Chapter Eleven: The Next Chapter

 

Finally, the melancholy day which everyone around Spring Breeze had tried to forget arrived. It was the day Miriam had to move away.

Cloudy and her friends, including Scazzarda, Liloy, and Meta Knight, were there to see her off. As they crossed the street, Cloudy tried to ignore the brown moving van in front of the house. But deep down, she knew she would no longer be able to shove aside the fact that Miriam would never truly return. And minus the yearly visits and holiday stays, she would be gone—forever. Cloudy couldn’t wrap her head around that verity. She tried to shut it out of her thoughts, but it continued to scream in her head.

Leo was sitting in the driver’s seat of the Capperdale’s shiny red SUV when Cloudy and the others walked up. Miriam and Meredith were packing a set of dishes into a cotton-lined cardboard box with shabby edges. When Miriam looked up and eyed Cloudy and company, her face changed from aloofness to throes of depression and gloominess. She tugged on her mother’s dress sleeve and said something to her that Cloudy couldn’t quite hear. Meredith nodded, but told her to hurry because they were about to depart.

Miriam bolted over to her friends and the first one she threw her arms around was Cloudy. “I’m going to miss you terribly!” she cried. “I wish I didn’t have to go!”

Cloudy felt a flood of dispiritedness upsurge in her, but with a great effort she restrained it. “Don’t worry, Miriam,” she spoke, attempting to sound cheerful but not quite succeeding. “You’ll still see us when your family comes to visit. And maybe we can even pay a call to your house sometime. That’s better than nothing, right?”

“I guess so,” answered Miriam, sounding so disconsolate Cloudy could barely stand it, “but it’s not the same at all. I wish with all my heart and soul time would stop and I could stay here forever. I know moving is what God wants for me, and I won’t argue with his will, but it makes me sad to leave behind everything I’ve ever known.” Tears welled in her eyes and she hastily rubbed them away on her shirt sleeve.

Cloudy too felt sad about what was taking place in the moment. This chapter in their lives—the chapter of good times, laughter, and hanging out, as well as adventures together and lots of fright, tears, and beauty—was almost over. It was nearly finished. But Miriam’s right, she thought. God’s calling her to move because He wants what’s best for her. We may feel sad she’s leaving, but there’s a reason she is. God wants her to have a better life than she does here.

Miriam was thinking along the same lines as Cloudy. Despite her despondency, she felt relieved and full of peace knowing God loved her and was taking care of her.

Miriam gently disengaged from Cloudy and then cuddled the other children. She spent the longest time with Zach. Her narrow fingers nimbly linked in his, she told him how much she would miss him and asked him to write as much as possible. He promised he would.

Then Miriam turned to Scazzarda. The older woman wrapped her arms around the young girl and tugged her close. Miriam leaned her head against Scazzarda’s chest, listening to her heartbeat and reticent breathing. There was a protracted stillness.

“Miriam,” Scazzarda said at last.

Miriam snuffled and looked up at her. “Yeah?”

“I want you to have this.” From her dress pocket, Scazzarda produced a decorative handpainted card with Matthew 28:20b designed on it. Bordering the edges of the card were lilac sprays, golden roses, and the glittering, vibrating wings of lunar moths and monarch butterflies as they flitted and flapped about. Miriam gasped at the breathtaking artwork so masterfully crafted onto the miniature white card.

“My mother painted this card when she was a little girl,” explained Scazzarda. “It’s very old and fragile, but in good condition from years of careful handling. I trust you’ll take very good care of it.”

“I will,” Miriam said. “I will. I promise.” She glanced down at the verse again and slowly read it aloud: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

“Of course,” Scazzarda replied, kneeling beside her. “I gave this to you so you would be reminded that God is with you wherever you go. He’ll never leave you or abandon you.”

“I know He never will,” Miriam said softly, “but I’ll miss you all so much. It won’t be the same without you.”

Scazzarda released a heavy sigh, her eyes glistering with a peculiar light. “I know you’re upset, Miriam, but know that this side of heaven, one chapter doesn’t go on forever. It can’t, in fact.” She gripped Miriam’s hand in both of hers. “God has decided to end this chapter, but that doesn’t mean the book is concluded.” She laughed. “In fact, your story’s just beginning!”

Miriam continued to gaze down at the card for the longest time, an expression of fascination and awe shining in her dark eyes. Then she suddenly grinned at Scazzarda. “Thank you!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around her neck. “Thanks so much, Miss Scazzarda!”

Scazzarda chuckled, tousling Miriam’s glossy black hair. “You’re most welcome, child.”

Miriam then embraced Liloy. “See you later, Liloy. I look forward to seeing your baby.”

“I’ll miss you dearly, Miriam.” Liloy’s eyes dazzled down at her. “Don’t forget us.”

“You know I’d never forget you,” Miriam responded. “No matter what.”

Last was Meta Knight. Miriam hesitated as she stood in front of him, unsure whether she should hug him or just say something to him. With a bit of indecision, she held out her hand to him, not knowing what else to do. He stared at her for a few seconds with a blend of confusion  and unsurety in his eyes. Then he reached out and clasped her hand in his, his fingers involuntarily tightening around hers. She smiled at him, then placed her arms around him and delicately hugged him. She sensed he seemed tense, frightened, and she almost felt she could understand why. It could occasionally be uncomfortable and weird to hug someone outside your own family, especially if you had a dark past and were wary of certain characters. In this sinister world, it was difficult to know who to trust. While Miriam knew Meta Knight trusted her, she also knew he still struggled with past trauma, and she in no way blamed him for being so apprehensive about being affectionate with those outside his family.

Miriam and Meta Knight gently pulled apart and stood looking steadily at one another. At that moment, Leo honked the horn. “Time to leave, Miriam,” he called.

Miriam withdrew her hand from Meta Knight’s trembling one. “I love you,” she softly whispered. “I’ll miss you terribly.”

Meta Knight tightly clutched the edge of his cape, He suddenly found it harder to breathe. “I love you too, Miriam,” he replied, his voice beginning to choke up. He drew his cape around his body. “I wish you the best.”

A somber smile lingered on Miriam’s lips as she thanked him with a tearful look. She slowly trudged to the car, opened the door, and climbed into the backseat.

Leo poked his head out the window and shouted to the driver  of the van, “We’re ready to go!”

“Aye, sir!” The driver saluted and started the engine. Slowly he began to drive off, the cargo inside making slight rattling noises. Leo kicked into drive and smoothly started off after the van.

As the car pulled away, Miriam rolled down her window, stuck her hand out, and waved to her friends standing alone by the empty house, looking forlorn. They waved in return.

But not one said goodbye.

For while they knew the chapter was over, life’s book was still to be continued.

 

* * * * *

 

Cloudy looked at Miriam’s deserted house and suddenly felt very alone, more alone than she had ever felt in her life. But at the same time, a sprinkle of warmth and peace began to parch her bleak and drab soul. She didn’t know what God planned to write next, but she was ready to jump into the next chapter with confidence and ease. With God on my side, I can do anything, she thought. No matter how rocky the trail ahead gets, God is with me. And He will guard me. . .through every chapter of this life.