Tears force their way out of my eyes as I gingerly stroke her still hand. Dad doesn't know what to do with himself. He fiddles with his fingers and can't look at me or Lacy without getting a visible lump in his throat.

I don't want to leave her...

But it's not long until I discover I don't really have the choice.

Luke gently knocks at the door and then slowly pushes it open.

"Gen? I got a call from your... urm... Foster dad. The whole family's really worried. I told them you were here."

I offer what small of a smile I can.

"Thanks, Luke."

Luke smiles... But then his facial lines show deep concern.

I look down at Lacy, then back up at Luke.

"Luke? Wha...What is it?" I ask warily.

He seems to be struggling to control his breathing. Every beep in the room suddenly seems more ominous.

"Gen, I'm sorry but I need you to go. Something's really not right, she shouldn't be declining this fast... Maybe we need to take her off the chemo after all and..."

He starts mumbling frantically to himself as my breathing gets faster and faster.

I'm not ready to lose her. None of us are. None of us ever will be but... Not now... Not ever... Not now... Please... God? Not ever!

Luke pushes the red call button and turns toward me. I'm frozen in fear, I can't move...

"Gen, please, get out of here, I'll call as soon as we have news and you can come back. Gen..."

My hearing and vision start to get a little blurry...

A nurse, Doctor, someone came in and is now talking to Luke.

I try to stand up, but everything is fuzzy. The sound of my name being called in a concerned manner faintly reaches my ears.

Before I completely black out, someone scoops me in their arms and we start moving.... Somewhere... Somewhere...

Please God... Please.... Please....

****************

I slowly regain consciousness to the sound of a chorus of terrified voices.

"Is she coming down with something?"

"What in the name of George Washington happened at the hospital?"

"Has she eaten anything in the last 24 hours?"

"She's burning up..."

When I try to force some sort of sentence out of my mouth it just comes out as moans. The chorus goes dead silent after a collective gasp and I become aware of a cold rag on my head.

I blink a few times and discover I'm back in my room, everyone gathered around me.

Liam peeks his little eyes over the edge of the bed and asks, terrified, "Is she as sick as Lacy?"

I can hear everyone's heart break just then. Ruffling his head of hair I choke out, "No, Bubba, I'll be ok, I promise."

He smiles at that and then hops into bed next to me, snuggling up under my arm.

"Gen, what happened?" Michelle asks.

I look at Dad, as if asking for the right words to say and he just squeezes my hand.

"I.... I... Don't know... I-" I stammer.

"Oh everyone stop harassing the girl. Go on, go on," Mrs. T says, shooing everyone away. "She's got a little fever, nothing to worry about. We need to get food and water in her, she's had a lot of excitement. Give the girl some peace."

It's not me they're worried about at all anymore... I think to myself.

The sweet crowd I'm blessed to call my family slowly and rather reluctantly disperses, except for Dad and Liam.

"Gen, don't you ever scare me like that again," Dad squeaks.

I smile. "I'll try not to Daddy."

There's a silence for a moment before I gather the courage to ask, "So Dad? I know it was hard to be in that place but Lacy's really somethin'. Did you... Learn anything from her?"

Dad smirks a little at the way the roles seem to have been reversed, what with a daughter asking her daddy if he learned anything.

Then he sighs and says, "She certainly challenged me to get right with God again."

I smile. "She has that affect on people."

He nods. "I can only imagine."

Just then, Josie appears at the door.

"Hey Gen?" she starts. "How much would you hate me if I kicked your Dad and brother out so my Mom could talk to you?"

I almost chuckle at how straight forward she is... But the thought of talking to Aunt Cassie makes me more sick to my stomach then I already am.

"Um... Why?" I ask.

She bites her lip. "She... She wants... forgiveness...."

I cast my eyes downward and Dad squeezes my hand.

"You can say no to talking if you want," he whispers.

I take a deep breath and muster up the courage to squeak out, "Um... Yeah she... She can come on in."

Dad smiles proudly and Liam whines a little, but gets up anyway.

With me final pat on my head, Dad takes Liam's hand and leaves just as Aunt Cassie enters with a hot bowl of soup.

I slowly sit up, keeping my eyes downcast as she enters.

"H-Hey," she says shyly. She gently places the bowl of soup in my hands.

"There's been so much going on that you've forgotten to eat haven't you?"

She chuckles awkwardly and I mumble a thank you.

She doesn't really say anything for a while so I slowly bring some of the soup up to my mouth, awkwardly waiting for what she's going to say.

"Look... I know that when you first heard what happened, you probably hated me on the spot..."

Silence again except for the clink of my spoon against the bowl.

Aunt Cassie sighs and I can hear her voice getting thinner and thinner...

"But Gen, you've got to understand there's not a single, stupid minute of any stupid day that I don't hate myself for what I've done!" she cries desperately.

My heart sinks to my stomach and I beat myself up for not forgiving her the first time she confessed to me... Like Jesus would have...

"And- I- I just- I don't know- I was hoping there was room- in that big heart of yours- for- one more person who doesn't deserve- a-anything at all I just... I...."

She breaks down right there. No more words can come out. Nothing but tears and sobs that beg me to find it in my heart to forgive her.

When Jesus preached forgiveness... He wasn't only talking about when someone steals your favorite crayon in kindergarten... I guess I alway knew that in the back of my mind but it is truly hitting me right now.

He meant for us to forgive anything and everything...

I slowly set the soup on the nightstand beside me and swallow my pride enough to be able to raise my eyes towards her tear streaked face.

Not sure what to say at the moment, I just... Throw my arms around her.

She gasps a little, and then sobs even harder.

"Aunt Cassie please... You made a grave mistake.... But you didn't mean for it to have the consequences that it did. Please don't hate yourself. I... I love you Aunt Cassie."

"I love you too, baby!" she sobs. "I always did, I just- I-"

"Ssshhh," I comfort her. "Please. There's- enough grief in this house-"

"WHAT?!?"

Michelle's voice screeches from downstairs, suddenly silencing Aunt Cassie's cries.

"What the-?"

"Aunt Cassie?" I say, scared.

She looks me up and down, taking in my fearful figure...

"Come here, hon," she says, determined. She lifts me out of bed and carries me like a newborn downstairs to all the commotion.

When Mr. T sees us enter the living room, he doesn't waste any time...

"We need to go to the hospital... It... It might be our last chance to see Lacy."

I'M SORRY I KNOW I KNOW I'M MAD AT ME TOO!!!! It doesn't help that I got back after crying at a movie theater lol. Anywho I'll be updating soon, I prooomiiissseee! I know what gonna go down in the next chapter. Thanks for all your support!!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!