pattern of mediator for her
sisters.
The Piper and Phoebe both embraced Prue, hugging her tightly.
"We love you. Thank God you have returned to us. What happen?" Piper
inquired.
Rising to her feet Prue interrupted. "Wait. I love you both, but
I am not staying. I was allowed to come back so we could say good-bye. There
were some things I wanted to say that I didn't say before because we were
separated when I died. I was given a second chance to say them, but my time is
short- very short.
Putting her hands out, Prue slowly pulled her sisters up to
stand beside her. "I really do love both of you. You two were everything I could
have ever hoped for in sisters. You were my best friends. You were everything to
me. While I will miss you beyond words and it is heartbreaking for me to go, I
have to. Please understand that I did what I had to do. This was something only
I could do and the choice to do it was mine to make alone. No one is to blame
for what happened," Prue continued as she embraced each sister tightly and
completely in turn.
"It is almost time for me to go. However, before, I leave, I
have a gift for each of you. Turning to Phoebe first, Prue grinned. "Phoebe,
although we haven't always seen eye-to-eye. I have always loved. And more, I
have always admired you.
"Admired me. You must be joking Prue," a shocked Pheobe
began.
"No, Phoebe, I am very serious," Prue answered reaching out and
touching Phoebe's face. "Pheebes, I admire your courage to take chances, your
inner beauty toward your fellow man, but most importantly, I admire your
strength of character. I have seen you grow into a remarkable young woman. I
know how you always wanted an active power. Therefore, I give you my power. Any
power given out of love and in death will be multiplied. So you will find that
it has an added twist. I know how curious you are so I won't spoil the fun of
you trying to figure out its new power as you try it out. I know you will take
care to use it wisely. You have a good head on your shoulders."
"Piper, I have a gift for you, too. A twinkle could been seen in
Prue's eyes as she begin to address her sister. "Leo come here." Prue motioned
for Leo to come forward. "This is a gift for both of you. Piper, first I want
you to forgive Leo for whatever you believe he is responsible for. None of this
was his fault. None of it, remember that. I know your angry now, but I know that
you love him. I also know how Leo loves you and has even considered becoming
mortal to be with you. You both have decided that such would not be right
because who would care for these innocents if Leo was not a Whitelighter.
Nothing would make me happier than to see that you two are given the chance to
stay together."
Leo face grew animated. "You didn't Prue?" he asked astonished.
Leo realized what Prue was offering. He really liked this older Halliwell sister
and was sorry he hadn't gotten to know her better before she died.
"Yes, Leo I did. I hope you are happy. It is my gift to you and
Piper." Prue winked and laughed heartedly at the bewilderment on her little
sister's face.
"What gift? What are you two talking about?" Piper finally
spurted out unable to be keep in her impatience.
Prue cocked her head to her side and gave the wry little smile
she was so used to giving while alive. "You see Piper, if someone will take
Leo's place he can be released from this obligation. I have met with the counsel
and they have allowed me to take Leo's place if he wishes. He can love a mortal
and grow old with you without the guilt."
Leo reached out to Piper and grasped her hand, giving Piper and
Prue his answer. Piper looked up at Leo. Looking into his eyes, she could see
how hurt he was and how if he could have prevented what had happened to Prue he
would have. Tenderly, she pulled
him close to her body and held him tightly. She was no longer
angry. All she could think about was the lives they now could have together,
thanks to the sacrifice her sister was making.
Prue smiled broadly and continued to speak hurriedly, feeling
her strength slowly ebbing from her body. "More importantly, as a Whitelighter I
can continue to protect innocents. It was and is my destiny. But as one final
gift, the Counsel has assigned me the Charmed Ones. So sisters, you won't be
getting rid of me so easily." Prue stated good naturedly in her matter of fact
manner. "Now, it is time for me to go and leave this mortal body. I will be with
you always as you are with me." Her knees gave way and she crumpled to the
floor. Lying back her head, Prue released her last breath as a mortal human
being.
Slowly Prue's spirit rose. Her sisters could see her floating up
to heaven. In human form, Prue was attractive - a slithe, wispy body that moved
with graceful determination. In spiritual form she was stunning- purely radiant.
She shone brightly, illuminating the whole room. Her sisters were awestruck.
Phoebe was the first to speak. "You're beautiful," she gently breathed as she
waved good-bye. Prue could see Piper silently mouthing "I love you" and "thank
you, Prue."
As Prue was almost out of sight, she spoke one last time to her
sisters. "Remember, I will never leave you. I will be here with you forever.
Some day, you will come home to be with Grams, Mom and me."
Somewhere in the shadows, a figure lingers, his thoughts
permeating the night. "Although defeated, the battle still rages and there are
many of us who shall continue this fight- against the Charmed Ones."
The end and …. the beginning.