Silent Echoes of the Past

After completing the pre-donation medical screenings, I sat in the quiet hospital hallway for a long time, wanting to spend just a little more time with the undeveloped life growing inside me.

When I finally turned my phone back on, the video from last night was gone, along with all the comments. 13 missed calls from David Frazier and 17 from Erika McKnight popped up on my screen.

I dialed David back, and he answered on the first ring.

"Hazel, where have you been?" His voice sounded heavy and tense. "Erika has been breaking out in cold sweats from the pain all day, but because she couldn't reach you, she refused to take her pain medication. Do you seriously have to make us worry at a time like this?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but my throat felt dry. The line went quiet before David finally noticed my silence. "Where are you?"

I tucked the lab reports deep into my purse. "I'm fine."

He let out a sharp breath. "Then get over here. Erika wants to take photos."

Over the line, Erika gave a frail smile. "Hazel, I just want a nice portrait for my memorial service. When I'm gone, I don't want you guys to remember me looking terrible."

"Stop talking like that. You look fine," David scolded.

His tone sounded sharp, but as he poured her a glass of water, I heard the glass clink against the edge of the table. His hands were trembling.

By the time I arrived at the studio, Erika was already dressed in a white gown. It was a beautiful dress, but she was so emaciated that the waist hung loosely around her frame.

David stood behind her, his eyes rimmed red. When he saw me, he frowned. "Why are you so pale?"

Before I could answer, Erika offered me a weak smile. "Hazel..."

Instantly, David turned back to steady her. I walked over and smoothed down the hem of her dress.

She had been just as thin when we were kids, yet she had still pushed me into that utility room and locked the door behind her.

Later, as she was being loaded into the ambulance, she had comforted me. "Don't worry, Hazel. I might be small, but I can protect you just fine.]

The photographer's voice snapped me back to reality. "Should we do individual shots first?"

Erika shook her head. "Could we take the group shot first? They're the most important people in my life. After that, you can take my memorial portrait."

David's face darkened. "Don't use that word."

Erika's eyes welled up with tears.

I looked at her and spoke softly. "Let's skip the group shot."

They both looked over at me, and I smiled faintly. "You two should take the couple portraits instead."

Erika froze, and David frowned. "Hazel, stop messing around."

I ignored him and crouched down to look Erika in the eye. "I just don't want you to be alone on the other side without someone to stand by you."

David fell silent. Tears spilled down Erika's cheeks, and I gently wiped them away.

When the photographer asked them to step closer together, Erika hesitated, afraid to touch David. I took her hand and placed it gently around David's arm. "It's alright."

David looked down at her.

"Groom, put your arm around the bride," the photographer called out.

David didn't bother correcting the photographer. Instead, he reached out and wrapped his arm around Erika, pulling her into his embrace.

I stepped outside the frame, holding Erika's bag of medications in one hand and David's jacket in the other.

As the flash went off, it suddenly occurred to me that David and I had never taken wedding photos together.

So, I took a quiet half-step toward the edge of the frame, letting my blurred silhouette catch the side of their photo. It was a small way to fulfill my final wish.

After the photoshoot, Erika asked if we could go for a walk outside.

"Just for a little bit," she pleaded. "I want to look at the sky one last time."

David refused. "You're in no condition to be walking around."

Erika lowered her head, falling silent. I opened my mouth to speak, but my vision suddenly flickered dark.

Because of the blood drawing earlier, my legs felt weak, and a dull ache throbbed in my lower abdomen. I leaned against the back of a chair to steady myself.

David caught my movement and furrowed his brows. "Erika is already physically and emotionally exhausted. Don't get sick right now and make things harder for her."

I forced myself to nod, picking up Erika's scarf. "Let me walk with you guys."

The wind bit outside. David held Erika gently as they walked ahead, while I lagged a few paces behind.

Erika stood by the railing, staring into the distance. After a while, she suddenly spoke. "David, I have one more wish."

David's voice sounded tight. "You have a lot of wishes today, don't you?"

Erika didn't laugh; she simply turned back to look at me. David turned as well.

After a few agonizing seconds, he muttered, "Hazel, take off your hearing aid for a second."

I complied, and the entire world fell silent.

David turned back to Erika and said something with utmost seriousness. Erika froze, then burst into tearful laughter. They thought I couldn't hear a word, but I knew how to read lips.

He had said, "I love you."

A rush of bitterness swelled up in my chest. Wiping away the stream of tears, I slowly curved my lips into a smile and silently mouthed toward them. "I love you both, too."

For that, I was willing to step aside and let them be together.