Zak stood in front of Calla's grave, staring at the black marble. He didn't notice the young blonde girl walk up next to him holding a single calla lily. She set it in front of Calla's grave before taking a step back and staring at the two reflections in the marble.
"Thanks. Those were her favorite." He said to the small girl.
"I know." She said back.
She was short and thin, no older than nine. She had long stick straight blonde hair braided over her shoulder. Pale green eyes peered out from under thick black lashes. She wore a long black doubled breasted pea coat, black lace trimmed leggings and black ballet flats.
"She's my hero. They talk about her all the time at the hospital. She was so brave. She did everything the doctors told her she couldn't do. She was a cheerleader. She had a baby. Almost got married. I want to be just like her when I get older. I'm going to be a survivor." The girl said.
Zak smiled. "Yeah, she was amazing. Loved everyone and everything."
The girl looked at him. "You're Zak Bagans. Her old boyfriend and Tyler's daddy."
Zak looked at the little girl, "How did you know?"
"Your guy's pictures are hanging in my ward. I'm fighting leukemia just like Calla. See?" she held out her small wrist, showing Zak the orange silicone bracelet reading, 'LEUKEMIA PATEIENT NOW; SURVVOR LATER'.
Zak crouched down to the little girl's level, "What's your name, kiddo?"
"Zoey Daye."
"What you doing here Zoey?"
She pointed a small finger off to two gravestones. "My mom and dad are over there. They died when I was a baby. I can't remember them." She said sadly.
Zak bowed his head, "I'm sorry about that. So are you here for them?"
Zoey nodded, "And Calla. Once a week Nurse Carroll drives me down here to visit them. I always bring Calla a calla lily because the doctors tell me you used to bring them to her every time she was in the hospital. I think she likes it when I visit."
Zak blinked back tears, "I think she does."
Zoey pulled a silver heart shaped locket with a orange cancer ribbon on it, showing it to Zak. "I'm in her old hospital room. I found this in the nightstand. It was in a letter that said 'Smile though your heart is breaking, you are beautiful. You will come out on top.' Calla left it for the next person in her room. I wear it every day. I wore it every day of chemo too. It's my lucky charm." She said.
A horn honked in the distance. "That's Nurse Carroll. I have to go back to the hospital. You should come visit tomorrow. The other kids would love to meet you. Bye, Zak."
"Bye, Zoey."
Zak watched the girl run towards the parking lot, stopping to blow a kiss towards her parents' graves.
He was defiantly going to visit the hospital.