“Honey, you never were normal and never will be, and I wouldn’t change that for the world. You may have had some different experiences in your life, but they have only made you stronger. The hurdles in your life only bring you down when you don’t jump over them with all your might. As long as you do your best in your challenges, you will come out a better, stronger person than when you started.”
“I don’t feel any stronger. I’m not courageous and good like you are.”
“I don’t want you to be like me, I want you to be like you. I want you to be the best person you can be. I know that whatever the outcome of this mess is, you will overcome this challenge and be victorious.”
“You have an awful lot of faith in me. You have a lot more faith in me than I have in myself.”
“Lily, faith isn’t something you naturally have. You have to choose to believe. I know you will deal the best you can with whatever comes your way. Always remember that I will be watching over you when you truly need me. You have a wonderful aunt and cousins, and good friends to stand by your side when you need them.”
Lily playfully interrupted, “actually I only have one friend, Malaya, but she might as well be a thousand friends.”
“Lily, Malaya is a very good friend, and always will be, but you need to be open to allowing new friends into your life.”
“I don’t need any other friends. Malaya is my best friend and I don’t need another.”
“Maybe, but what about the boy who was pushing you in your wheel chair; he seemed nice.”
“Mother! He pushed me down the stairs! How can you possibly think he’s nice? He might as well have pushed me off a cliff. You sure know how to pick ‘em. That person is a total jerk in every way imaginable, and I will never be his friend. I don’t even think he is capable of being a real friend to anyone. Case closed,” Lily said with venom practically spurting from her lips.
“Okay,” her mother slowly said cautiously backing away from the subject. She carefully added, “I think that you ought to give some other people a chance before you really know them enough to make such a snap judgment.”
Lily no longer had any desire to waste any more time on the subject of that person.
“We don’t have much time left together, so I just want you to remember that your family and friends will be with you when I can’t. You’re not alone in this. Whatever may come, you’re not alone.”
Her mother’s voice lovingly enveloped her in warmth that filled Lily with hope and joy. Lily knew her mother was speaking the truth. She wouldn’t be alone.
“As touching as this moment is, I really must interrupt.” So the daughter-slayer was back at last.
“I know you’re not pleased with how things have gone, Lily, and your mother is right that I should make it up to you somehow. First of all, I want to apologize. I truly felt in my heart that you would want to talk to me as much as I wanted to speak with you. I thought that it would be a short coma, and you would wake up and any injuries you had would be so small that it would have been worth it to talk with your dad. I realize now that things could have gone much worse, and you could have been seriously hurt or even killed. As much as you might believe I want you dead, I don’t. I’m not that selfish. I’m sorry for having put you through this, and any future discomfort it may cause you.”
Lily could tell he was sincere, and she was finally beginning to feel a little better about him and the situation in general. He really was like what her mother had said. He meant well, but his actions were all wrong. He didn’t try to foresee the consequences of his actions.
“I accept your apology, but I don’t think I can entirely forgive you right now. It will take some time.”
“Take as much time as you need. I understand. Now as for making amends, I was unable to think of anything for the longest time, and then I thought that you might want to know how your body handled the fall and what you will be facing once you wake up. I know news