Chapter 5: The Strong One

After I passed through, the doorway disappeared.

I find myself in the middle of a grassy meadow. I put the stone in my pocket and began to wander.

I eventually dropped to my knees and cried.

I cried for the loss of my father and all my friends. But most of all I cried for Alex.

She was the closest friend I ever had. We have been friends since first grade. We laughed when times were tough. We cried when times were hard.

Whenever I wanted to give up and end my life, She was always there to hold my hand and keep my chin up. She never gave up on me no matter how stubborn I was.

We understood each other inside and out with an unbreakable connection of trust. She was the only one in my life that I ever fully trusted.

I don’t understand how she could change to the point when she would kill me so easily. I can’t believe what happened. Even though she tried to kill me, I still wish she would come back. I miss her so much.

I cover my eyes as a bright light surrounds me. I only see whiteness wherever I glance.

Chief Wall appears before me smiling, “Well done. You have pleased the pure hearted stone.”

Confused, I yelled, “Pleased it with what? Death?”

I pulled it out of my pocket and waved it in front of his face, “All that I have done was get my friends killed! Now you tell me that I PLEASED it!?”

I spiked it to the ground in front of me and teared up, “This stupid stone just wants to watch me suffer.”

He leaned in close and said, “The soul would have no rainbow if the eye had no tears.”

I wiped my tears and asked, “What do you mean?”

He sighs, “This stone is very special. It only trusts the purest heart of them all. It sees something in you that you have not yet realized.”

I yelped, “No! I will not help it give others pain! I saw and FELT what it does.”

He holds the stone in his hand, “This stone does not cause pain when it is carried by someone with a strong heart.”

I crossed my arms, “It weakened my heart! It hurt me! How could I possibly have a strong heart?”

He places the stone gently into my hand, “You possess something more strongly than others. You have empathy, kindness, gratitude, compassion, and above all…forgiveness. Your friend tried to kill you not too long ago and yet you were able to forgive her with all your heart.”

I looked closely at the stone glowing and asked, “Why is forgiveness so important?”

He looks down thinking, “I will leave you with wise words from an old friend of mine.”

He pats my shoulder and lifts one fist up, “The weak can never forgive” he squeezes his fist as he continues, “forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”