Gareth fell to his knees and told the doctor, about the river and since.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

"Heaven have mercy on her..." the healer whispered as he leaned over the still woman on the bed to see if she was breathing. Feeling his heart drop when he realized that she she no longer breathed and her heart ceased to beat, he immediately started to perform CPR on her.
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A white light surrounded Calista as golden gates seemed to loom before her. "Where am I?" Calista questioned, a strange echo seeming to surround her.
"Calista, my dear, what are you doing here?" a voice suddenly called to her before her physical body took form and the darker haired beauty stared at her with gentle blue eyes.
"Catalina..." Calista breathed in a whisper, not knowing how she knew the woman but somehow she just knew.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Gareth whitened even more as he saw the healers movments. "No, god in heaven no." He said. "Not again, please, not again."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

The healer breathed into Calista before performing compressions on her without getting any sign of life.
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"Yes, my dear lady," Catalina remarked with a gentle smile. "But I ask you again, why are you here. It is not yet your time," she said softly.
"I can't fight any more..." Calista whispered weakly.
Catalina gave the woman a gentle smile, compassion in her eyes. "You have suffered much, my dear girl," she whispered. "And for that I am sorry. But do not give up now dear child. For much happiness awaits you, should you find the courage to live again."

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Gareth stayed on the floor, he was bent over, his hands claping together as he begged, pleaded, for the powers that be to bring her back.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

The healer continued to perform CPR on Calista but she remained lifeless despite his best efforts and he started to feel that all hope for her was lost.
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"I-I don't know..." Calista murmured, uncertain if she had the strength to face the world again.
"Then know that I come here before you on behalf of one whom I love."
"Gareth?" Calista asked softly and Catalina nodded, tears in her eyes.
"I wanted to live," she whispered. "I wanted to live for him. But my heart and strength failed," she said sadly as she turned away. "Losing me nearly destroyed him, but he found the strength to go on. Yet he sealed his heart off from the world, fearful of being hurt again. That was until he met you," she said softly before turning back to Calista. "After he met you, his heart awakened once more and he allowed himself to feel love again...something I had always wished for him since my passing," she continued. "I came to him in a dream and encouraged him to let his love for you blossom and..." she started to say but Calista interrupted her.
"Why?" she asked. "Why would you do such a thing when I could give him nothing but pain and heartache?"
"Because, you need him just as much as he needs you. Fate robbed me of time with my husband. Don't let her rob you of your life together."
"I-I am not worthy of him..." Calista murmured.
"Hush, dear child," Catalina said soothing. "But know that you have been given a great gift. The choice that I never received. You can choose to remain here where your spirit will find peace but Gareth and your sister will be alone. Or you can return to the world where though life may be hard you will find the happiness of true love," she whispered. "Just know this Calista. After Gareth's first lost, I fear that he will not be able to endure your death as well."

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Gareth looked at the healer. "Please, please tell me you can bring her back. Don't make me loose some one else I love, don't make me tell Rosalina she lost her sister."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

The healer continued to perform CPR on Calista for sometime more without getting any sign of life from Calista. Listening to Gareth's plea, the healer redoubled his efforts, but it was all in vain. The woman lay as still as the grave. "I-I'm sorry..." he finally stammered, unable to look Gareth in the eyes. "But she is gone."
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Calista paled as she heard Catalina's words. "I don't want to hurt Gareth and Rosalina," she cried.
"Then go back. Please for their sake Calista, go back."

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Gareth looked at the doctor in disbelief. "No, please, no."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Calista nodded at Catalina then. "I will return. Thank you.." she whispered to her as the white light faded around her....

Seeing the look on Gareth's face, the healer decided to try one last attempt to bring her back and started CPR again. A few minutes later, a sharp gasp escaped from Calista's throat as she weakly drew in shaky breaths.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Gareth heard the gasp and got up, stumbling to her side. "Calsita?"

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Calista did not offer any outward response indicating that she heard him as she just continued to draw in shallow breaths.

"I am going to need a fire a pot and a cup to create a broth for her," the healer told Gareth, knowing that time was of the essence.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Gareth nodded and got the things ready for the man.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Meanwhile, the healer went outside to fetch a bucket of fresh water from the well he had seen. Once the fire was ready, he set the pot over it and poured the water inside so that it could boil while he prepared the herbs.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Once gareth got all together he returned to Calista's side.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

The healer finished crushing the herbs before he placed them in the pot of boiling water and mixed everything together. When the broth was ready, he scooped some of it into the cup that Gareth brought and handed the decanter to him. "Why don't you try and see if she can drink this? She may respond better if she hears the voice and feels the presence of a loved one," he suggested as he glanced down at the motionless woman on the bed.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!