Chapter: the story comes to a head

so, and here the second, so that you can imagine something :)

Claire never thought that she would come back to Maryland because things had happened there that she hadn't even told her parents. The pain and charm were still in their bones when they reached the edge of the village. In all these years she had managed to forget this, but now she had to force herself, because it was about her parents, to endure them. As soon as she got the call with the terrible news, she grabbed her things and set off. The director didn't feel sorry for her and kicked Claire out of the show and Tim made an insulting face when she just left. Couldn't anyone understand that it was a matter of life and death? Why were they so heartless? But those thoughts vanished when she stopped in front of the small Maryland hospital. Claire was a little afraid of the news that she might find in it, but she had to go inside.A nurse told her that her parents were in intensive care. She immediately went to the elevator and went to the third floor. But since she did not know exactly where to go, she spoke to the next doctor who met her. Unfortunately, he had just started his job and didn't know anything about these patients, which made Claire angry. “You're a doctor. Where are my parents?” Before the person addressed could say anything, a man came up to her and spoke to her. "Claire, is it you?" She looked at the man, almost speechless. "Do we know each other?" "I called you. My name is Ryan Winter." "Ah it is you. You may know where my parents are." His forced smile now narrowed. “Yes, please follow me.” Without a word they walked down a corridor. They stopped in front of a door. "Your father is doing better. He will get through." "And what about my mother?" When she looked into his eyes, she noticed that they were shiny."She is not doing well. You should speak to your doctor in charge. He comes over there." She went over to him without hesitation. "Hello. My name is Claire McLain. How are my parents?" He looked pityingly into her eyes. "If I am to be honest, not good. Your father will come through, but he will not be like he used to be. His brain was badly damaged in the accident. Therefore, he will probably no longer be able to walk and perhaps also no longer speak, But we'll see that first. "" And ... and how is my mother? "" She has lost a lot of blood. We have to reckon with the worst, as sorry as I am for her. "" Oh my God. That mustn't be true. How much longer will she live then? "" Difficult to say. A few days, hours, maybe even only a few minutes. You can't tell. If you want, you can go in to her. She is unconscious though, you must be strong now.Excuse me, please. "If Ryan hadn't been behind her, she would have fallen painfully on the floor now because her legs suddenly gave way." Cry if you want. They don't need to be embarrassed. "" No, I have to pull myself together. Please help me to my mother. "He picked her up in his strong arms, even though she was uncomfortable, but she didn't have the strength to protest.

By the bedside, Ryan sat Claire on an armchair and she touched her mother's hand. "Do you hear me? Please open your eyes, it's me, your Claire. Mam, wake up. Please!" Ryan watched the scene and almost started to let his emotions run free and cry. But he made up his mind to be strong when Claire was too. Again and again he heard her pleading, but her mother did not move. A few minutes passed. But suddenly, as if by a miracle, she opened her eyes. "Mam, you woke up. I love you so." Although she was very weak and it was very difficult for her to talk, she smiled."Claire, my angel. Nice to see you again. I love you too. Take care of your father, please. Will you promise me?" Claire could only nod. Her voice would have failed if she tried to answer her. “Thank you, I will always be with you.” After these words, she closed her eyes and stopped breathing. Claire screamed at Ryan in a panic. “Get a doctor, quickly!” He did as he was advised and stormed off looking for a doctor. When one finally appeared, all he could find was her mother's death. Now there was a point where Claire could no longer hold back her tears. Undecided what to do, Ryan took her in his arms and felt her hot tears on his chest. "You can cry. You will be much better afterwards." They stood there for a while until she calmed down a bit. “Please take me to my father.” “But the doctor said that I should take you home, because we were forbidden to go in to your father's." "Why? Is he worse? "" No, it's just a precaution. If you want, I'll take you to your parents' house and you can rest there. I will stay with you and if anything changes in your father's condition the doctors should call. "Although Claire resisted the suggestion, it did take her away from the hospital.

