Jewel: Chapter 5

She wore an ungrateful expression and held onto her belief that Jewel would be okay. Without showing it, she was thankful for them for helping Jewel but disinterested in what the rescue workers had to say about her family. Confusion and anger boiled in her at hearing anything more than what the present circumstance called for.

Azure's partners seemed to forget who was the most in need as they made off hand comments about "how often one should call their parents." "Please shut up and do your job," was all she could think. She bit her lower lip and began to practice all of the breathing techniques she and Jewel learned together. It was calming and her eyes closed for just a moment.

Jaimie got out of her seat once more to kneel beside Jewel, giving her a kiss on the forehead. Lingering there for a moment, she imagined the energy from her mind and heart flowing into her friend's body by the simple act of touching. Continuing to breath slowly, she leaned up with her eyes still shut. Azure reached for her shoulder, sending energy in his own way, and nodded in her seat's direction. She knew it was dangerous to unbuckle during the flight but needed to be close and didn't want to breath if she knew Jewel couldn't.

Neither of them knew the severity of Jewel's head wound. Not even Azure had taken the time to inspect it. Being called upon by Jaimie wasn't usual, but when she did he knew it would be a life or death scenario. Jaimie was beginning to look as she did when first boarding the helicopter. Impatience was boiling within her and simmering with anger towards a fate she was unsure of. She sat shaking and imagining a reality without Jewel.

As soon as Jaimie lunged forward to give Jewel another kiss, the balance of the aircraft was thrown off. The pilot announced loudly, "we're landing, get ready to move" just after the movement. Azure removes his safety belt and moves to open the side hatch. The sound of the blades and wind overpowered everything as the group descended. The rescue center was just below them. Azure stood next to the opening with a strong grip on the handle above him. His left hand remained at his side until switching hands to turn and look at Jewel. Jaimie sat back in her seat, gripping the sides of it and ignoring Azure's caring eyes.

Everyone in the helicopter shifted slightly as it roughly landed on top of the building. Azure knew they were fifty stories off the ground and told Jaimie to watch her feet as she helped Azure's partner remove Jewel. Both of them held onto the gurney without wincing an eye and lifted Jewel out of the aircraft, through the double doors outside.

Two women with security guard uniforms held the doors and waited for Azure to take his partner's place carrying Jewel. The man saluted Azure without glancing at the others and climbed into the passenger seat of the aircraft. The pilot must have recognized Jaimie from his surveillance of Jewel. Boarding quickly, he nodded to Jaimie and gave a thumbs up with his protective gloves. The appearance of his hand in that glove was enough comic relief to get through this crisis, Jaimie thought. He mouthed "good luck" through the glass and they were already turning around to enter the building.

Jaimie chose to ignore the comment seconds later and moved swiftly to re-position her hand on the gurney. One with wheels appeared before them as soon they took the first left turn. A sign on the wall read "82" and in front of them a set of doors suddenly swings open. More uniformed women accompanied by doctors and nurses with their lower faces and name tags covered rushed through a set of armored double doors to examine Jewel for the first time.

In the haste of her actions, she was just now aware of the risk she took and the guidelines she ignored to bring Jewel here. Both would receive care and mental evaluations if they were to survive this endeavor. They continued pushing Jewel through secure door ways until they stopped at the 8th doorway. The doors were painted black and a keypad was mounted in the center where the doors split apart.

Everyone including Jaimie inhaled for a moment when coming to a stop at the doors. All eyes soon turned toward her. She understood she needed to breath and open the doors as fast as possible. Pressing one, zero, two, and seven illuminated the paint on the doors, turning white and then transitioning to light blue. The doors opened inward and the keypad fell to the floor, dropping like a heavy lock. Azure and Jaimie pushed Jewel's unconscious body into the glass walled room and it came to life with light.

Six seated men on the left side of the room side of the room stood to honor Jaimie and began examining Jewel from a distance. Six more women followed on the right side of the room, standing next to surgical tools and clean water. The nurses and doctors that escorted the three individuals stood together uniformly and bowed to the twelve surgeons. Dressed in white and behaving the same way, the six men bowed their head for a moment. Jaimie alone began pushing Jewel closer to the center of the room. The six women joined the men bowing their heads.

