Disclaimer: I don't own the OC
The most extraordinary thing about life is the full circles it makes. Babies are born with twinkling innocence; a reminder that there is still good in this world and it is meant to go on. Grandmothers and grandfathers grow old together and slowly close their eyes as waves of peace wash over them. As each breath diminishes, a little angel is given the chance to live. Boys and girls fall in love and start families with only the promise of love. Some people die way too early…an event that leaves their families and friends question the very meaning of existence and purpose. Within their tiny little worlds, the rhythm of the heart aches with unimaginable pain. However, we have to say good-bye…we love you…I'm sorry…and just hope that someday we will see each other again. Then there are the people that surprise us. There is the smile of a stranger…the delight of a child flying a kite. The elderly man down at the corner shop that weaves stories of history long past making connections that are decades old. Least not forget, the thoughtful gesture of a loved one…the sacrifice of a love one. A little girl closes her eyes and wishes on every star the same wish. A best friend talks for seconds, minutes, hours, days…in hopes of getting through the fog. The husband comes every night at seven o'clock with a single red rose and still sees the beautiful girl he married. Sometimes, he would wake up in the middle of the night reaching across the pillows and be surprised that his hand did not tangle in long silky hair. There are times at nights when he is so scared that he checks on his girls at least three times and finally wakes a sleepy uncle and slips into the hospital just to hear the familiar beating of a heart. The most extraordinary thing about life is the full circles it makes. The most extraordinary thing is when the eyes snap open and focus on the surrounding world. The most extraordinary thing is when the person whispers a name…
Summer felt immobilized as she watched her best friend's eyes snap open and focus on her own. A trembling started at her toes and worked its way up to her heart and finally her vocal cords. "Nurse!" roared Summer Cohen as she shrieked. She held her breath watching Marissa's eyes flutter shut and then reopening this time focusing on her face. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh…COOP!" Summer launched herself at her friend and wrapped her arms around her neck sobbing and muttering nonsense. She felt a hand hesitantly lay on her back and start patting and she started laughing. It was not just a giggle or a bark of laughter. It was the type of laugh that starts in the belly and ruptures out of a person. It even sounded a little hysterical.
"Mrs. Cohen," Dr. Brown smiled widely down at the two women sprawled on the bed. One looked puzzled and a little uncertain, while the other laughed like a demented clown. "Do I need to get a sedative?" His smile increased as the young woman gulped in her laughter and looked up at him with shining eyes. He couldn't help it, he started laughing as well. It was a good feeling…like waking up from a long lazy nap in the setting sun that settled within the bones cleansing the soul. He smiled down at the other young woman that seemed oblivious to her friend's death grip on her neck and was smiling at Summer while looking up at him with questions filling her eyes. "Welcome back Marissa. Welcome back…"
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The clock ticked in pattern with the scratching of pencil on paper. Nealy Atwood glanced down at her math test trying to remember what her Dad said about rhombuses. She couldn't remember if they…BANG! The door slammed open, and immediately everybody looked up at the intruder. Nealy stared in shock as her younger sister ran in gasping with her mocha hair swirling around her pixyish features yelling something.
"Ms. Atwood, what is the meaning of this?" Mr. Cross stood up in concern. He paused as Ella burst into tears that turned into delighted laughter. He glanced at Nealy that sat her desk in shock. He was about to say something when Ella gasped in a breath and burst forth with the words.
"She woke up! Nealy, Mom woke up!"
That was when Nealy started to cry and smeared her paper that was covered in
rhombuses.
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"Daddy, why is the sky blue? Where does chocolate milk come from? Is a milk shake from a shaking cow? Why does…"
"Grace, how about we take a second and breathe?" He smiled down at his daughter as she skipped next to him to the car. He had the day off and was picking her up from preschool. They had the whole day planned. Grace like liked to call it her Daddy Date. They were going to go down to the pier and get ice cream. He smiled back at her enduring smile while she clasped her tiny sweaty hand into his bigger one.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, button?"