The drive from the hospital to my parents' house took half an hour. In Claire's eyes, it was one of the longest times in her life. They drove past well-known houses, fields and meadows, but she paid no attention. Again and again she thought of the picture in the hospital. The warm smile her mother had shown her and then died. She just left the most important woman in her life alone. Claire still couldn't believe it.

Ryan parked his car and helped her out. So after all these years, I'm back here, thought Claire. So many memories were in her head all at once.All the good ones, but also some that she never wanted to remember. This happened shortly before she graduated from high school while her parents were away. Nobody knew anything about it, just them and someone else.

“Claire, do you hear me?” How far away she heard Ryan's voice and was torn from her thoughts. “I'm fine, thank you.” They looked intently at his eyes and he came to the conclusion that it was probably true. They stood together for a few minutes and watched the beautiful and still image that was revealed to them. The sun was already going down and was reflected in the small lake in front of the house. The wind was blowing in the trees, that was a sign that it might be stormy at night. Claire felt a new gust and she began to shiver. Ryan had noticed this and therefore led her to the house. She stopped again on the porch and looked out at the calm lake. She had often been here with her parents or friends.It's been a good time, up to a certain day.

When Ryan touched Claire, she was slightly startled from her memories, but she didn't want to let it show. But he had seen it. For the second time since you arrived here, she was just lost in her thoughts. What did that mean? But since her mother had just died, Ryan didn't want to ask. As everywhere in Maryland, this door with the self-made welcome sign from Marge McLain was not locked. Claire could never believe that everyone has a lot of trust in one another. For them it was always certain that a door should be locked.

The house was tidy and, in Claire's opinion, it looked like something out of a movie. In the living room, on her mother's favorite armchair, was a magazine called "Mirror" and next to it was her knitting. Claire touched it gently with her fingers, wishing that her mother was only here and that everything had been a bad dream.But it wasn't. Finally she looked over to the fireplace. This was the place where she often sat with her parents in winter and fried apples together. Her cat Tiger at the time, because its fur was reddish, always tried to catch it and eat it itself. "Yes, it will never be like that again," Claire told him in a whisper and felt her feet slacken. In slow motion she sank to the ground and she crouched like a little kitten, with tears running down her cheeks.

Ryan stood in the door the whole time and watched Claire. His throat was dry. "I would really like to help her somehow, or say something comforting, but I can't think of anything. What should I do?" He kept asking himself in his mind. He had never been in such a situation before and was immediately helpless. His breath caught and he felt as if his heart would stop at any moment.

After Claire was huddled on the floor, Ryan went to her and tried to hug her.Both remained in the position for a few minutes, enjoying each other's presence. In the distance they heard a dog barking. Ryan was the first to move again. “Would you like some coffee?” With a nod she gave him her answer and he went into the kitchen in silence. Everything was in its place here. The cups, which at the time were a wedding present for the newlywed couple, were nicely arranged in a showcase. Marge McLaine had always cherished her because she and her husband got it from a friend who died of leukemia shortly after the wedding. Ryan had often seen Marge standing in front of the stove when he rode by with his friends. It always smelled of cinnamon and their famous cookies. "Sometimes she would call us in and offer some. They tasted as good as they smelled. How I would love to have cookies now.", He thought as Claire entered the room.“Can I help you?” Her eyes were red and she looked like a small, fragile girl. "No, you don't need to. Take a rest in the living room. I'll bring you the coffee then." Claire looked at Ryan thankfully. "OK."

When Ryan came to her a short time later, Claire was lying on the small, narrow sofa. She had one hand under her head and seemed to be asleep. A strand of hair hung over her face and the sun seemed to tickle her nose. Ryan put the two cups on the almost antique-looking table and looked at them for a while. She hadn't changed much since she left Maryland a few years ago, only her body was more like a woman's now. She was beautiful in his eyes, ever since they'd gone to school together. He regretted that she had moved out of town. He'd never been as in love with anyone as he was with her, but Claire didn't look at him. Unlike before, he had changed a lot.He was weak and thin, now he was strong and muscular. "All the work as a lumberjack had paid off," he thought to