She reached the center and bowed, not as gracefully, turning slowly to give Jewel a small kiss on the forehead. Almost a minute later she backed away from Jewel. Nurses and doctors in uniform left the room without organization. Azure was now an arm's length away from Jaimie. He moved closer to her, hesitating at first, just to let her know he was still in the room. He hesitated again but acted nonetheless, giving her a grounded, comforting, and still concerned look. She did not see this gesture.

Azure started to mimic Jaimie's gaze upon Jewel. Both became entranced as they gazed upon Jewel and the work being done. A digital sounding "Om" began to emit from the walls of the room. Every ten seconds it repeated, over and over, matching the movement of men and women surrounding Jewel. The six men and women lifted their heads slowly, opening their eyes to reveal a calming blue light. Jaimie and Azure stood before them, gazing at the light now glowing upon Jewel.

The surgeons (half of the men and women) stood over Jewel and began scanning her for injuries and weaknesses. Light within their eyes tested Jewel for what seemed like hours, identifying all that had injured in the accident. Returning from different corners of the room, the other half of the surgeons attached small white circles to different parts of Jewel's body, all in symmetrical form. Monitors built into the wall came to life with each circle they added, rising to the ceiling until nothing was visible. Jaimie and Azure backed away and shifted direction until they could see Jewel's face from a distance.

Suddenly, the floor to the right gave way. Rising from beneath the floor was a midsize healing chamber that Jaime's family owned for circumstances similar to this one. They would not spare anything to save a life, especially Jaimie's. Fortunately for Jewel, Jaimie loved her very much and was willing to give her this chance.

The sound emitting from the walls put Azure in a daze, making the appearance of this chamber even more of an abstraction. Both Jaimie and Azure put some distance between themselves and the chamber when it rose.

Six women still illuminated Jewel's body with blue light as they finished placing the monitor connections. Azure put his arm around Jaimie as the men carefully transported Jewel from the gurney to the chamber.

Her uneasiness with being held in such a way was obvious yet a lack of strength allowed very little mobility. Azure's body was used to situations like this and she trusted him a little bit more as he helped her to correct her posture.

This particular healing chamber, to Jaimie's knowledge, had never been used. It was a solid black block full of illuminated wiring that appeared like human arteries. The top of the block was transparent and carved out in the shape of a human silhouette.

Surgeons with eyes aglow moved Jewel very carefully in a compatible position for the chamber. Jewel was placed upon the block, appearing like crystal with her atop it. The chamber was already connecting to Jewel's body, opening pathways for healing.

Three of the illuminated women calmly asked, "It is unknown how the chamber functions or how long one must be healed. Are you healthy enough to wait for her to arise?" All twelve of the men and women stood around Jewel, shining their eye's light upon her. The two friends looked at one another without sharing words. Standing at a distance from Jewel and the light, they bowed.

Jewel: Chapter 4

Light blue, pink and hues of orange streaked across the front of Jewel's vision as she laid there, smiling, still in amazement at how numb she felt. The sun was rising in the east. Jaimie was wide-eyed with relief, kneeling closer to her bloody hair. She pulled napkins from her jacket pocket, tensing up at the pain she felt in her wrist.

Barely conscious, Jewel felt the pressure applied to the side of her head as Jaimie parted her hair revealing a wide cut. Her stomach twisted into a knot at the sight of it. She began focusing on her breathing and pressed against the wound. Water was nowhere nearby. Instincts told her they'd be fine without it for a while. "Look...look...," Jewel let out with breath coming and going slowly. Pain took her by surprise and she stayed silent. The small silhouette of a half filled water bottle caught her attention before she squeezed her eyes shut. Fear and surprise flooded her mind. The only thing she knew for certain was that Jaimie would call Azure.

