“You see, Darlin’, you remind me very much of my daughter when she was your
age.. Oh.. she was so very beautiful...” Virginia sighed, reminiscing.
Curious, Gabby asked, “Was?”
Solemnly, Virginia nodded, “Ten years next Thursday... the anniversary of her
death. She was killed. Oh.. It was just terrible, Darlin’. One day, she said to me
‘Momma, I’m going for a little walk. I need to clear my head.’. That was the day her
husband- scoundrel, left her. I kissed her goodbye, and told her to make sure that she
took her umbrella.. That was the last time that I did see her.. My little girl. She was killed
by a car that had swerved onto the sidewalk.. It took me a long time to forget. It took
me even longer to let her go. Oh, I missed her so.. Of course, all mothers would say this,
but... she was my baby.. and she had so much. So much, Darlin’.” Pausing, she looked to
Gabby as they walked, “It feels good to talk about her. Her name was Katrina. Katrina...
Oh... How I still miss her so. That’s why it’s so lovely to see someone young and so.. so
talented with a.. well, a second chance I guess you could call it, Darlin’. Some people get
second chances, and,” she paused again, “they’re just too afraid to let themselves take the
chance.”
Raising an eyebrow, she asked, “I’m not sure what you mean ma’am.”
As she chuckled softly to herself, Virginia laid a hand on Gabby’s arm, “Darlin’,
please. My name is Virginia. Not ma’am. Now.. take for instance this young girl that
I’ve been taking care of for several weeks now. She’s a writer-a very good one at that.
Now Macy-that’s her name. She was in a car accident. Her parents were killed. It was
terrible. Her little sister who has Downs Syndrome has been on life support ever since the
accident, but she can’t be taken off without the custody holder- that’s Macy. Macy was
driving the car in the accident. And.. she just won’t forgive herself. She blames herself.
You see, she was paralyzed in the accident. Now.. she could walk again. The physical
therapist says that’s due to the extent of her injury. I’ve been trying and trying to get that
girl to go to physical therapy.. Now, all that I think she really needs is a friend. Someone
close to her age,” Silently she thought to herself ‘Step 1’ and smiled, “Now.. I know this
is a lot to ask, but.. would you be her friend, Darlin’? Maybe you could help each other.
You don’t need to answer me right away, or even say yes. Just meet her for me...”
Ever so slowly, Gabby’s head bobbed up and down, her hair falling into her face,
and she smiled softly, “Sure Virginia.”
Wearily rubbing a hand over his eyes, Justin sunk on the tiny bed in Gabby’s room.
In the past few days, he had found himself coming to her apartment more and more. There was something appealing. Gabby’s scent was in the pillows, her perfume bottles on
her bureau, the frames pictures of Justin and her around the tiny apartment. In a way, it
reminded him of everything he cherished so deeply. It reminded him of the unrequited
love for her that never left his heart. And, it reminded him of what Gabby had lost- all the
conversations, the gentle kisses, and the smiles they shared. He ran his fingers over the
tattered teddy bear resting on the pillow, fondly recalling the many times he had seen the
bear clutched tightly in her arms.
Tinkerbell hopped up onto the bed, laying right next to Justin. Groaning, Justin
ordered, “Let’s not make a habit of this Tinky..”
The cat purred as Justin stretched his large frame out on the tiny bed, settling
down for a nap before he started up again prepared to go see Gabrielle.
Laughing, Macy replied, “Josh was.. oh... 4 when I could carry him...”
Truth be told, Virginia had altered a story of the plan she had for Gabby and Macy
to Macy. She told her that she felt if Gabby had someone that never knew her, and didn’t
know about her past, to talk to, they would be equals. Macy, not reluctant in the least,
agreed, also agreeing not to mention knowing of *NSYNC or Gabby’s fame.
“Have you seen him lately?” Gabby asked, leaning back into the uncomfortable
hospital chair.
A grin crossed Macy’s features and she answered jokingly, “I was just about to get
there if you’d give me a minute, Gabby.” Nodding for Macy to continue, Gabrielle smiled,
“Well, I moved away and no matter how many times we promised, Josh and I lost contact.
But one day, I ran into him, if you will, and.. things haven’t been the same since.”
“I feel a story coming on..” Gabby commented.
Blushing slightly, Macy replied, “No... no real story. Just.. Josh has turned into a
very nice looking young man..a young gentleman for sure.” Hastily, Macy added, “Oh,
but it’s nothing like you think it is. Josh is just.. back to being my best friend again. I like
it like that. So. Enough about me. Now, why are you in here, Darlin’? I believe that’s
what Virginia calls you.”
