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Ashley was asleep when her family arrived. And the three sat quietly in the room waiting for her to wake up. No words were spoken, but the moment they sat down her eyes fluttered. She knew they were there. And after a long hour, which felt like five, she slowly, very slowly, opened her eyes.
“I’m . . . Sorry . . . To have worried you all. . .” She managed to speak in between soft breaths.
Her mother jumped up quickly, kissing her on the forehead.
“Shh.. my darling. There is nothing to be sorry about. You are okay, and we’re all very happy that you are.”
Her mother patted her daughters’ hand, caressing the edges of her skin. Ashley nodded lightly, her eyes opening and closing in slow motion. The four sat in the room for awhile talking to Ashley, letting her listen to the sound of their voices.
After a few hours the doctor interrupted them.
“Hello everyone. How’s she doing?” he asked, a cheery smile on his dark-skinned face. He was very handsome, with caring, loving eyes.
“Hello.” Ashley spoke faintly as the doctor came and adjusted the bandages around her face.
“Hi Ashley,” he said soothingly. “Do you remember what happened to you?”
Ashley closed her eyes and shook her head.
“No . . . maybe I . . . don’t . . . want to . . . remember?” she replied in long draw out breaths.
“Probably.” The Indian-looking doctor nodded. “The body goes into a state of shock after an accident like yours. It may take you months, even years, to remember. And of course you don’t have to remember.”
Ashley lightly nodded again and looked to her sister, half smiling. Chloe smiled back in reassurance, happy to connect with her sister once more.
“How long will she be in hospital for?” Chloe asked the doctor, sensing it was Ashley’s unspoken question.
“It’s hard to say. Ashley has broken both sides of her ribs and the top right of her collarbone. Her internal organs have been injured; we’re still running some tests and will know more later how extensive they are. Fortunately, although her skull has been bruised, she has no brain damage, and the fact that she’s been coming in and out of consciousness is a good sign.” He smiled soothingly. “And everything appears to be working right at the moment - Ashley you must have some powerful angels looking over you.”
“I’m so tired ...” she said as she nodded off lightly.
“You are welcome to stay as long as you like today of course, but just try not to ask her too many questions. She needs her rest.”
“Okay, sure doctor. Whatever she needs.” her father said as the three stood up and kissed Ashley goodbye.
“Wait, can I speak to Chloe?” Ashley whispered as they all started to leave.
“Of course sweetheart, we will wait outside.”
Chloe sat on the edge of the bed, holding her sister’s good hand.
Ashley opened her lips slightly. She wanted to be able to move more freely but was unable to.
“I had an out of body experience when I was unconscious Chloe.” She smiled with a faraway look in her eyes. It was as though she knew where she was, and she didn’t want to come back.
“What happened?” Chloe said as she moved closer to Ashley, sitting on the bed so that she wouldn't have to strain her voice too much.
“It was the most surreal experience I’ve ever had. I felt attached to my body by a long silver rope. I flew over mountains, and high above the sky. I played in the darkness between the stars and in the stardust. It was so beautiful Chloe.” she said slowly as she closed her eyes again, reliving the memory. “But most importantly, I saw you. I saw you painting a beautiful blue lake with a great big turtle swimming in it. And everything became so clear.” Ashley opened her eyes back up and looked at her sister as she tried to smile. “You are an artist Chloe. I want you to pursue your painting. I believe it is what you are meant to do. You need to do this. It’s your career path.”
Chloe felt tears of joy flood down her cheeks. Her sister was giving her a message from afar, and yet she felt very sad. She was devastated that through a serious auto accident, such a beautiful truth would be uncovered. And yet at the same time, she was relieved. She had received words of wisdom from above. It was miraculous!
“Ashley, I was painting that very picture! I painted it for you. There is a blue lake and a turtle swimming in it it! That’s so weird.”
“I’m not surprised. I’m telling you, I saw you. Part of the reason I wanted to get home was to tell you about how incredibly talented you are. I believe in you.”
Chloe smiled with warm, fuzzy feelings shooting around her body, and her blood tickled at the surface of her skin, creating little bumps on it and a shiver in her spine. She was feeling as though a strange truth had been generated between them.
“I’ll bring the painting in for you next time. See, the turtle is you, Ashley! It has begun its journey. It’s a slow swim to recovery, but you will get there Ashley.”
“I love it, thank you.” Ashley replied, although her eye lids closed lightly again.
“You’re so brave Ashley, you really are a true inspiration.”
“It’s just a new challenge in life, a step of transformation; it’s been awhile since I’ve had one.” She attempted another smile at Chloe, but all she could do was open her mouth just wide enough to expose her teeth.
“And then what happens?” Chloe asked, wondering what kind of transformation this could be. She couldn’t believe how calm she was.
“Then I will claim my space here on this Earth and value my life in a different light. This must have happened for a greater cause, a big jump to shift my life elsewhere. I’m not sure where yet, but it will come.”
Chloe looked at her sister admiringly. She clearly was the most optimistic person she had ever met, and she was proud to call her her sister.
“Now, what are we going to do about your painting? Have you given it much thought?”
“I’m applying to university. Mom and dad think it will help build my confidence. Well that’s what they said the night before the . . .”
Chloe's words drifted, she didn't dare speak about what had happened, and instead felt guilty again that they hadn’t switched places.
“Before the accident, Chloe. It’s okay, we can talk about it. It happened.” Ashley said as she filled in Chloe’s words.
“Ashley I should’ve been with you.” Chloe confessed, kneeling next to the bed and holding her sisters’ hand.
“Why?” she asked, but it was more of a rhetorical question. “This is my lesson, Chloe.”
As Ashley talked Chloe noticed that she had a different look in her eyes. It was a peculiar mixture of exhaustion, surrender, and pleasure. It was as though the experience had created a new awakening for her. She appeared as if she was drifting between two different worlds of consciousness. And even now, with Ashley lying on the hospital bed, seriously injured and unable to leave, Chloe still wished she had switched places with her . . . But not for the reasons she had originally felt. No, now she saw something in her sister that she aspired to have for herself. It was her sister’s outlook of constant positivity, an understanding appreciation of an ultimate trust in the world around her, in her universe and her Guides. Yet Chloe felt that no matter how hard she tried, she would never be able to reach that same level of happiness, and it pained Chloe more than she cared to admit.