Minutes had passed since pulling her from the wreckage and she was panic stricken until hope approached. Gasping, she jerked her arm back patting her other pocket for her phone. She felt the lining outside of her jacket and it's shape was immediately familiar. Reaching inside, she was ready to accept a dead battery. The glass exterior was fractured but she could still unlock the device and call for help. "I can't believe I'm doing this," and dialed her family emergency service line. After calling, she quickly hung up. It was too easy to signal the family hospital; she misplaced her phone a lot as a student and her peers played way too many jokes.

Jewel's breathing steadied and her eyes remained close, opening slightly when she felt the pressure of her friend's touch for a few seconds. She thought of her relatives, her once-upon-a-time mother and father, forever unknown and believed in their past. One that was imagined, but a past she could have of her own. More memories of her backseat car rides to and from Jewel's estate came to her, feeling the same surprise in her youth as she did at the sight of water in this moment.

Restlessness took over Jaimie and she began to fight the feeling of uselessness. Jewel was still treading along consciousness but enough so to let rest alone. She lifted her head gently and placed it upon the car door. Lifting herself up was nothing. The breeze against the cuts on her arms was painfully refreshing, a gentle reminder that even more hope awaited if she found water. After taking a few steps away from Jewel she looked to make sure everything was fine. She continued to wander, skeptical of putting her hands under any of these loose pieces of metal surrounding the car.

The same glimmer of water Jewel saw caught her attention and she approached the front end of the car. Glass covered the crippled hood and non-existent windshield wipers. Peering and second guessing herself, Jaimie carefully tossed aside chunks of the windshield revealing an intact bottle. Scooping it hurriedly, she jogged back to her resting companion, kneeled again, and placed her head in her lap. Withdrawing her last cheap napkin, she let out a sigh and delicately dampened it before pressing it against Jewel's head. She pressed a bit harder this time making sure she had ceased any bleeding and thought about the next step immediately. "No time to disinfect this," she aggressively stated and allowed herself to refocus and remind herself that help was on the way. She withdrew from Jewel, letting her head rest on her arm. Attempting to warm her, she started to feel so comfortable with someone who was probably thinking about life and death. A private smile came over her and couldn't help but look at Jewel with the same gaze for a moment. "Should let her have the rest of this," she convinced herself of and reached across both of their bodies for the bottle. Removing the cap and lifting it to her lips felt like a ritual or ceremony where the most precious is often the most sacrificed. The imagination carried her away as she helped Jewel swallow the water and take small breaths. An approaching helicopter's sound was a distant happening.

Jaimie continued to comfort Jewel until the sound of the helicopter was no longer a vague sensation. It was slowing as it neared, lowering itself closer to the top of the cliff they had fallen from. Wind picked up the dust and small remnants too light to stay in place forcing everything outwards and away from the wreckage.

She peered up, not yet fighting the sunlight and made out Azure's silhouette pushing off a rope ladder. He looked over for a moment before the co-pilot appeared with the same concerned gaze. The second man made no effort to let Azure repel and immediately dropped his rope. He pushed Azure's off the moment he made his dissent and gave him a resolute nod.  Jaimie stared at the the two ropes and ladder just barely scraping the ground, dumbfounded at the speed at which all of this was happening. After a moment, the unknown man and Azure appeared above her repelling down, each carrying a piece of the gurney. Each kicked up dust as soon as they touched down, dropping their equipment and meeting to build the gurney. Both were wearing dark green jumpsuits with Jewel's family crest on each shoulder, and one over the heart. Her disbelief at their presence still gripped her. All she paid attention to was a light ringing and the sound of the helicopter landing to the right of the wreckage. The man she had yet to ask about extended his hand, breaking the silence. Jaimie snapped back to attention, noticing their attempt at lifting Jewel onto the bright orange gurney. Her hands were shaking horribly. She attempted to smooth Jewel's hair while they strapped her arms and legs down, but just barely got the hair out of her eyes. Nothing more.

