(18+) The Guest (Complete)

Ch. 67: A simple bracelet

"I can't believe how many kids you have here. Just look at them. So happy and free," I said to Michael in astonishment. The third bus had just opened the doors, and girls and boys ran screaming with joy toward the amusement park, to stand in line for the different attractions. Some could walk themselves, some had crutches and some had wheelchairs. And there was even one that had to lie in some kind of customized rolling bed, because he couldn't sit up straight. My heart ached for him. So while Michael was busy talking to one of the parents, I walked over to the little boy.

"Hi there," I said a little awkwardly. Then I sat down on my heels as elegantly as I could, which wasn't very elegant at all, just so we could see eye to eye. He just looked at me, blinked a few times and moved his tongue up and down in his open mouth.

"My name is Lilliana. What's your name?"

The little boy was clearly handicapped, and it was even worse than I first thought.

"His name is Benedict, but everybody just calls him Ben. He can't talk," he male nurse said.

"But he understands what you're saying."

I smiled to them both, trying my best not to get emotional. But it wasn't easy when the man said that even though he looked small and fragile, he was almost nine years old.

"Hi, Ben. Very nice to meet you. We're so glad to have you here. Are you going to try..."

Then I stopped. How could he possibly ride the carousels with his condition? But the nurse saved me.

"There are a couple of rides we're going to try. But we mostly came here to see the animals. Isn't that right, Ben?"

The boy smiled a little, still with his mouth hanging open, and made a sound that sounded like a deep cry. But there was no doubt that he was excited. Then his eyes fell on my stomach, and he made another sound.

"Yes, there's a little baby in there. A little girl," I said and smiled while I fought against tears. Why couldn't this little boy grow up to be like other kids? But then I looked around me and found that almost all the kids here had some kind of handicap or medical condition. And I almost felt like a criminal knowing that my own baby was healthy and strong.

"If you come back later someday you can meet her."

Ben made the same cry as the first time, and his eyes sparkled. And I suddenly felt the urge to give him something.

"Do you want some candy or ice-cream? Or maybe a waffle?" I asked, but the nurse shook his head.

"He can't eat like we do. He has a feeding tube to get the nutrition he needs."

I didn't know what to say. Should I say 'I'm sorry'? Wouldn't that be to degrade and pity him? I wanted to include him with the others. I wanted to show him respect. But instead I just said:

"Oh."

Then I thought for a moment and knew what I could give him. My bracelet. It was one I got from Sophia for Christmas a few years ago, but I was sure she would forgive me when I told her why. So I took it off and showed him the silver chain with a little heart and a star in the middle.

"Do you see this?" I asked, and saw him blink his eyes, shifting his gaze between the bracelet and me.

"If I can be the heart that loves you, then you can be the star. A big star that sparkles on the sky so everybody can see. Then I can blow you a kiss and think about you. Does that sound good?"

He let out the happy cry again, and I had to blink away a tear to be able to put the bracelet on his arm. And when I looked at the nurse, I saw that his eyes were glossy, too.