Death?

  “And here lay Charles and Elizabeth Thorne whom Jetta loved so dearly. We hope she will live her parents dream. God bless you all.” Pastor Cloys voice rang out over the whole graveyard. Tears were falling down Jetta’s cheeks as rain falling from the wide sky above. Despite her grief, she seemed almost happy. Not that her parents had died, but that they were in heaven and she was going to see them again someday. James Owen drove her to the orphanage in his carriage even though it was only quarter of a mile away. Immediately after the carriage stopped in front of the orphanage Jetta knew that something was wrong with herself. She felt a little dizzy and had a throbbing headache.

   “I don’t feel very well,” Jetta moaned. James glanced at her in shock.

   “How do you feel?” James asked concerned.

“I have a terrible headache and I feel a bit dizzy.”

   “Well, can you walk?”

   “I think so,” Jetta said starting to get down from the carriage, but she collapsed. James was instantly by her side examining her pulse. He was so nervous he did not know if he felt it or not. He scooped her up into his arms and carried her into the orphanage.

   “What on earth has happened to Jetta?” asked Barbra.

   “I have no idea. She just collapsed.” James laid her on the bed, “I’m going to get the doctor”

The doctor came, “I’m afraid she has scarlet fever. Keep her separated from the other children and keep the room well ventilated. Also, make sure she gets plenty of rest. Keep her comfortable. She should recover in less than month.”

  “A month?” Barbra was surprised.

   “Yes, it usually takes that long if you follow the necessary instructions that I have told you. I’ll be back in a week to check on her.”

   “Yes, doctor.” Barbra replied

      Jetta’s sickness worsened. The doctor kept his word and came the next week. The doctor shook his head sadly, “I’m afraid she’s leaving this world. Her pulse is so faint I can barley feel it.”

   “We did everything you told us to do, doctor.” Barbra said in a broken tone.

         The doctor thought about her condition for a moment and said, “I think she may not have fully recovered from her last illness. When this one came, she probably wasn’t able to fight it off that easy. That is likely what happened.”

Jetta opened her eyes and said “heaven is not far away. I will be there soon to see my ma and pa.”

  With that, Jetta closed her eyes for the last time. Or so everyone thought.  Everyone was weeping rather loudly, they had only known her for a few short weeks, but she had left such a deep impression on every one that she met. James had been in the room when the doctor had said she was going to die. He had practically fallen in love with her, in the few months that he had known her, and he did not want her to die. Therefore, he crept outside and asked God to spare Jetta’s life. James was shocked to find that she had already died. Hours passed and James still could not believe Jetta had pass on. At length James lost all hope of her being alive and slowly left the room. “James.” A voice whispered. James stopped dead in his tracks he listened but could not hear anything so he continued walking. The voice came again “James.” James whorled around and saw Jetta with her eyes open. He had to lean on the wall in order to keep from falling, because he was so happy and confused. At length, finding his voice he yelled, “Pastor Cloy, Mrs. Cloy, everybody she’s alive! She’s alive!”

      It was an unbelievable time every one shared that day. In the evening Mr. Cloy and James brought Jetta outside on a stretcher so she could enjoy the evening air. Then James brought out his fiddle and started playing some jolly music while everybody danced. A week after that day Jetta joined every one at the table.   She thought the Cloys would be happy to see that she was well, but instead their distressing faces greeted her at the table. “What is the matter?” she asked, “Is something wrong?”