"Your friend is in bad shape, we need to move now for everyone's sake," Azure stated with a businesslike grip on Jaimie's shoulder. Azure was wise and almost 10 years older than Jaimie. Serving her family for so long kept him sharp and aware of when to urgently act. "This is Jake...started serving your family a year ago. He's a specialist like me so no worries Jay." Teaming up to secure both ropes, they lifted Jewel off of the ground and dragged their equipment closer and closer to the buzzing helicopter.

Jaimie followed behind, breathing heavily and covering her mouth to avoid a mouthful of dust. She stood beside the helicopter, sensing her own panic and how long she had avoided her family. Now all of a sudden she needed them; Jewel needed them. Azure and Jake fastened Jewel to the helicopter's foundation, turning around a second later to reach for Jaimie. She was already trying to pull herself up with one leg just barely making it on before having the rest of her dragged aboard. Jake helped her up and gave a judging look to her as if he was thinking, how did this even happen?

Jewel laid there breathing steadily as the other three looked on in awe, sweating profusely and feeling their stomach tighten up at the rising flight. They were 50 feet off the ground before Jaimie realized it. She stood up carefully, bowing her back until she reached a seat in the rear of the helicopter.

Jake still gave her unloving looks, even as she backed away from Jewel, still wanting to be near her. Azure's satisfactory expressions towards Jake weren't unseen. Jaimie didn't understand why the hell this guy Jake had come along but she was happy enough that Azure trusted him. He kept his promises close to him and secrets even closer. Jake didn't know anything about their past. Things started to make more sense in the moment. Azure was surely smart enough to keep quiet about her state of illegality. They knew a bonus awaited them for the girls' whereabouts and retrieval but certainly wouldn't admit it. Jaimie let the sweat overpower her attention more so than Jake's greedy ass. 

Streaks of sunlight were already warming the air as they glided through the sky. The pilot turned around and gave them a wave with his right hand, a gesture of certainty. Jaimie breathed steadily, twisting the empty bottle of water in between her legs. Full of exhaustion, a sensation of exchange dawned on her and Azure put a full bottle in its place. He closed his eyes and she waited for a moment before opening it. Cracking the top, she took a small sip smiling and looked down at Jewel. Kneeling down once again, she attempted to give Jewel a bit more. She drank and Jaimie placed her self safely in the seat again next to Azure. It made her nauseous at first but she was happy to see both of them without having to blink.

Jewel: Chapter 3

Jaimie gripped the wheel a bit harder and took a left turn onto Route 550. She sped up, doing so slowly although excited to reveal Jewel's surprise. The cliffs to the right look intimidating at first but the young yet experienced driver adjusted the headlights just before flashing by the first of several guard rails lining the highway.

There was a long stretch of highway before them and as they neared mile 15, both noticed the lack of street lights. In their place, Jaimie guessed, was the luminescent strips of yellow tape bound to the middle of the road. One after another passed before there eyes, entrancing the two girls; a constant reminder that they were on their way to the unknown. Jewel began to feel nervous and a bit nauseous not knowing where they were going. Turning to look at Jaimie, she forced her mind away from fear and eased her left hand behind her head.

In Jewel's mind, Jaimie always had prettier hair. She ran her fingers in circles, moving at a slow pace and allowing anxiousness to make it's way back. The lack of lights was nothing to Jaimie. She too sensed their absense but could only be concerned with her friend's adoration. Her touch was all that she expected to feel, not the feeling rising in her heart.

My family cared for Jewel in much the same way. Growing up together, I always felt like having a sister was too good to be true. I was too young to know what "adoption" meant. Another life came into our home. Mother cried in the bathroom a lot and Dad would pick me up coldly saying, "Mommy loves you. She wants you to have a baby brother or sister."

The thought passed in Jaimie's mind, making it's way through every emotional avenue before, "fuck them" came quickly from her mouth. Jewel understood Jaimie's dissolved expression in an instant. "It's fine. They were around for better times. We're not that anymore. We want something different, right?"

Her expression softened with eyes still fixed on the road ahead. Jewel withdrew her hand from Jaimie, rolling the window down with the opposite hand. Wind rushed into the cabin, tossing Jaimie's short red hair and making a mess of Jewel's. A half-hearted laugh from Jaimie made Jewel smile and realize she should put her hair up.

