Beyond A Sky So Blue -- Part VIII

The doctor told a happy Milly that she was cleared to return to work, although for light duty, the next day. The tall girl was practically bouncing on her bed as she thanked him again and again. The doctor laughed and then asked Meryl to see him out.

She was surprised by the request. However, she quickly agreed. She told Milly she would call when lunch was ready and followed the doctor out.

He stopped once they were in the kitchen. He studied her for a moment with a deep frown. Meryl wondered if she had done something wrong in her care of Milly. By the intensity of his frown, it must be some grave error.

“My dear, are you well?”

The question threw her. “Excuse me?”

“When did you get that cut on your hand?”

“About a week ago,” she replied, looking down at the injury in spite of herself. She glanced up at the doctor. “Why?”

The doctor muttered something under his breath. He plopped his black bag on the kitchen table, the thud echoing in the quiet room. He rummaged through the bag still muttering under his breath. Finally, he pulled out a small, rattling bottle and put it in Meryl’s hand.

She stared at it, turning it over for some kind of label. Finding none, she looked up at the doctor. “I don’t understand. You just cleared Milly for work and she hasn’t had a headache in days.”

“Ms. Strife, they are vitamins,” he replied. “They are for you.”

“Me?”

“A minor cut like the one on your hand should have been healed or nearly healed by now. Since it is not, it tells me a great deal about your malnutrition.”

“Malnutrition?”

“Eating poorly.”

“I understand what the term means, doctor,” Meryl snapped. She slammed the bottle of pills on the table next to his bag. “There is nothing wrong with my nutrition. Therefore, I have no need for vitamins.”

“Don’t let your pride make you foolish, Ms. Strife. You can’t take care of your friends if you are unwell yourself.”

He closed her hand over the bottle. “Consider a piece of free, friendly advice. Now, if your friend begins to experience strong headaches or any other problems, fetch me at once. Otherwise, I must bid you good day.”

She watched the doctor as he left. Various thoughts warred in her head, but she decided that the doctor had a point. She tucked the bottle in her pocket before taking Milly her lunch.

Milly’s happiness was contagious as the tall girl babbled about all the things she would do now that she had a clean bill of health. Meryl had to remind her friend that she still had to take it easy. But the reminder did nothing to dampen the other woman’s spirit.

Leaving her friend to eat, Meryl went to her room. She hid the bottle of vitamins and retrieved the letter from her mother. It was a beautiful day outside. She would read it out on the porch.

She did not let herself think of the reason she was spending so much time outside or by windows. She settled down on the top step. As usual, her mother’s letter was massive.

Meryl poured over the pages. Her father was doing well, still puttering around the house to keep busy. Her mother divided her time between her volunteer work and helping take care of her new granddaughter.

‘So, Michael’s wife has had the baby,’ she thought. She wondered if the baby looked more like her brother or his wife. A wave of homesickness hit her.

She had been gone from home so long. She had missed her father’s retirement party. She had missed Michael’s wedding. Now she had missed the birth of her niece.

Her mother’s letter went on to inform her of this person’s wedding or another’s recent promotion at work. One of her classmates had just had twins. Meryl could imagine her mother’s envy of having such news to report about her long-absent daughter.

‘Michael seems to be doing a fine job of making Mother proud,’ she mused. ‘Let him keep doing it.’

Her family never understood why she had joined the Bernadeli Insurance Society. It baffled them when she had given up her nice desk job to pursue Vash the Stampede. She doubted that she could ever explain it to them. She could hardly explain to herself.

Yet, she could regret the decision. If she hadn’t taken this assignment, she wouldn’t have found Vash. She couldn’t imagine what her life would be without that meeting.

Returning to the present, she finished the rest of the letter. She smiled as her mother reminded her to be careful and to try to make a trip home soon. Meryl was still smiling as she carefully folded the letter and returned it to her pocket. She would have to write back soon.

She sat outside for a while longer. She enjoyed the sunshine as she let her thoughts wander as they will. As the sun started to set, she rose to go inside.

However, something in the distance caught her eye. She turned and watched for a moment. Sure enough it was approaching.

Meryl tried to suppress the flurry of hope in her chest as she stumbled down the porch steps. It was still approaching and she could tell it was a human figure. She gasped when she could make out the blond hair.

She was running before she knew that she had made the decision to do it. All that she could think of was that Vash was back. He had come back as he said he would try to.

Her eyes filled with tears. She could tell it was definitely him now. Her heart gave a funny beat when she saw his grin.

She didn’t even slow. She literally collided into him. Before she could fall, he had his arms wrapped around her. She returned his vice-like embrace, whispering his name.

He murmured her name. They merely held each other for several moments. Then Vash laughed softly. “Miss me?”

Meryl loosened her grip just enough to pull back to see his face. Surely they were beyond hiding and veiled phrases now. “Of course I did.”

He smiled and cupped her face. “I missed you, too.”

She stood transfixed as his face lowered towards hers. She barely managed to close her eyes before he kissed her. She was stunned only for a moment. Then she returned it eagerly.

