I remained where I was until she stopped yelling and turned her back on me, finding comfort in Paul’s arms. He rubbed her back as she cried, watching me under the hood of his eyes.
“It’s okay darling,” he mumbled into her neck. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not,” she whimpered, “I’m never going to see you again.”
I was torn. Putting Naira in limbo was a decision I had made based on Hadassah and Aletheia’s advice. I needed to know if she wished to remain in limbo as her body died. I knew she would prefer this time alone with Paul, however, there was also the time with my family to consider. If she remained in limbo, they wouldn’t have the chance to say goodbye. That is, not unless I put them in limbo as well.
“Naira,” I chose my words carefully. “I can’t make you an angel because that is not a power I possess. Only God can do that.”
She sniffed, but held still in Paul’s embrace while she listened.
“Your body is dying. You don’t have many days left. I brought you into limbo to ask if you wanted to stay in limbo where you can’t feel pain, or if you’d prefer to be with your family when the time comes.”
My throat constricted, making me choke on my words. “Being in limbo will speed up your death though. That’s the downside to being in it. So I have to ask you, what is it that you want to do? Do you want to stay in limbo with Paul?”
She nodded, keeping her back to me.
“Okay,” I wiped tears away with my both of my hands. “If I can do it, I’m going to bring Mom and Tammer through with me to say goodbye, would you like that?”
At the mention of our parents, she turned to me.
“You’d do that?”
“Of course I would!” I sniffed. “You’re my baby sister. I love you.”
“I don’t want to leave Paul, but I do want to see Mom and Dad again.”
“What happens when Naira is ready to go home?” I asked and Paul shook his head.
“I can’t tell you that.”
Another typical response.
“Can you tell me that you’ll be with her?”
“I will take her home.”
That was it. Naira had decided. She was going to stay with the one she loved and die while in limbo. I was going to have to return to my family and let them know.
“I have to go now.” I said. Naira didn’t move from Paul, though he whispered into her ear that she should give me a hug. I just smiled at them. “The next time you see me, I hope to have Mom and Dad with me.”
When she didn’t respond, I sighed and motioned to Paul. “Take care of her while I’m gone?”
“I will,” his arms tightened around Naira. “This is the only time I’ll have with her. Unless He decides otherwise.” His voice was strained.
“I take it He doesn’t do that a lot.”
Paul’s jaw tightened as if he was holding something back. He didn’t say a word.
“Good bye,” I whispered to them both and closed my eyes. The last image I had was of Paul David standing behind my sister, his arms about her waist. She leaned into him, letting her face rest against his neck. They were a beautiful couple. It made my heart break to know they would only be together at best for a few more days.
Leaving limbo was a drag. Literally – I had to drag myself from it. Invisible weights were attached to my body and I fought to release myself from them. While I struggled, the steady creak of Shirley’s rocking chair teased me from the other side. When I was finally able to open my eyes, my breath came in heaves as I sucked it in. I was a mummy, entombed for centuries, finally experiencing fresh air again. Shirley stopped rocking long enough to make sure I was okay.
No, I’m not okay! I wanted to yell, but I just smiled as if all was well. I was exhausted and being in limbo had made the whole day never-ending. Compounded was the fact that it had been two days combined into one for Thayde and me. All I wanted to do was sleep. My body was finished.
Staggering through the bedroom I grasped the doorway weakly. All conversation ceased as everyone looked to me. Thayde was at my side in an instant.
“Morgan, you need to get some sleep. No more – you’re done.” In one fluid move, he lifted me into his strong arms and I didn’t object. “We’ll see you in the morning,” he announced and strode through the doors.
“I knew this was a mistake,” he complained as he made his way to my old room. “Today has been way too strenuous.”
“I’m okay, babe,” I began and he cut me off.
“My job is to protect you – even if it’s from yourself. You don’t know when to quit. I do.”