Jewel gazed up hoping to find something in the sky. She felt the pressure and vibration of the car door against her head and let her mind race from the road, to her skin, to the sound of the wind, to Jaimie, and back to the road. Whether they were a hundred miles away or lost in search of this surprise, she didn't mind. Jaimie took hold of the steering wheel at 90 degrees and touched Jewel's thigh with the opposite hand, "almost there."

An infinite number of stars shone upon this strip of highway, highlighting pieces of the cliffside and reminding Jaimie to be watchful. Jaimie continued accelerating within the first of a few miles, moving well over 90 mph until her environment started to look familiar, "If you haven't guessed what it is by now, I must be better at keeping secrets than I thought" letting out a sarcastic laugh. Jewel continued to look at the sky for a moment before turning to her, sharing a half-smile, and looking back to the sky with innocent eyes. Jaimie was slowing down, feeling a fleeting moment.

Jewel felt her applying pressure to the brakes, moving slowly to the right side of the road where there was suddenly more space to pull over. A dusty dirt lot lay ahead of them, grabbing the passenger's attention as she leaned up with attentive eyes. "This is all our's tonight," Jaimie confidently stated. She neared the the cliff's edge, lined with long fence posts no higher than a foot. The only lights visible came forth from the dashboard and the occasional passing vehicle.

Headlights from distant drivers disappeared entirely when Jaimie turned off the engine. Nightly sounds took precedence over the sound of the now sleeping vehicle. Wind-swept hair and a quarter tank of fuel was proof it had been miles since they stopped anywhere. Jaimie closed her eyes, still holding the wheel for a moment and then let her hands fall. She looked up as if searching for a distant plane and pointed with her right hand. "I knew it would be difficult to find but I didn't think it'd be impossible," she exaggerated before withdrawing a small card. Jaimie happily read aloud, "Beta Aquarii. All for Jewel," and placed the smooth business-like card in Jewel's left palm. 

Confusion overwhelmed her for a moment, forcing her to ask, "What is Beta. Aquarii?" Jaimie pointed to the sky with her left hand for a brief moment, motioning Jewel to lean forward and look up. Jewel still clutched the card and felt Jaimie's touch, running her fingers down her forearm until her hand was gently on top of her's. "It's the brightest star in the sky...at least around your birthday it is and it's all yours," laughing at her own words, "well, I mean it will be around way after we're gone, but it's yours for now." Jewel had already teared up a bit and was now laughing at Jaimie's ability to make the most romantic gesture a small reminder of a celestial body's lifespan.

Both girls were exhausted from the drive and leaned their seats back shortly after pulling over. From the highway, they could see dimly lit homes built into the cliffside all the way down to the horizon's edge. The cliffs they drove past and the one they rested at now were in need of rain. Jewel had never seen so many humble homes tucked away in what she thought was a remote area. Dried vegetation and the occasional patch of giant wild rye was all she could see. In her mind, she wondered how they moved water and food to a place that looked so closed off from the world.  Outside, gusts of wind blew dirt against the car while the two girls drifted into their imagination, still holding one another's hand.

"I'll be here. Even if your parents decide to hunt you down, I'll stay with you," Jewel let out softly. Jaimie gently opened her eyes to look at her, still lazily resting in the seat. She loved her and felt loved. "You're all I have, I guess I don't have a choice," gently laughing as she turned in her seat, putting her feet beneath her. 

Traffic continued to rush behind them, cautiously approaching the turn before dirt and loose pieces of gravel neared the DB4. Every car to pass would turn down a side road, away from the girls. Some cars seemed to be dangerously close and then would disappear out of sight. Daydreaming and hand-holding brought their attention back to the stars. 

Fast approaching lights flooded the cabin from the rear, surprising the girls as they both tried to look back. There was almost no pause. Glass shattered all around them and they felt the impact at the rear. Screams erupted from Jewel, Jaimie's eyes and arms covered her, and they could both feel the car slipping off. The Aston Martin was already more than halfway over the cliff when the sinking feeling dawned on them.

