Finding Hope: Chapter 9

   When everyone was ready to go to D.C. Jane said, "I'm scared of airplanes... do we have to take one?"
   We looked at her while putting our coats on, "Yes, Janie. It would take a long time to get there if we drove," I said. She frowned, and then... "Why do we always do everything for Madison! All we've talked about is, Oh, poor Madison! She needs to be loved, we need to drive her to the hospital to see her true love thats dying! All we talk about is, Madison, Madison, Madison!" she ran outside and slammed the door.
   We stood there processing our thoughts about what Jane just said. I then said, "I'll go talk to her, it won't take long."
   I slipped my coat on and walked out in the pouring rain. I looked for Jane and found her in the treehouse.
   I climbed up the tree to get to where she was sitting. Rain was splashing me in the face while I was trying to climb up there.
   I got up there, walked over to where she was sitting, and saw that she had been crying.
   "Hey... Jane?" I said staring at her with her hands covering her sobbing face. I touched her back and she twitched.
   "Janie? Please, don't be mad at me," I said.
   "Why shouldn't I?" she asked face still covered.
   "Because... I..." I paused not knowing how to respond to that.
   She was right. It truly was my fault. I had been the one everyone felt sorry for. I was the one everyone was so loving to. I had always gone to see Connor... and I didn't even buy Jane a Christmas present. And I hadn't even realized Jane was getting left out. I felt so bad for her now that I couldn't find the right words to say, so I just hugged her tightly.
   "I'm so sorry Jane!" I pleaded with forgiveness.
   After a while, she hugged me back saying, "I forgive you, Maddy. I forgive you."

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   We boarded the plane two hours later, and Jane was already feeling afraid. She was shaking so much. I was sitting by her so I tried to keep her calm.
   "It's okay, we'll be fine, Jane, I promise," I assured my sister.
   She nodded still shaking and afraid.
   Wow, this is the first time I have actually seen Jane afraid of something.
   Since we were on a plane, it took less hours to get to D.C. than driving in a car, so we landed about four hours later. It was still a long ride though.
   When we got there, Jane was starting to feel better thank goodness!
   We got to our hotel by taxi and fell right to sleep when we hit our hotel beds. It was about 5:00 when we got there, but we were still very very tired from being in an airplane.
   I was so excited about tomorrow, tomorrow was the Peddle for a Cure! I was so excited to do it... and I would do it for Connor.