A Saint for Life by Nicole Heck Page A

to Gabe's hospital bed, he took my hand like he did before I fell asleep, sending energy quickly through my bloodstream like a fire upon a gas encoded stick.
    As I lay awake in bed, I continued to replay the dream and the events that occurred hours before I went to sleep. I soon found myself wondering how my life went from so perfect to a constant battle between finding my own happiness and making everyone else happy. I grabbed the picture that stood still on my nightstand and held it close to my pounding heart.
    The little girl in the picture had a smile so wide her eyes were shut. It was easy to recognize that she was laughing and really happy. Her dad was right behind her, pretending to push the swing but clearly posing for the picture. The happiness that thrived between the two of them wasn't fake. I looked down at the picture and stared at it. I tried to remember what being happy like that felt like, what it felt like to not have to worry about anything.
    I can remember that day like it was yesterday. My dad and I were out in the back on the swings, as seen in the picture. My mom came out of the back door calling for us to come inside.
    “Let’s just tell her now!” my father exclaimed.
    “Are you sure?” my mother asked, smiling, and took out her camera.
    “Zoe, your mother and I have some good news we'd like to share with you.”
    The best part about that day had become the very moment the words escaped from his lips. I was going to be a big sister. It was the best day of my life.
    Setting the picture back over onto my nightstand, time seemed to get away from me. It was already 5:30 in the morning. My shift at my other job started at seven, which meant I only had a few more minutes to lay in bed. Getting off of my pillow top mattress was a struggle. There was nothing more comfortable than a warm bed in the winter. Finally pushing my body above the bed and placing my feet onto the rug, I headed downstairs.
    I stopped next to the kitchen to rub my eyes as I yawned, but a sudden noise sent my feet off the ground.
    Peeking around the corner, a sigh of relief let loose from my mouth when I discovered it was only Janice.
    “Looks like you had a busy night last night. I hope you didn't eat all of this by yourself!” She studied the empty cartons next to the sink along with the dirty bowls.
    “Christian came over,” I said under my breath.
    “Oh sweetie, that’s great! Things must be going really well. I thought you weren’t going to tell Gabe?”
    “I wasn’t. We ran into him in the store, and well, the two of them teamed up against me. Things went surprisingly well!”
    I sat down at the kitchen table, and continued to tell her about the events that occurred last night over a cup of coffee. Starting with Christian's arrival, I told her how Gabe wouldn't stop talking the entire time, and about the clear bond between the two of them.
    “Gabe sat there and talked to him the entire night. Every question he wanted to ask Christian about basketball, he did. So Christian offered to teach him a few things when he was better. He was so sweet with him. “
    “Does he know about Gabe's illness?” Janice asked.
    “When Gabe went to sleep I told him everything.” I muttered. I still had a hard time believing it myself.
    “Everything?” she questioned, wanting to know more.
    “Yes. Everything. Even about Mom and Dad. I don't know what got into me. I just had a sudden feeling that I could trust him, and before I knew it, it all came out of my mouth. He lost his brother at a young age too. We really seemed to connect last night, even if it had to do with unfortunate circumstances.”
    “That’s not a bad thing, Zoe. I told you the right guy was going to come around soon, that you would just know. You just have to allow yourself to be open to opportunities like this and stop being so nervous.”
    “Wait, I haven’t even gotten to the best part. Before Christian left, do you want to know what he did? I keep