Free Envisioning Hope by Tracy Lee Page B

of whooping and clinking glasses
made everyone vow that, by morning, all things would be different. Deep down, I
knew that I would be going home to a lonely, silent one bedroom apartment and
nothing would be different for me.
    I
turned my attention to my watch and noticed that it was almost midnight. I
threw back what was left of my beer and got up, throwing some money up on the
bar for Jackie. Her eyes caught mine and I lifted my head in thanks for the
service she had given me as I headed to the entrance.
    Glenn's
voice caught my ear as I heard him slur his declaration.
    "New
challenges await you tomorrow, Ollie. If you're not careful, they're gonna hit
you smack dab in the face!"
    I
just rolled my eyes and held my hand up in acknowledgement at the absurdness of
his statement. I knew what tomorrow held for me and I was not going in blind, I
was going to be ready for whatever Hope Saxton was going to throw my way.
    Literally.
     
     
    Chapter 9
     
    Arriving
back at the hospital that morning, I noticed the same young nurse who manned
the main desk every morning in her usual spot wearing that usual smile that took
up most of her face. Her demeanor had changed from the first day I met her,
laughing up a storm when she saw who I would be visiting. As I approached, she
waved me through, earning her with a smile and a wink. She was saving me from
having to dig in my bag for identification and paperwork. My eyes dashed
between the entrance of the hallway and the clipboard that seemed to be
screaming for me to approach and record my name.
    I
decided to take a chance and continued to walk through. When I heard no
response, I kept going. The morning nurse, who I had never seen before, stopped
me and asked me for my pass. I showed her my identification and followed her as
she walked me down the hallway.
    I
was tired. I didn't sleep due to stressing over how today was going to go. I
wasn't sure how Mrs. Saxton was going to take me, or if she would even react to
me at all. I don't think I was nervous, I think it was more of the fact that
the entirety of this woman's future livelihood depended on me. Today was going
to be the beginning of her future and I still had no idea what to expect.
    Okay,
maybe you could call it apprehension.
    The
sound of the key turning in the door brought me back to the reality that I had
to walk through that entry and quickly deal with what I was about to find. Of
course, I knew that all the lamps would be on, along with the television and
radios. I saw Mrs. Saxton lying in bed on her side with her back toward me. I
didn't want to frighten her, so I decided to call out her name even though I
was pretty sure she knew I was there.
    "Mrs.
Saxton, its Oliver Sheldon. Are you awake?"
I didn't move until I heard a response, a response that never came. I took a
couple steps closer to the bed, keeping my guard fully in place. If she heard
my voice, she could determine right where I was when it came to chucking
something at me.
    I
stood there another moment before I said, "Mrs. Saxton…"
    "Go
away," she mumbled from the pillow. I closed my eyes knowing that it was
more than likely going to get ugly in here, but leaving without going over this
evaluation was not an option. She had had a year of people turning their backs
to her just so they didn't have to deal with her, but her time of pushing
people away was over.
    "Mrs.
Saxton, that's not happening. So, why don't you make it easier on the both of
us? I've brought you some clothes, let's get you dressed and we will sit down
and discuss what our relationship will entail.
    "I
said, go away."
    I
had a feeling that most of the people that came in here dealt with her in a
loving, gentle way. I also had a feeling that that kind of therapy was going to
get another mug thrown at my head. I decided that I would experiment with this.
    "Mrs.
Saxton…" I said in a gentle, positive tone. The one they teach you in
college that will allow positive energy to flow, thus allowing the