Alexandra POV 5 years ago___
The room was filled with all sorts of noises.
Noises that may confuse, anger, or make you happy.
Everybody was in some kind of conversation with another.

Yet nobody even bothered to make eye contact with me. They say it was my fault that Grandma had her heart attack. They assume that I frightened her by breaking into her house for some place to sleep.

Beeping from her pulse monitor went off every few seconds, and it bugged me so much that I had to wait outside. Nurses walked by and gave me a quick glance.

I felt guilty. Guilt tore me all over, and I just wanted to go home. The ground was dirty with dust balls, so I sat and played with them.
Ripping one in half I pretended it was Michelle. With the other, I pulled out two tuffs and placed the smaller dust ball onto the two tuffs.

Using this to represent me holding Michelle, I looked into the door window. What would they think if I gave grandma the two balls of dirt?
I wouldn't be that rude though. Hmph.

Oh no! Grandma caught me looking through the window! My mind panicked so I ran down the hall past a man being pushed by a nurse in a wheelchair. "Watch it young lady! She needs supervision!"
I slowed down, but I soon found myself "flying in the air" in my father's arms.
"Where are you going you little bugger?" We both laughed.

"Grandma is mad at me" I replied, puffing up my cheeks. "Mad at you? Nah, that can't be." He looked me straight in the face. "Look hon, none of this was your fault."
"Yes it-" We walked up to the hospital room door grandma was in and knocked.
"Heya Spencer!" My dad shouted. Propping the door so it would stay open, she looked up at him with dreadful eyes. "Grandma isn't doing well."
I waved my arms in the air. "Put me down Daddy," Then I walked over to grandma as everyone in the room gave me a side glance.. But grandma.

"Dear.." She murmured in a raspy voice. "I'm so sorry, grandma! All I did is want you to fix my doll Michelle!" She made a weak smile "I remember that... Didn't I fix her?"

That made me think. "Well.. I.. I don't know, where did you put her?" There was silence everywhere. "Alexandra.. A for Alexandra. A for admiration. A for.. Asparagus!" We all burst out laughing. "Grandma," I chuckled "I'm serious. Where did you put her?"

"M for Michelle" she continued "M for Movies. M for mom. M for memory, which I don't have. Sorry dear, I only know as much as you do about Michelle,"
She doesn't remember?! The only thing I want her to, she doesn't? But..

"Alexandra, come here" I came a little closer to grandma, and I thought she was going to tell me a secret. But no, she gave me a tight hug and said "What would you like for your birthday dear? Make me a list.. Yes.. A list of three things. And before I go, I will be sure you get them."

"Before you go? What do you mean?" I whimpered. "Sit.." She pounded the hospital mattress with the palm of the hand. I sat. "Do you know of a place called heaven?"

Shaking my head, I noticed how familiar that place sounds. "It's a place where you can.. Let's see.. Chase butterflies, climb rainbows, eat lots of food, and most of all, know that one day you will see your friends and family."

"Wow that sounds fun! But what do you mean by "one day"?" "Alexandra, when you get old, you will go there too!" I felt pretty betrayed by the tone she said it in. "When I'm old? So do you mean I have to wait another 100 years before I can see you?"

"No.." She laughed. "I will always be watching out for you."
"What if I want to go there when I'm young, grandma?" She paused to think. "Well, you will just have to wait. Patience brings us joy." I nodded.

"Okay grandma.. Here are the three things I want.." Her eyebrows raised. "First, I want you to promise that I will see you again," I held up one finger. "Second, I want to know who Michelle really belongs to; me or Spencer?" I held up a second. "Third, I.. I want to get a haircut. I want to get my hair cut short. I want to look pretty, just like you!"

Instead of holding up three fingers, my arms flailed out into a pair of "jazz hands". Grandma chuckled. "Your wishes will be granted. But they will be granted tomorrow, because I sure need some rest."
She gave me a weak wink, and as I left that room, I didn't think she would have changed me so much that very day.

Because the very next, she was gone.