I promise..

When Lana's mother dies, she becomes distraught and alone. A walk by the river changes her whole life. How would you react to a visit.. in which changes you character in whole ?

"Why must it be mom?" Lana had wondered as she snuggled within her comforter. Her knees scrunched up and arms lay wrapped around them in search for comfort. Lana's quilt smelt of her mother's Chanel perfume. The room looked as it did Tuesday night, though there had been something missing. It wasn't a hard piece of the puzzle to connect. It was Lana's mother.

 Eleanor had been battling with Leukemia, a type of dreadful cancer in which affects the blood. She was a strong woman, though the cancer had taken over her body, her features, and her life.. It hadn't embraced her spirit. She was known for her attitude in which everything would be better in the morning and all small troubles shall vanish in the morning sunrise's presence. 
Though Eleanor had been struggling for 3 and a half years due to her cancer, her smile never faulterd. Through all the treatment, she kept a effulgent attitude and unceasingly brightened everyone who was around her. Eleanor's soul had been ardor, which helped others gain hope. Without such a soul, ones own life is in despair and decisions may be quite unsure more than ever. 

"Why hadn't it been me instead?" Lana thought. "One can live with out a child, though one needn't live without a mother." Lana's eyes had began to water. Drop by drop she reminded herself of the little song her mother had sung to her when she had awoken from an unpleasant nightmare.

"Baby, I dry your eyes. Now baby, I wipe your tears. Baby, you shall not cry. Now baby, you mustn't have any fears. Mommy has you. Lay your head down. A Mommy's love is true. Baby, I'm here to stay. Baby I'm here just for you."

The melody slipped past Lana's lips and loud sobs followed. The door open. An older woman walked into the room with a tray full of fruits, a single glass of orange juice and a small cake. She placed the tray on top of Lana's night table. 
"You know Lana.. It was bound to happen. The hunting question was when." The woman said as she rubbed her granddaughter's back in hope to place more comfort and support in her than she herself had contained. Her palms warm and wrinkled, still powerful. As for her belief in God, it slowly but surly began to faulter. 
They both lay still. 
"Grandma."
"Yes Lana." 
"I'm going out for a while." Lana said glancing out the window. Lana imagined herself picking flowers and dreaming in the comfort of the grass the birds chirping and singing their morning tunes had always given Lana strength when she longed for it most. The skys were clear, nothing but blue for miles to come. Lana took a deep breath in, eyes closed eyes, her hands reached up to the sky, and a frown splat on her face. Her emotions were difficult and unsure even to herself. A feeling of freedom, though the pain eventually crept up behind her reminding her of the pain she was carrying. 

As Lana strolled be the small river, she began to loose focus and became dizzy. Lana, unsure of her surroundings, stumbled apon a bolder and sat down with shaky legs. A white fog over came her, though there was a faint voice through the empty world. "Come, give me your hand."

Lana spotted a place like no other. This land was so green , fields of dancing flowers spread among the ground, and large willow trees hanging over patches of flowers. The grass lay straight up in thick spreads. It had been the grass every nature-lover longs to lay in and day dream. Up the steap hills grew thousands of flowers, red, pink, white, baby blue, and many other wondrous colors and designs. They swayed in rhythm to the winds. The trees stood strong and rich in peace. Every figure was presented with such tranquility and beauty. The very fragrance of the flowers blow across Lana's face each time the wind blew. 

"Lana." A sweet voice whispered. "I've missed you baby." It said in a louder tone. Lana's eyes widened as she listened to the voice speak. 
"I love you Lana baby." It said in a soft and gentle voice. Tears had rolled down Lana's cheek in awe. 
"Mom." She her voice croaked. A warm hand touched her hair and began to comb through it with its fingers. Lana's face glistened in the warmth of the morning sun. She then closed her eyes.

"Baby, I dry your eyes. Baby, you shall not cry. Now baby, you mustn't have any fears. Mommy has you. Lay your head down. A Mommy's love is true. Baby I'm here to stay. Baby I'm here just for you."

The woman's hands were wrapped around Lana by now. Lana opened her eyes. A warm pink sweater was then visable to her. She saw the thin bracelet that hung from the woman's arm. "To infinity" it read. Lana pulled out her wrist and read, "and beyond."
"I love you Lana." 
Lana grabbed her mother tight and later her head on her mother's shoulder.  
Lana and her mother lay in the grass and picked handfuls of small daisys. 
"Lana." Eleanor started. 
"Hold this flower." Lana held the flower her mother had handed her and watched. 
"Now tell me Lana, tell me something you are grateful for." 
Lana's eyes glansed at her mother and back to the daisy. 
"Having the most kind-hearted mother God can ever bless me with." 
Eleanor smiled, thought she was touched she continued her explanation to Lana.

"Anything else ?" 
"Oh mom, for there's simply too much to name all. My family, my home, my health, nature..." 
"Baby, are you grateful for life ?" 

Lana sat quiet, remembering her words, "Why hadn't it been me instead ?" She felt awfully guilty, though she remained speechless. 

Eleanor watched with kind forgiving eyes.

"I'm sorry mom" Lana sobbed and flung towards her mother. Eleanor wrapped her gentle arms around Lana, looking out into the field of prancing flowers. 

"Lana, can you promise me something ?"

"Yes. Yes I can mom. I can" Lana cried into her mothers arm. 

"I want you to promise me that you'll never give up. I want you to promise me you'll always fight. I want you to have faith in God. People who have a religion should be glad, for not everyone has the gift of believing in heavenly things. But.." she pauses. 

"Keep me in your heart." she whispers. 

"Do you promise ?" 

Eleanor holds up her pinkie finger in compromise to her words. 

"I promise Mom." Lana swists her finger around her mothers.