Life Before

 

Miranda left the store, list still clutched in her trembling hand. She dropped the paper in her purse and fished out her keys as she hurried to her car.

Once inside, she locked the doors and turned the air on full blast. She couldn’t be sure if it was another hot flash or adrenaline, but she felt in danger of spontaneous combustion.

It was not like her to be so bold, to take matters into her own hands. But the time for waiting was long past and action was imperative.

She had less than 2 hours left to check everything off her list.

Miranda pulled the list from her purse. It spanned the length of the #10 envelope in her tiny, measured block print. Fortunately, most of the items were already checked off.

She puts the car in gear and navigates the twists and turns to Rib Mountain State Park and parks near the visitor center. Her sturdy shoes carry her across the uneven path, through the maze of large rocks and to the tower.

She begins the climb. These are the last moments of “life before.”

As she reaches the third platform she pauses to look out over the city she’s always called home. It’s small by Chicago or Minneapolis standards but it holds everything she needs. All she is finally claiming and curating.

Finally at the top, out of breath but smiling, she carefully releases the paper cranes she made earlier in the day. Her heart flutters along with the paper as it makes its way to trees, bushes and ground. She feels good as she takes her list in hand and crosses off WATCH CRANES FLY and CLIMB RIB MOUNTAIN TOWER.

Only two items remain on her list and less than an hour before she begins chemo.

Quickly, before she can scold herself out of it, she grabs her pocketknife and carves her name in the top deck’s railing, then begins her descent.

She’s nearly back to her car when she remembers to cross CARVE NAME from her list and sees that there’s just one item left. She takes a moment to look around and notices a clump of hyssop. She snaps some stems and brings the flowers to her nose, inhaling deeply as she walks back to her car. She thinks that maybe she will plant some outside her condo as a reminder to SMELL THE FLOWERS every day.