your job is important,” I whispered. “But so is my life … what’s left of it anyway. I’m staying.”
Then be quiet .
Cola’s halo collar burst with golden light. The light was so bright I had to squint as I watched a change come over my dog. His dark fur shimmered, stretching into a silvery silk coat. His tail shortened, fluffed into silvery fur, and curled. The biggest change was his body, which shrunk smaller and smaller—until the animal springing onto the old man’s bed wasn’t a dog.
Cola had become a Siamese cat.
The old man’s withered face brightened with a huge toothy smile. He sat up in bed and reached out with a joyous cry: “Shadow!”
Cola-now-Shadow mewed and cuddled into the man’s bony tube-connected arms. The man’s face shone with golden happiness. “I never thought I’d see you again,” he whispered. “You’re such a pretty girl.”
And then I finally got it. This wasn’t about me at all. No one was supposed to witness Cola in this mission except the old man. No wonder Cola had been so angry at me. I was intruding on something sacred and beautiful. Cola’s being at the hospital the same time as me was only a random coincidence.
But I needed help, too. Cola was just the dog (cat?) to get a message back to Grammy. Although why didn’t Grammy already know? She’d assured me she was always nearby, watching out. But where was she now when I needed her most?
I didn’t have the answers, but this was the wrong time for questions. Despite the glow of joy on this man’s face, he was dying and Cola was here to comfort him.
Sitting quietly in a plastic chair, I watched the old man stroke Cola’s fur. Purring filled the room like an angelic choir: sweet, pure, and loving. As Cola lapped the man’s wrinkled skin with kisses, his age lines faded and he glowed with youthful energy. Joyous music was sprinkled in the air, the soft melody of a flute and a ripple of harp strings.
Goose bumps rose up my arms. The air in the room sizzled with electricity. The old man lifted his gaze to stare at the ceiling, beyond anything my ordinary eyes could see. I blinked and thought I saw tiny orbs glowing like floating stars, bobbing and swirling toward the bed. When I blinked again, there was nothing. The old man grinned so wide I could see gaps in his yellowed teeth. Despite his appearance, he seemed younger and radiant. He lifted his tube-connected hand and waved, as if welcoming old friends.
I saw only a “cat” and the old man, yet suddenly the room felt crowded.
With emotions tangling heavy in my heart, and clouds of tears blurring my eyes, I turned away from the joyous, terrible, wonderful miracle.
Cola was right—I didn’t belong here. So I stood quietly and slipped out of the room.
In the hall, everything seemed ordinary again. Exhaustion washed over me as I sagged against the wall. I closed my eyes, grateful and humbled.
Cola’s job was truly important, and I didn’t blame him for growling. He must have been as surprised to see me as I was to see him. When he finished “comforting” the old man, I hoped he’d forgive me. I’d wait here for him, no matter how long it took.
With my eyes shut, I felt so relaxed that I could almost go to sleep. My anxiety faded, breaking apart and floating away. I thought of those glowing orbs and wondered if they were spirits greeting the old man—friends, family, and even pets. When I’d been with Grammy, I’d seen figures on the far side of the lake, waving. Were they my otherside family and friends, waiting for me?
This thought made me smile—until I heard the footsteps. My eyes shot open, and I found myself nose-to-badge with the same security guard I’d seen by the elevators.
“You aren’t allowed here,” he said.
“I’m waiting for someone.”
“Waiting in an unauthorized area,” the security guard (Karl, according to his badge) replied. “Nice girl like you should know better than to break rules.”
There was nothing
Then be quiet .
Cola’s halo collar burst with golden light. The light was so bright I had to squint as I watched a change come over my dog. His dark fur shimmered, stretching into a silvery silk coat. His tail shortened, fluffed into silvery fur, and curled. The biggest change was his body, which shrunk smaller and smaller—until the animal springing onto the old man’s bed wasn’t a dog.
Cola had become a Siamese cat.
The old man’s withered face brightened with a huge toothy smile. He sat up in bed and reached out with a joyous cry: “Shadow!”
Cola-now-Shadow mewed and cuddled into the man’s bony tube-connected arms. The man’s face shone with golden happiness. “I never thought I’d see you again,” he whispered. “You’re such a pretty girl.”
And then I finally got it. This wasn’t about me at all. No one was supposed to witness Cola in this mission except the old man. No wonder Cola had been so angry at me. I was intruding on something sacred and beautiful. Cola’s being at the hospital the same time as me was only a random coincidence.
But I needed help, too. Cola was just the dog (cat?) to get a message back to Grammy. Although why didn’t Grammy already know? She’d assured me she was always nearby, watching out. But where was she now when I needed her most?
I didn’t have the answers, but this was the wrong time for questions. Despite the glow of joy on this man’s face, he was dying and Cola was here to comfort him.
Sitting quietly in a plastic chair, I watched the old man stroke Cola’s fur. Purring filled the room like an angelic choir: sweet, pure, and loving. As Cola lapped the man’s wrinkled skin with kisses, his age lines faded and he glowed with youthful energy. Joyous music was sprinkled in the air, the soft melody of a flute and a ripple of harp strings.
Goose bumps rose up my arms. The air in the room sizzled with electricity. The old man lifted his gaze to stare at the ceiling, beyond anything my ordinary eyes could see. I blinked and thought I saw tiny orbs glowing like floating stars, bobbing and swirling toward the bed. When I blinked again, there was nothing. The old man grinned so wide I could see gaps in his yellowed teeth. Despite his appearance, he seemed younger and radiant. He lifted his tube-connected hand and waved, as if welcoming old friends.
I saw only a “cat” and the old man, yet suddenly the room felt crowded.
With emotions tangling heavy in my heart, and clouds of tears blurring my eyes, I turned away from the joyous, terrible, wonderful miracle.
Cola was right—I didn’t belong here. So I stood quietly and slipped out of the room.
In the hall, everything seemed ordinary again. Exhaustion washed over me as I sagged against the wall. I closed my eyes, grateful and humbled.
Cola’s job was truly important, and I didn’t blame him for growling. He must have been as surprised to see me as I was to see him. When he finished “comforting” the old man, I hoped he’d forgive me. I’d wait here for him, no matter how long it took.
With my eyes shut, I felt so relaxed that I could almost go to sleep. My anxiety faded, breaking apart and floating away. I thought of those glowing orbs and wondered if they were spirits greeting the old man—friends, family, and even pets. When I’d been with Grammy, I’d seen figures on the far side of the lake, waving. Were they my otherside family and friends, waiting for me?
This thought made me smile—until I heard the footsteps. My eyes shot open, and I found myself nose-to-badge with the same security guard I’d seen by the elevators.
“You aren’t allowed here,” he said.
“I’m waiting for someone.”
“Waiting in an unauthorized area,” the security guard (Karl, according to his badge) replied. “Nice girl like you should know better than to break rules.”
There was nothing
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