"I love you." She smacked her lips on his hand and then giggled. She looked up and gave a shriek, "Uncle Seth!" Ripping her hand away from her father, she launched herself down the sidewalk and into her Uncle's arms.
Ryan watched as his daughter clambered down the sidewalk and looked up smiling into his brother's eyes. The smile slowly dripped off his face as he noticed that Seth was very white and shaking. However, his eyes were bright and looked as if he had been crying. Ryan felt his heart clenched and thoughts started rumbling into his mind.
"Ryan, my man. How's it going?" Seth clasped his hand on Ryan's shoulder and brought him into a hug.
"Fine, how about you tell me what is going on?" Ryan leaned over and took Grace into his arms while continuing to look at Seth.
Seth took a deep breath and without hesitation whispered, "She woke up." Reaching out he steadied Ryan as he physically crumpled and almost dropped Grace. Gently putting Grace on the ground, he helped Ryan sit on the curb. Turning to face him, Seth stared at his closed eyes. As he was about to say something, he felt Ryan take his hand and grasp it tightly. For a minute, they sat there like that with Seth providing strength, and Ryan willingly taking it. Then Ryan started to laugh and picked up Grace and started twirling her around the parking lot.
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The once quiet hospital halls rang with laughter and shrieks. Footsteps pounded up the stairs and echoed down toward the checkered ICU wing. Nurses peered over desks and curious patients leaned out their doors. They smiled watching the young father trying to keep reign on his three daughters as they continued their parade down the hallway. Nurses stepped out and gave the girls hugs and kisses as they continued their journey. Some of the patients started laughing in sear joy, and felt warmth that they had not felt in months. Finally, the whole group stopped outside the cream colored door with the number 173 printed. The four suddenly stopped and quiet descended. Slowly, their hands became joined and together they slowly opened the door as bright sunlight poured into the hallway illuminating their features that shone with joy.
The littlest girl peered into the room and stared at the woman sitting up in bed staring right back at her. She felt her sisters pushing against her back and father's trembling hand on her hair. Her mother sat staring back at her in wonder as a lone tear dripped down her cheek. She whispered, "Hello Button," and held out her arms.
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It is a shock to the system learning that you have been asleep for three years. Marissa stared at wonder at her daughters all grown up. Grace wasn't a baby anymore, and Nealy stood proudly next to her Dad. Ella had snuggled up next to her in the bed, and their stories poured out of their hearts. Marissa tangled her fingers into Ella's hair, and beamed tiredly up at Ryan. He had been quiet all evening. He had always been quiet, but this time he was uncharacteristically silent. Marissa shifted as Nealy and Grace climbed into bed and draped themselves around her. She took in the sweet voice of tiny Grace, and stared into her daughter's beautiful blue eyes. The minutes faded to hours, and one became two before Summer showed up the take the girls home. After countless good-night hugs and kisses and promises to see her tomorrow, Marissa watched her three girls walk out with Summer. Turning to Ryan, she was surprised to see him watching her with a slightly unfocused gaze. "Ryan?" She smiled gently into his familiar face that bore new wrinkles and lines. Suddenly, she was in his arms as he buried his head into her body as sobs racked his shoulders. Gazing into his eyes, she saw them celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary...Nealy walking down the aisle beautiful on her father's arms...Ella proudly standing up to give her graduation speech after being in a horrible car accident and being told she would never walk again. She saw Seth and Summer's family continuing to grow until 5 miniature visions with dark curly hair debated the best comic book hero...Sandy and Kristen still madly in love, and Grace becoming a teacher to inner city children...she saw in his eyes reflected back her love that would survive the progress of time. Gently picking up his chin and facing his wonderful face whilewiping a lone tear that melted down his face, she whispered lovingly, "I told you we would grow old together…"
The End
A/N: Thank you so much to everyone that has read the story. I hope you enjoyed it!