Tragedy at Rainbow River

This sudden euphoria led Rory to do all kinds of things she’d never even thought she was capable of. She and Peter vacationed. Beaches, mountains, forests. All places Rory once feared traveling to.

When she and Peter returned from their trip to a ski resort in Colorado, their fifth vacation of the month, Rory crashed upon entering her apartment. Peter was terrified and began barking loudly to gain Ellen’s attention.

A few seconds later, Baker Shefield from apartment 204 was standing next to Rory’s still body. He had heard Peter barking. Peter remembered Baker’s scent from the socks he dropped on the sidewalk.

Baker pulled his cell phone out to call an ambulance.

Rory opened her eyes and was confused to find Baker standing over her.

“What happened?” she asked.

“I’m not so sure,” Baker responded. “An ambulance is on its way. We’ll get you to the hospital and have everything checked out.”

By this time everyone in the Victorian was awake and in the lobby trying to figure out why sirens were growing closer to the building. Some tenants had never seen Rory before and were disappointed to find that she had been the cause of the commotion. Others whispered about the few times they’d noticed her.

When the EMTs arrived Baker and Rory approached them.

“The last thing I remember is reaching to unlock my apartment door,” Rory said. “I feel fine now. I don’t even recall falling.”

“I could’ve sworn you weren’t breathing. I rushed down here when I heard Peter,” Baker said.

After a routine physical in the back of the ambulance, Rory was cleared to continue on as usual. The lobby was still crowded by those carrying on conversations, not ready to return to their apartments.

Rory hadn’t walked Peter that night, so she decided to do so then. Baker offered to walk with them, worried that Rory may faint again.

“No, thanks,” Rory said. “I feel great, and it’ll be a short walk.”

Baker was still worried, so he followed a behind Rory and Peter at a safe distance. About five minutes into the walk, he realized Rory seemed to be having trouble balancing and would stumble every few steps. Rory also began crossing the street randomly.

Rory and Peter turned around to head toward the Victorian after making it to Rainbow River. When Baker looked up, a car was approaching and Rory, who stood in the middle of the street, had released Peter’s leash. As the driver turned the corner, Rory was hit and fell into Rainbow River. Not a scream escaped her mouth.

Baker recognized the driver.

“It’s the animal hospital employee,” he thought.

He knew the investigation of this accident would tear the Victorian apart.

New Rory?

Rory’s first day on the job was easier than expected. The owner of Vietyum gave her permission to keep Peter behind at her side all day.

On her way from work, she noticed a large crowd gathering in the park. Rory decided to walk over with Peter and take a look. The lawn was covered in blankets and sleeping bags, which confused Rory until she saw the large screen showing the last scene of “The Little Mermaid.”

Suddenly, Rory grew weary and anxious. In her curiosity, she managed to navigate her way through the large crowd, but now there seemed to be now escape. Panicking, Rory began running through the crowd, trying her best to run in the direction with the least amount of people.

While she was running, she realized many of the people she passed were pointing to the sky. Rory stood on the edge of the park and watched as the moon turned bright orange.

In the next hour, Rory and Peter found themselves nearing what they thought was the spot St. Cecilia’s stood. Rory sat on the singular pew in the place of St. Cecilia’s to catch her breath. Peter stood alert by her side.

Rory stretched out on the pew, lying on her back.

“Peter, things have been different,” she said.

She couldn’t exactly pinpoint what was different, what inside her had changed, but she knew something did. And that it was a good thing.. She thought.

As Rory and Peter walked home, Rory hummed. This odd behavior and sound originally frightened Peter. Why was Rory happy? Not even Rory could answer that.

Somehow her fears dissolved, and the possibilities were endless.