Chapter 26

By Cortney

Three Weeks Later

Melissa's View

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, may you rest in peace Andrea Marie Johnson,"  The pastor said.  I sniffled.  It had only been 3 weeks since I was cured and yet a 13 year old teenager was taken away.

"Amen,"  Everyone said aloud.  I saw her three times before she got very sick and slipped into a coma.  They said there was no brain activity and her parent's didn't want her to suffer any longer.  After the service everyone departed going back to their cars and Nick and I headed back to his house.

"Hey are you alright?"  He asked rubbing my leg.  I snapped out of my trance and realized I was crying and tears were slipping from eyes like rain does from a cloud.

"Yeah just...ya know,"  I said looking at him and wiping my eyes.

""God has a plan Mel, you can't change what he does.  He gave you a chance and Andrea was so happy when you were getting better.  She was there at your bedside when you were sick,"  He said patting my leg.  I smiled at all the good memories her and I had together the two weeks in Florida.  I watched the scenery pass by so fast and thinking about every tree that I saw brought back a memory of Andrea.

"Hey Nick, how close was I to you know?"  I asked turning back from looking out the window.

"Closer than you can imagine,"  He said smiling at me.  I sighed realizing that God's plan was dumb for me and bad for her.  He took her away and not me, but he has some damn purpose for us all and I am still trying to figure out what mine is.  We headed back over to Andrea's parents house for the reception and we pulled into the driveway and it was a nice place and piece of land.  I met the rest of her family at the service.  She has 3 other siblings that are younger than her, and I hope they remember her somehow.

At Andrea's House

Nick's View

We arrived at the house.  I got out and helped Melissa out of the car.  She still was shakey and barely able to walk at times.  I guessed that was because of everything that happened with the drug and her being in a coma for so long.

"Hello Nick and Melissa,"  Andrea's parents greeted us at the door.  Their eyes were about as puffy and red as Melissa's were.

"Hey, are the rugrats all here again?"  Nick said trying to lighten the mood.  I galred at him and her parents snickered a little.

'Amber is upstairs, Jason is in the kitchen and Alexis is asleep in her crib,"  Mrs, Johnson said.  Amber is 10, Jason is 9, and Alexis is 2.

"Oh well, we came by to say hello and that we are sorry.  But I have to get back home because my parents don't know I snuck out and I am not really suppose to be out this soon...," Melissa rambled on.  She sounded more sorry for leaving than anything and I felt bad for her now more than ever.  We said our goodbyes and headed out for the car.  I realized then how precious life was and I had a plan and I didn't know how I was going to execute it, but I had some ideas stored in my head.