Chapter Nine

Matti continued to hold Camilla at the foot of Jenny’s bed. Chloe stood quietly sobbing at the head of the bed, her hand touching her beloved auntie’s shoulder. Henry sat on the other side of the bed holding his dear sweet Jenny’s hand.

Nurse Johnson looked on at the moving love scene reunion before her. She had witnessed many deaths and sorrowful scenes, but this touched her toughened heart. Nurse Johnson was moved to tears, as well. She was going to suggest they all leave to allow Ms. Hamilton to rest. But Jenny was already in a coma and their presence wasn’t invasive. Besides, having loved ones near her as she left this earth would be more comforting. Nurse Johnson always felt that people in a coma were more alert and awake than was thought.

The warm light coming from the lamp on the end table gently illuminated Jenny’s face. Even though it was pale and sunken, Henry recognized his Jenny, his dear, sweet Jenny. Long, luscious eyelashes fanned out from resting eyes, sparse golden hair in the mellow light framed her soft oval face and her heart shaped lips still the same, drawing him. As ill as Jenny was, not even the savage attack of the cancer could take away her beauty. Yes, she was a sleeping beauty. Henry yearned to kiss her.

“Please open your eyes, Jenny,” he murmured in earnest, so desiring to see and look into her soft blue eyes.

Her breathing seemed strengthened from moments ago, clear, shallow, and rhythmic, not raspy as someone ready to die. Henry was hopeful, thankful. Perhaps Father’s prayers were helping. She just may come out of her coma.

Nurse Johnson was surprised to see Ms. Hamilton still alive. She didn’t expect Jenny to last more than an hour or so after she’d arrived at the hospital this morning. She began to understand what it was that may be keeping this critically ill woman alive. She wanted to comfort Henry somehow, put her hand on his shoulder, but she couldn’t move. The growing aura of light in the room transfixed her.

Henry looked on at his sleeping sweetheart, burning the image of her deeply into his mind, not knowing for certain how long this heavenly image would last. His swarming thoughts slowed down from all the incredible discoveries and revelations from the past two days to warm tender memories of the summer they shared, down to just his deep, deep love for his first love.

He willed for her to open her eyes, longed to hold her, ached to kiss her. Slowly he crept up from his chair and leaned forward enough to feel the warmth radiating from her skin. He so wanted to kiss her lips, but was afraid to constrict her breathing. His lips settled softly and tenderly on her forehead. A tear rolled onto her cheek. He withdrew and gently wiped the tear away with his forefinger.

“I love you, Jenny, now and forever,” he whispered as soft as a cloud. A tingling sensation ran through him and through Jenny. She stirred and her eyes flickered.

Matti tightened her hold around Camilla as both quietly gasped. Chloe brought her hand to her mouth to hold back a hopeful cry…

They all could feel the ardent love flowing between the two lovers before them. The aura of light surrounding them glowed brighter. It was so intense and burning… so passionate it was palpable. The room brightened further and felt strangely, wonderfully warm; the air was charged with expectancy.

Jenny stirred again, reluctant to leave the dream she was caught in. Her heart merrily danced as Henry entered Engelmann’s Grocery Store. She smiled as he hit a stack of salmon tins over the floor; this was her chance to meet him. She squatted down and picked up a tin, desiring to give it to him and gaze into his eyes…

She felt his lips on her forehead drawing her now into a reality more real than all of the dreams of her past. She dared to let go and open her eyes, but was afraid there was just emptiness. Yet, she sensed his presence and frantically searched the room, until suddenly, his green eyes gazing so lovingly into hers, came into focus. Instantly, a spiritual energy traveled the length of the gaze they shared, uniting their souls once more as it did in that incredible moment when their eyes first met and their love was born.