Ten years of fighting cancer…

Tears puddle in her eyes, she smiles.

…

Her name is Rivers. She was diagnosed with cancer at the age of five. Since Rivers could remember, she was in a hospital. She was taught there, raised and even made friends there.

At the innocent age of seven, her mother dropped her off after Dairy Queen blizzards trip and never returned. Broken and confused, Rivers waited for her mother beside the white double sliding Baptist Children’s Hospital doors in hopes she might come back.

A single tear rolls down her cheek, now, as she thinks of it all. She’s packing her suitcase at fifteen, the dusty violet box shaped bag has a variety of memories she’s taking away. After years of chemotherapy, she’s finally going to be free, without the chains of therapy. Without struggling to walk and eat. Without being in a white hospital bed. Maybe her hair will finally grow out.

“Rivers,” a small nurse floats in and smiles. “Ah, my sweet girl. I’ll miss you so much!” The nurse pulls Rivers into a tight hug. “You’ll be alright with Mrs. June and Mr. Thomas, yes?”

“Of course, Nurse Jenson,” Rivers hugs the nurse back even tighter. “And I’ll come back and see you, I promise.” Rivers sticks her pinky out and the nurse takes it, shaking gently.

Fifteen minutes later, while Rivers swung her small legs from her chair, watching them go to and fro, the white double doors she’d sat by years ago in wait for her mother slide open.

Mrs. June rushes forward, puddles of joy in her eyes. She hugs Rivers and cries happy tears. “I’m so proud of you, honey!” Her curly, auburn shoulder length hair is down, flourishing as she kneels to hug Rivers. The perfume she wears comforts Rivers from head to toe, she relaxes.

Another fifteen and they’re headed for the shiny new parked car in the hospital parking lot.

“Look!“ River’s lifts her head to the sky, closing her eyes against the sun’s rays. “I’m free!” She squeals and turns in circles, her hands out at her sides, “I’m free, I’m free! No more cancer!”

June laughs, holing Rivers’ hand and spinning alongside her while the birds sang as if they sung just for Rivers. The wind was gentle and welcoming, the day warm and open. The air was crisp and fresh.

Rivers reached up towards the sun as if she might touch it. “And the sky… well the sky has never looked so blue,” she whispered.