64 Petunia’s story (2/2)
Silence.
The silence seemed to stretch on for hours, but then out of the blue, Petunia continued again:
”I tried to overdose, I scratched myself and pushed pins into my arms. I cried a lot, and just didn't know what to do with myself. Because I thought, surely something would change. But nothing ever did- and it still hasn't. I had online friends, Sarah and two others- but even now, things have happened, and my first friends ever have gone down to just me and Sarah speaking…Theeeeeeen in 2015 my family also decided to move away from our old house, and that was the place I had been at my entire life, so it was only natural for me to be sad about leaving.”
”Oof I forgot to mention how Sophie my first dog got bladder stones in 2013 and almost died-If we hadn't brought her to the vet, the vet said she would have been dead the next day. And the thought of losing Sophie broke my heart, and she was sick for months-Then in 2016, after we had moved and all-Just, I began to find ways to vent in 2016. I vented through fanfics, feeling that I wouldn't bother anyone by using a silly little anime character. It helped me keep myself calm a little while my dog Geoffrey was literally puking every hour, unable to keep food down-And that worried me, but I just prayed for him. Sophie and Geoffrey are honestly the only creatures I fully trust in real life. It's like they can sense when I'm sad. Last time when I got home, Geoffrey just ran up to me and started licking me- and he's not even that social of a dog. He doesn't like showing loads of affection.”
”BUT ANYWAYS!” Petunia suddenly increased volume, ”so 2016-2017 were about the same. But in 2017, my family had made friends with an old, very precious couple that sat in front of us. And the man, Mr Geist, was always so cheerful and just- a wonderful man. Always smiling, saying, 'Welcome to the house of the Lord!' Then he'd always shake my hand and say, 'what a kind, young lady you are!' And he had this strong, North Dakota accent that was so unique and amazing. And his wife would always tell me, I reminded her of herself when she was a teenager. She told me she could tell I was a listener, rather than a speaker. And I felt she, of all people, understood me.”
”But- Mr. Geist came down with cancer. But he was so happy, because it was a kind that could easily be cured. He went through the treatments, still showing up to church every. Single. Sunday. And he always keeps a huge smile on his face, saying, 'Welcome to the house of the Lord!' And every Sunday he's just 'you're such a lovely young lady!' But-as summer rolled around, he began to get weaker, his treatments coming to an end. The doctors said the cancer was gone, everyone was so happy. But, he had another issue where he had to be on dialysis, because his liver didn't work at all. Still, he smiled and laughed and encouraged.”
”But in September. One Sunday I was sitting over in the youth, and I noticed a friend of Mrs. Geist just sobbing as she spoke with my parents. And Mr and Mrs Geist weren't at church and they never missed Sunday. Then, when the alters opened for the people to go down and pray- my parents and a whole group of people went- and they were people I knew who knew Mr. Geist. After church I just ran to my mom and she was crying- and she said words I didn't want to hear at all 'Mr Geist is dying' And just the week before- we had sent him flowers in the hospital, because he had come down with the shingles, and his body was really weak- so he just had to be monitored.”
”The day he was to be released he- the doctors found had cancer had spread through his body. And the treatments would be too awful on his body, worse than anything he could imagine. So that Sunday afternoon after church-we went to hospice. And Mrs. Geist met us in the cafeteria area- and you see- I've visited hospice before with the old 5th and 6th grade class- and we all saw how peaceful of a place it was…” Petunia had a distant look, looking somewhere far beyond the café its self.
”But it was that day I just my heart literally broke. And when we went to see Mr Geist, he just looked at me and said 'you are a special young lady' And I just burst into tears in front of him. And his words just kept making me cry harder because he was so- happy 'This time next week, I'll be having church in heaven with Jesus!' And that just hurt so much I…” Tears the size of pearls began to swell from the window of her soul.
”And as we left that day, my mom just ”this is the last time we had to speak to Mr. Geist...”And that just made me bite my cheeks so hard because I didn't- I didn't want to think about it…And oof…The next week- we received a phone call…”
”He died on Saturday morning at 10:18. He really did get to have church in heaven the next week aaaa- then the following Tuesday, the funeral was held and the next day I had to go to youth group and I justI couldn't…AAAaaa!!!...The funeral took all day long. And it even started to rain while we were there and I just…” Petunia drew in a breath.
”Thats where he was buried peacefully, and just his wife has been so broken over it and it makes me so sad still because with the little I knew of him. He was so amazing and his last words to me will just always stick in my mind. I remember just begging God to not take Mr Geist…But he's in a better place now…”
Before I could think of any words to say, my body already moved first. And I found myself wrapping my arms around her.
”I am sorry for what happened to you…” I found my tears just rolling down like a waterfall. ”It's just…Too much…Too much…”
”It's ok. Sorry if I made you sad.” Petunia said with a soft voice.
”It's my fault for asking.” I swallowed back my tears for a moment. ”You been through so much, how are you able to still give so much?
”I don't anyone to be alone.” She said gently.
I paused for a moment then said: ”Actually I am not much of a hugger. But for this case, I suppose I can make an exception…” My lips folded into a small smile.
”I love hugs!” Petunia said half tearing half enthusiastic.
I hugged her tighter.
Q: How do you think of the story?