They stayed that way for quite some time.


Home The doctor told a happy Milly that she was cleared to return to work, although for light duty, the next day. The tall girl was practically bouncing on her bed as she thanked him again and again. The doctor laughed and then asked Meryl to see him out. She was surprised by the request. However, she quickly agreed. She told Milly she would call when lunch was ready and followed the doctor out. He stopped once they were in the kitchen. He studied her for a moment with a deep frown. Meryl wondered if she had done something wrong in her care of Milly. By the intensity of his frown, it must be some grave error. “My dear, are you well?” The question threw her. “Excuse me?” “When did you get that cut on your hand?” “About a week ago,” she replied, looking down at the injury in spite of herself. She glanced up at the doctor. “Why?” The doctor muttered something under his breath. He plopped his black bag on the kitchen table, the thud echoing in the quiet room. He rummaged through the bag still muttering under his breath. Finally, he pulled out a small, rattling bottle and put it in Meryl’s hand. She stared at it, turning it over for some kind of label. Finding none, she looked up at the doctor. “I don’t understand. You just cleared Milly for work and she hasn’t had a headache in days.” “Ms. Strife, they are vitamins,” he replied. “They are for you.” “Me?” “A minor cut like the one on your hand should have been healed or nearly healed by now. Since it is not, it tells me a great deal about your malnutrition.” “Malnutrition?” “Eating poorly.” “I understand what the term means, doctor,” Meryl snapped. She slammed the bottle of pills on the table next to his bag. “There is nothing wrong with my nutrition. Therefore, I have no need for vitamins.” “Don’t let your pride make you foolish, Ms. Strife. You can’t take care of your friends if you are unwell yourself.” He closed her hand over the bottle. “Consider a piece of free, friendly advice. Now, if your friend begins to experience strong headaches or any other problems, fetch me at once. Otherwise, I must bid you good day.” She watched the doctor as he left. Various thoughts warred in her head, but she decided that the doctor had a point. She tucked the bottle in her pocket before taking Milly her lunch. Milly’s happiness was contagious as the tall girl babbled about all the things she would do now that she had a clean bill of health. Meryl had to remind her friend that she still had to take it easy. But the reminder did nothing to dampen the other woman’s spirit. Leaving her friend to eat, Meryl went to her room. She hid the bottle of vitamins and retrieved the letter from her mother. It was a beautiful day outside. She would read it out on the porch. She did not let herself think of the reason she was spending so much time outside or by windows. She settled down on the top step. As usual, her mother’s letter was massive. Meryl poured over the pages. Her father was doing well, still puttering around the house to keep busy. Her mother divided her time between her volunteer work and helping take care of her new granddaughter. ‘So, Michael’s wife has had the baby,’ she thought. She wondered if the baby looked more like her brother or his wife. A wave of homesickness hit her. She had been gone from home so long. She had missed her father’s retirement party. She had missed Michael’s wedding. Now she had missed the birth of her niece. Her mother’s letter went on to inform her of this person’s wedding or another’s recent promotion at work. One of her classmates had just had twins. Meryl could imagine her mother’s envy of having such news to report about her long-absent daughter. ‘Michael seems to be doing a fine job of making Mother proud,’ she mused. ‘Let him keep doing it.’ Her family never understood why she had joined the Bernadeli Insurance Society. It baffled them when she had given up her nice desk job to pursue Vash the Stampede. She doubted that she could ever explain it to them. She could hardly explain to herself. Yet, she could regret the decision. If she hadn’t taken this assignment, she wouldn’t have found Vash. She couldn’t imagine what her life would be without that meeting. Returning to the present, she finished the rest of the letter. She smiled as her mother reminded her to be careful and to try to make a trip home soon. Meryl was still smiling as she carefully folded the letter and returned it to her pocket. She would have to write back soon. She sat outside for a while longer. She enjoyed the sunshine as she let her thoughts wander as they will. As the sun started to set, she rose to go inside. However, something in the distance caught her eye. She turned and watched for a moment. Sure enough it was approaching. Meryl tried to suppress the flurry of hope in her chest as she stumbled down the porch steps. It was still approaching and she could tell it was a human figure. She gasped when she could make out the blond hair. She was running before she knew that she had made the decision to do it. All that she could think of was that Vash was back. He had come back as he said he would try to. Her eyes filled with tears. She could tell it was definitely him now. Her heart gave a funny beat when she saw his grin. She didn’t even slow. She literally collided into him. Before she could fall, he had his arms wrapped around her. She returned his vice-like embrace, whispering his name. He murmured her name. They merely held each other for several moments. Then Vash laughed softly. “Miss me?” Meryl loosened her grip just enough to pull back to see his face. Surely they were beyond hiding and veiled phrases now. “Of course I did.” He smiled and cupped her face. “I missed you, too.” She stood transfixed as his face lowered towards hers. She barely managed to close her eyes before he kissed her. She was stunned only for a moment. Then she returned it eagerly. They stayed that way for quite some time.


Part IX: Shattered Back