The Wedding Shop

Chapter 16:

I visited Maggie in the hospital regularly for two weeks and each time I saw her I slowly died inside. She was beginning to look empty and could barely move, even her facial expressions.

My parents were worried about me as I barely ate throughout the day.
"not until she's better." I would say even though there was little hope of this happening. I wanted to cry but every tear I shed over Maggie's illness would drive me to breaking point and so refused myself from doing so. I couldn't believe that after only knowing her a short while the thought of her leaving my life seemed unbairable. I also worried for Cindy greatly as I knew that Maggie was all she had since their parents died. I had to make myself strong for her sake.

When I went to the hospital on Friday night the atmosphere was cold and made me shiver. I knew something wasn't right before I even reached he room. There was no one sitting outside which worried me slightly as it was visiting hour so I hurried to the door. There was a doctor and nurse around her bed and Cindy was weeping so loudly over Maggie's stomach.
"no," I murmured. I could barely stand as I knew exactly what was happening.
"no!" I repeated, this time much louder. All I could see was Maggie's hand lying flat against the bed, lifeless and cold. I ran out the room and kept on running until I crashed into Matt in the car park.
"Soph, what's happened."
"Matt, don't go inside ok? It's Maggie. It's Maggie..." I trailed of collapsing to the icey ground. Instead of helping me up Matt just sat next to me and rocked me slowly. His chin rested on my head and I could feel the tears streaming down his cheeks too. After a while we broke apart, both red and flustered.

"is Cindy with her?" Matt asked.
I nodded sympathetically.
"alone?"

We both hurried towards the entrance as I realised how selfish I had been leaving her to grieve alone. She was in the same position only sitting outside in the waiting room.
"oh Cindy."
She opened her arms wide to me as I stroked her hair softly.
"I'm so so so sorry my love. I can't believe it."
"they said a month. A whole month! Why did she have to leave me so soon? I'm nothing without her."
"Cindy I promise you that you're not alone. I will never leave you."
"oh Sophia, what am I going to do?"

Maggie's funeral came shortly after she passed away and a bigger church was arranged as so many people wanted to come. Of course Cindy made a speech that moved me and everyone else and so did a few of Maggie's friends and family. I wanted to say something too; I wanted to tell her how special she was to me. What a kind person she was. How I will regret never saying goodbye to her. Somehow I couldn't put my thoughts into words as I was so scared of what may happen if I did. Each day I felt as though I was going to break down and couldn't possibly imagine how Cindy was feeling.

The days went by slowly and the store had been closed for weeks. I regularly went in and checked up on things but the life and energy that filled the boutique when I first came had dissipated into to air and there was nothing left. I had to put my dreams to one side for a while as without the shop and me there to support her, Cindy wouldn't be able to continue either.

by vera©