Both girls were jerked rapidly in all directions, banging shoulders, knees, heads again, ribs and back against the broken fragments of the car's interior. The vehicle's descent continued, flipping once before resting on it's top. Jaimie's ears were ringing and she could feel warm blood running down the side of her face and arms. She heard the car's metal creaking under pressure but her vision was blurred. Jewel was still in the car but Jaimie could barely see or even tell if she is was conscious.

Jaimie's vision was barely clear as she began rearranging herself, pulling bits of windshield from her forearms and softly brushing glass from Jewel's skin. Her eyes filled with panicked tears when she reached for her, noticing she was unconscious. Jaimie pulled and flipped her body right side up, careful to avoid all the jagged edges. Struggling between the crushed steering wheel and seat, she placed Jewel onto the misshapen piece of metal that used to be the passenger door.

Her unconscious body horrified Jaimie as she looked down at her. Jewel's head remained cocked to the left, making her think the worst. She thought her neck was broken. Jaimie knelt beside Jewel, pouring tears and touching her cheek. Carefully, she lifted Jewel's head and placed it in her lap. Jewel's eyes compressed in pain and then opened with tears, peering above into Jaimie's eyes, "I...I...I can't...feel anything."

Jewel: Chapter 2

She didn't trust her own eyes as she eased back down to the floor. Hopes and doubts flooded her mind as to who it was waiting outside for her. Without hesitation, she took the needle from the record and placed it to the side. Silence filled the room except for the faint hum of the car engine outside. A bit of courage seemed to sink its way from her shoulders to her hands as she walked with crossed arms towards the door.

A second knock startled her, yet she closed her eyes for a moment of peace and extended a hand towards the door handle. Fear gripped her ownly briefly before realizing who waited for her. "Jaimie?I could barely recognize you," said Jewel pitifully. She realized how anxious she had gotten only after hearing her question aloud.

"Yes! I have something to show you," Jaimie excitedly stated. "And what the hell are you doing in my apartment? Feeling sorry for yourself? Come on, we're going for a ride!" All of the self-pity Jewel built up whilst drinking alone faded in Jaimie's presence. The love she felt towards her friend could doust any fear. She was certainly rare.

Half-smiling, Jewel gave in, "let me get my jacket." Jaimie moved to the driver's side to wait for Jewel to come out. She slipped Parliaments from her pocket and gently placed one on the edge of her lips. As she lit the cigarette, she turned right to stare at the doorway, still anticipating Jewel to come out any moment. "Did I leave anything to drink inside?" she thought to herself. The high she had been riding out all day dimmed long before she pulled into the parking lot. "Fuck it, I'll see what she's doing."

Jaimie's intentions were obvious and so was her need to avoid sobriety. She flicked the cigarette and approached the ajar door. Jewel had changed her clothes and lain four shots beside Jaimie's vanity. Laughing light heartedly, "Shoulda known you were in here trying to get real cute and drunk." Jewel burst with laughter already having downed whiskeys all evening. Adoration and inibriation was written all over their faces. Within a few moments, Jaimie imagined all the possible things that could happen tonight.

The reflection she cast in the vanity calmed her for a moment before Jewel urged on, "Alright love, where are you taking us?" "Someplace where we can actually see the night sky. Streetlights are everywhere and hiding my surprise from you," Jaimie slyly stated. Jaimie recognized but paid no mind to Jewel's puzzled look. "What in the world..." Jewel thought to herself and then eased towards the door. She turned the lock and looked back to see if Jaimie was following. She could tell Jaimie's imagination was carrying her into unexplored emotions.

Jewel neared the passenger side of the car, pacing her movements so Jaimie would get in first. "Still can't believe your parents got you this car. This is a lot just for moving closer to them," Jewel stated bluntly. Jaimie ran her left hand across the hood of the car as she approached the driver's seat. "Yeah, I'm still star struck. I mean c'mon, it's a fucking Aston Martin," Jaimie insisted with a peculiar anxiousness. She recalled her last trip to the cinema with her father. In the last scene of the film, a handsome young man drives one off a cliff. Exciting memories of sharing with her father, what the car meant to her, and Jewel's presence sank into Jaimie's heart.

