Right Near Me...

"Will you really be out there with the stars mama?" asked Lilith, a mere three year old. "Yes Lily. If you ever get lonely, the star outside will shine really bright.” said Olivia, the child's mother with an arm over Lilith. 

"Please. I beg of you. Please, give me just some time with my daughter. Lilith is a poor soul. Let me just see her for one last time." Olivia begged, nearly two days ago. "Only on the account that you shall meet no one except Lilith, I grant you 48 yours to spend on earth." said the glowing angel, hovering over Olivia's bed, before disappearing.

Olivia dried her tears and thanked the angel. Usually when she spoke her head throbbed but today she had no pains. Her tumor had made her quite bedridden. 

She leaves the hospital room and then bangs her head into a nurse entering the room. To her surprise, she had gone right through the nurse. That is when Olivia realized that her body was on the bed, motionless. She screamed but the nurse didn't even turn. When she looked towards the vitals, they were perfectly normal. Olivia soon got over her amazement and headed home.

Luckily the hospital was a local one which was just two blocks away from her home. She walked down the streets. Her head was still submerged in the tsunami of questions as though why none was able to see or hear her but calmed herself by saying that her first priority was Lilith. All she wanted to do was holding her daughter close and spending time with her. Her only pity was that she wouldn't be able to say her last goodbyes to Peter. 

After opening the door to her house she saw her husband staring at awe towards her. "Peter, can you really see me?" wondered Olivia but at the same time he walked right through her and shut the door. "Weird. I remember closing the door really tight." murmured Peter and went back to his chair near the fireplace gazing at the albums of their wedding.

Olivia smiled at her husband. Looking at the face he made every time while trying to concentrate and separate the pictures stuck together with utmost care made her smile. She longed to go behind his chair and hug him tight but remembering the promise she made to the angel, she reluctantly turned away from him. 

Climbing the stairs, she remembered chasing a drenched Lilith downstairs with a towel in her hand. She remembered the days when she used to be healthier. Nearly two years ago Olivia was diagnosed with a tumor that leaves the patient living for less than a year. Despite this condition, Olivia battled against it for more than a year till the previous three months had gone a bit rough. She got admitted at hospital as her health became complex. Olivia's health started to worsen and the last time she saw her child was weeks ago. 

Olivia was glad that she was leaving the nasty pains soon. Her only sorrow was that getting relieved from her pains meant that she would no longer be able to see her family. She opens the door and Lilith rushes towards her. Before she could open her mouth Olivia shushed her. "Lily darling, don't say a word. Mama has come here only to meet you. Shh..." "Mama, you came here to see me?" said Lilith with a familiar cute grin. She pulled Olivia towards her bed and made her sit down.

"Mama, how's your boo boo? Daddy said you are having pain" whispered Lilith. "I'm fine baby. Just don't tell anyone that I am with you, OK? It's a surprise for daddy." replied Olivia. Lilith nodded until her blonde messy ponytail, tied by Peter for sure, flew. Olivia smiled. 

The day passed by with Lilith hosting high class tea parties in London and jumping in the bed so hard that Peter came twice into the room to stop her. They were close calls which meant Olivia had to sneak into the closet before he arrived for the sake of the deal. At night, Peter walked into Lilith's room, luckily Olivia hid under the bed right in time and warned Lilith to not mention anything about her. "Darling, I'm so sorry daddy doesn't stay with you how he used to. It's just that daddy is sad too that mama is in the hospital." he said guiltily. "Daddy it's OK. Please read me a story" requested Lilith which was accepted by Peter. Olivia felt horrible for not meeting Peter but somehow pacified herself. After Peter left the room, Olivia went to sleep near Lilith.

The next day Olivia woke up from Lilith's side and kissed her daughter on the forehead. When the day nearly came to an end, Olivia made Lilith sit down on her bed. "Darling, do you want mama to have no pain?" asked Olivia. "Yes mama. Why did you ask?" said Lilith gazing into the similar bottle green pair of eyes she owned. "Lily dear, an angel came to mum. She said to me that if I go with her I will have no pain forever, but mama won't be able to come to you and daddy. Can I go baby? Please honey. I want to be with you but mama's boo boo hurts very much. The medicines are very bitter darling. Can I please go Lily? I'm so sorry baby." said Olivia breaking into tears she wasn't able to shed the last three months. Lily was taken aback. The innocent girl hugged her mother tight and after weeping hard she said "Mama, please tell the angel to take care of you. I want you to have no pain mum but I will really miss you" said Lily sobbing. Olivia pointed out the window and relieved her child by saying that if she ever gets lonely just look at the night sky and Lily would see a star shining really bright just for her. Olivia left that day with her heart finally at peace.

Remembering those words every night before she slept, Lilith always made sure that she looked out the window before sleeping. The words she said in her head every night before falling asleep were the same. 'She's right near me...'