My Soul to Keep - By Sean Hayden Page 0,74

wonderful daughter, Mr. James. We both know this isn’t the end. You’ll see her again.”

“I know. But it won’t be the same. She’ll either be as we are now, or a perfect soul. Have you ever seen a soul, Connor? They’re not the same. They’re…they’re…they care almost nothing for what they were. When the body dies, part of them dies, too. It’s just not the same. I just hope she’s strong enough to become one of the Chosen. At least then she’ll have a chance. Either way, I’ve lost my little girl.”

I put my hand on his arm, at a loss as to what else to say.

The blaring machines in the room silenced. Mr. James and I stood in the hallway and waited. Medical technicians started wheeling equipment out of the room. With each passing person I cried a little harder. The nurses came next shaking their heads. Finally the doctor on duty came out and ushered us farther down the hallway. Mr. James was having trouble standing upright.

“Is she?” I looked up at Jess’ father and my heart went out to him. I had no desire to live whatsoever. I could only imagine the pain he felt.

“I don’t know how to say this…”

Mr. James collapsed in the middle of the hospital hallway floor. “No…”

“No!” I looked at the doctor. “Oh, my God, I am so sorry. You misunderstood me. She’s fine!”

“Huh?” I did a double take.

“What?” Mr. James leaned up and grabbed the doctor’s lab coat.

“I didn’t know how to say that apparently she’ll be fine! She stopped breathing and her body sort of… rebooted itself?”

“What are you trying to say, doctor?” Mr. James stared at him. The doctor’s face went blank.

I guess he wants the truth without the emotion.

“The girl started breathing again on her own. Her EEG returned to normal. All of the other monitors showed all of her organ functions returning to normal. Throughout everything her heart never wavered once. It actually started pumping stronger as everything else started shutting down. It’s what kept her alive the whole time.”

For the first time since the park, I smiled. “Can we see her?”

The doctor turned and looked at me. He shook his head to clear it. “Um, yes. She’s wide awake.

Her father and I ran into the room. Jessie smiled at the sound of our footfalls. She turned and opened her eyes and looked at us. “Hi, Dad. Hi, Connor.”

I smiled and crossed the rest of the room. Her eyes followed my every move. I paused when as realized it. “You can–"

She smiled. It was the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen.

“See you? Yup. Damn you’re cute.”

I must have fainted a little. The floor was cold. I felt it through the tattered remains of my shirt. Cold linoleum sucks. I looked over at the bed at Jessie who was leaning over the side and laughing.

Her dad took the opportunity of my sudden incapacitation to run to the bed and scoop his daughter in his arms. “Oh, Jessica. I love you, baby girl.”

“I love you, too, Daddy. But you’re crushing me.”

“I don’t care. Don’t ever scare your father like that again."

She giggled. “I won’t. Daddy. I can see!”

“I know. I heard. How?”

“The doctor said my body healed itself. They said they have never seen anything like it.”

“He said your heart kept you alive through everything. They said it refused to quit.”

Jessie pulled back from her dad. I stood and she gave me a funny look and started laughing.

“What?” I couldn’t believe she was laughing.

“You saved me!”

“Ha ha, Jess. How did I save you?”

“Don’t you remember, silly? We traded. It was your heart that kept me alive.”

Epilogue

Mr. James patted me on the back and I kissed Jessie on the forehead. She snuggled into the hospital bed and smiled.

“I love you, Jess. I’ll be back tomorrow morning to check on you.”

“Okay, baby. You heard the doctor. I’ll be home on Monday.”

“I know, but I’m still going to come see you tomorrow.”

“You better.”

I laughed. “I will, baby. Get some sleep. Good night, Mr. James.”

“Good night, Connor,” he said and relaxed in his chair. I wanted to spend the night with Jess, but he insisted he would. I don’t think seven tractor-trailers could have dragged him from his spot. I gave them one last smile and stepped out into the hall. The placard on the wall next to the door across from Jess’ room caught my attention. 113.

Caelyn!

I smiled guiltily and went to go check on her. Her room was empty. I shrugged