She playfully stared at Jewel, wide-eyed with manic intent. A short, relieving laugh erupted from the two girls and each reached for the other's hand. The glass was suddenly showing signs of rain. Attention was elsewhere before a gust of wind cooled the sweat on their skin. "Let's get out of all this light," Jaimie informed Jewel as she let go of her hand and opened her palm. "What?" Jewel asked bewildered. "My keys, miss" Jaimie humorously suggested. Jewel laughed at her own drunken confusion and presented the keys with a kiss on the hand. Jaimie just shook her head and anticipated what would become of the night.

The key to the DB4 felt unique amongst others she didn't have use for. Jewel eased her right arm out of the window to feel the rain at the very instant Jaimie started the engine. With closed eyes, she felt the vibrations in the car and rain making its way over her skin. She didn't see Jaimie in this instant, adoring her, holding onto each second as if their time together would cease. Jewel flashed a smile in her direction, "I'm ready when you are" still closing her eyes.

Jewel

         Jewel is lying on her back thinking of her childhood in the mountains of West Virginia. Grandparents raised her alone and didn’t send her to school until she was eight. Reacting to the sight of other children was what lingered in her mind as she laid waiting for the dryer to sound. Sunlight streaming through the window shades made its way across the wall onto the one hanging picture. It was of a small farm, a sort of rural scene you’d find at a Saturday morning yard sale. Her attention remained fixed on the ceiling, speckled with subtle glitter.”Who thinks this looks nice?” she thought, fixated on something superfluous, but all too debatable in her world. “Those kids back then probably saw all kinds of things,” she said aloud, leaning right to reach the saucer on the floor. Another sip went down slowly and she lay back on the floor, staring up again.

Specks of dust floated through the sunlight before Jewel’s eyes. She sat up once more, disenchanted with her fading buzz and sighed heavily. The sun warmed the back of her head. She closed her eyes and sank into impatience. Silence seemed to elude her when she yearned for it the most. Rustling leaves and spotting an animal in the brush became distant happenings. Jewel bowed her head a little more, straightening herself up doing so. Nostalgia had taken time and emotion from her but left tips to manage its poison. She sat for what seemed to be no longer than ten minutes or so. In fact, it had been almost an hour. The dryer sounded but her attention remained elsewhere. With clasped knees and closed eyes, Jewel began to tremble thinking of growth. Never in her life had she wanted to escape more than now. “What do I do?” Jewel said quietly, fighting tears and a wild imagination.

A close friend came to mind as she sat sniffling. Her advice, the kind that burns, felt all too necessary in this moment. Jewel let go of her legs and crawled on all fours toward the record player just below the picture. Her friend’s music was strewn across the carpet. It was too much for Jewel to sort through. A Hall & Oates record caught her eye as she raised the saucer to her lips again. She scooted forward, reaching for the music and hoping it was as good as she remembered. Jewel was sure nothing could sound as sweet as it once had. The record fell from the sleeve after lifting it carelessly. She picked it up and placed it face-up on the player. The needle needed replacing but it sounded normal to Jewel. When the Morning Comes filled the room as the day ended with orange streaks falling on the far wall. Jewel was no longer trembling. Her eyes opened and she grinned. 

A knock at the door came just as She’s Gone began to play. Everything Jewel had contemplated that evening was suddenly lost. “It’s probably Jaimie…forgot her key again,” Jewel thought. She got to her feet, stretched her arms, and strolled toward the front door. “Someone’s in a rush,” she said aloud hearing the hum of a car engine outside. A moment before grabbing the door handle, she considered the chance that it was him. With tiptoes, she lifted herself and peered through the peep-hole. All she could make out was the silhouette of a woman in a dress, standing in front of a car’s headlights.