Chapter 8

In a split second, Gabriel and the kids rushed forward as fast as they could. With a heavy thud, the three of them caught Linda as she fell, and Eliana could practically hear the snap of bones. She just stood there, remembering how in her last life, when she broke her leg, Gabriel barely looked up. He simply muttered, "You really should be more careful." The kids hadn't even bothered to ask if she was okay. But now, for Linda, they threw themselves into harm's way without a second thought. It was all just so painfully ironic. Eliana watched the chaos erupt all around her, feeling like she was just a joke to all of them. The scene was a mess, with people shouting everywhere. "Get the medic! Hurry!" "Commander Ford is hurt!" Amidst the confusion, Eliana stayed put, watching as the medical team rushed in and carried all four of them onto stretchers. "Where are the family members? Someone needs to come sign these forms!" a nurse called out, frazzled. Eliana lowered her eyes and quietly followed behind them. The surgery seemed to drag on forever. Gabriel was the first to be wheeled out, followed by Jamie and Hannah. The anesthesia hadn't fully worn off, but all three were already struggling to sit up. "Linda..." Gabriel rasped, his voice rough. "How is she?" Jamie sounded weak as he asked, "Is Linda okay?" Standing at the foot of the bed, Eliana answered calmly, "She's fine. You all protected her." Only then did the three of them relax and sink back into their pillows. Over the next several days, Eliana moved through the hospital like an outsider, caring for the four of them. She brought Gabriel water and wiped his face, but he only asked, "How's Linda doing?" She changed Jamie's bandages, but he turned away, insisting, "I don't need you. I want Linda." When she tried brushing Hannah's hair, she slapped the brush out of her hand. "You don't know how to brush my hair! I want Linda to do it!" The other families in the ward looked at Eliana with pity. She overheard nurses whispering behind her back, "That poor woman..." But Eliana just went through the motions, tuning it all out, doing what she was supposed to do. The day Gabriel was discharged, the sun was shining bright and warm. He put on his uniform and didn't even spare Eliana a glance. "I'm not coming home," he said. "I'm going straight to the island with Linda. You handle getting the kids discharged." Eliana just nodded. "Okay." She stood outside the hospital doors and watched as Gabriel carefully helped Linda into the car. She watched as the military vehicle sped away, leaving her behind. The sunlight warmed her face, but she felt nothing. Eliana turned and walked in the opposite direction. When she got home, the house was quiet. She pulled out her suitcase and started packing. She packed just a few clothes and her savings passbook. That was all she had. Halfway through, the phone rang. "Mom!" It was Hannah's voice. "Why haven't you come to get us? The hospital says a family member has to sign us out!" Eliana said softly, "Don't you have Linda?" "Linda and Dad already left for the train station!" Jamie shouted, grabbing the receiver. "You need to get over here!" Eliana just smiled. "I have something I need to take care of." She hung up, picked up her suitcase, and walked out the door. The train station was packed with people coming and going. Over the speakers, the announcer said, "Train K387 to Maple Island is now boarding." Eliana bought a ticket for the train heading in the opposite direction. Out on the platform, two trains sounded their whistles at the same time—one carrying Gabriel and Linda off to blue skies and distant shores, and the other taking Eliana toward the brilliant new life that finally belonged to her.