Tugging on the tie of her bathrobe, Gabrielle asked softly, “Want the gory details?
Or sugar coated version?”
“Now that’s the kind of person I like. Give it to me straight. Let me hear those
gory details.”
Bowing her head Gabby answered, “I really just don’t know... I was in some kind
of an accident- a plane crash Virginia said it was... and... I can’t remember a thing. I woke
up and this guy with curly hair was there.. and he kissed me... Someone told me his name
was,” Gabby paused a moment to think, then continued, “Justin.. Justin Timberland or
something like that...”
Recalling something about Macy’s pet names for Justin, she recalled that Gabby
often called him Timberland. Macy remembered having spoken to JC about it.. and
laughing over it. “Who told you?”
Wrinkling her nose as she shifted in the uncomfortable seat, Gabby answered,
“Uh.. CJ I think his name was..NO.. that’s not it.. J... JC. Yeah. That’s it.. Oh, you’d
think I’d remember because.. in a way.. They were the first people that I ever met.” As
she peered around the large room Macy had in the hospital, her eyes settled on the radio,
something pulling her in. “Do you mind if I turn on the radio, Macy?”
As she shrugged, Macy answered, “No. I don’t mind at all.” Tiredly, Macy sunk
back into the confines of her bed, her eyes meeting with Gabby’s.
Figuring that she had nothing to lose, Gabby spat out, “Why don’t you want to
walk?”
Macy’s eyes grew wide, and she replied, “Well, we.. we really cut to the chase,
don’t we, Gabby?”
Apprehensively playing with the sleeve of her pink bathrobe, she answered, “I
don’t know... I just figured..”
Reaching her hand out for Gabby’s, Macy answered softly, “No.. It’s okay..
Really. I...,” She paused a moment, as though it were to painful to get the words out.
Finally, she choked out, “I’m scared, Gabby.. I’m scared that I’m going to get myself out
of this bed, and go down there, and won’t be.. won’t be able to walk. Or even worse..
I’ll get back on my feet.. and then I’ll... I’ll just remember..”
Before Macy could continue, a song came on the radio that drew both of their
attentions. It was Gabby’s last single since before the accident. As she sat listening to it,
Gabby’s nose wrinkled, “That’s not a bad song.”
As Gabby listened, Macy found herself with tears in her eyes. Gabrielle Reynolds-
the Gabrielle Reynolds, could not even distinguish her own voice on the radio. As the
song came to a close, the disc jockey’s smooth voice blended in, “Ah, yes. The angelic
sounds of the one and only Gabrielle Reynolds. Undisclosable sources at Orlando
Memorial report that Gabby’s condition has in fact changed, but that’s all they are saying
at the moment. As always WKLZ sends out our warmest wishes to Gabby herself and her
friends and loved ones that she, of course, recovers.” A commercial then sounded loudly,
and Macy searched Gabby’s face for some sign of recognition.
“What happened to her, Macy?” Gabrielle asked nonchalantly, her voice holding a
curious tone.
Unsure of how to answer her question, Macy shadowed the truth, “She was in a
really bad accident...”
Nodding sadly, Gabby answered, “She must be pretty famous, huh?”
Fidgeting with her starched sheets, Macy replied, “That she is. America’s modern
day sweetheart, if you will. It was sad for everyone to hear about the accident. Her fans..
her fans didn’t take it well. Neither did her boyfriend... he’s in the biz, as they say, too.”
“What’s his name?” Gabby asked.
Having herself followed the career of *NSYNC throught her sister, Macy lied
again. “Randall. Randall Basslake.”
“Well, what’s the fuss? Won’t she get better and sing again?”
An eyebrow raised, Macy answered softly, “If she puts her mind to it she will. It’s
all in her hands.”
Catching Macy off-guard, Gabrielle added, “I guess that, in a way, she’s a lot like
you, Macy. You just need to put your mind to it,” A yawn then escaped her before
continuing to speak, “Maybe.. Maybe I could read.. something you wrote sometime...”
Macy nodded slowly and said, “I’ll buzz Virginia, Gabby. You should get some
sleep.”
Once Virginia and her charge were on the way out the door, Macy asked softly,
“Will you come back, Gabby?”
Smiling softly Gabby answered, “You couldn’t keep me away... You’re the only
friend I’ve got right now..”
Macy smiled gently at Gabby’s retreating form and muttered softly, “Oh Gabrielle,
my friend.. oh, if you only knew.”
