Tarina Boone

Short Story
Self-Titled
This day is perfect and she is just breathtaking. I never thought Id see her like this. I
never knew that in just a short couple of months this majestic creature could completely
transform from frail sickly and on a rapid decline to death to this proud strong and healthy
lioness. !er marvelous beauty captivated me. Shes not like the others. Theres an e"tra sparkle
gleaming in her striking honey sweet eyes. !er lean toned body looks like it would move in a
strong yet rigid way but every movement she makes is the most graceful thing Ive ever seen.
The sun shined through the vast lion sanctuary illuminating the perfect scene around this
marvelous creation. The blades of the grass and leaves of the trees whisper and sway in the light
bree#e of the high noon summer day. The sun is warm on my gleaming face. This is the first day
all summer that Ive felt warm.
$I actually did it. Shes cured% I said.
&o one seemed to hear me speak the words I assumed everyone else seemed too doubtful
to speak out loud. $Shes cured'% I say it a little louder and I myself could hear the pure
saturation and hope oo#ing from my spoken words that linger in the air.
I look around to see if anyone else has the same feeling of achievement on their face as I
do. Three men stand in the presence of a shady of a flat-top acacia tree( dressed as very
prestigious and confident doctors but with the look of doubt on their face. )kay theyre not
what Im looking for. *heres my crew+ I turn around e"pecting to see at least one other person
possibly one from the crew that worked with me with this beautiful lioness standing in my
blindside with enlightenment just radiating from their face. I turn around and, no one. !ow can
I be the only one whose proud of this astonishing transformation after all the hard hours
countless -uestions trial and errors and many cups of coffee weve endured trying to achieve
this very achievement+ Someone should be proud with me.
I can feel the glow leaving my face and my smile beginning to fall. This new energy was
building inside of me. The feeling of rage.
$*hat is wrong with all of you'+ .ant you see the progress weve made+ *eve cured
her and youre all standing around like shes still dying. This is a good thing' Shes cured''%
&o one e"pected my outburst not even me but I stare at them all taking in their reactions.
The three men standing aside just stared at me with this sort of pitiful look on their face. /ity that
was aimed towards me.
$*e see the change in her. *ere not blind.% The oldest of the three men said. $0nd we
know youve grown very much attached to the lion during these couple of months weve been
with her. But this is not the end. *e are very far from done. *e still have to continue
researching her testing her. 1ou understand.%
It wasnt a -uestion but a demand.
&ow I can recall this man. 2r. *. Scott Scheld the doctor who corralled us all here to
help study and cure the lion of the very fatal feline immunodeficiency virus. The one in charge
of it all. !e was the tall tanned man who seemed to be in his mid to late thirties with deep-set
brown eyes that seemed to hold everyones attention. But mine.
$&ow 2r. Scheld 1ou called me me specifically out of all the wildlife rehabilitators in
my area to come and help you all on this project of saving this lioness and creating a cure%
$0nd youve done a wonderful job% !e interrupts. $But now you can step aside. 1our
work is done now its up to us doctors to continue researching this drug that has changed her so.
1ou of all people should know how tricky the 3eline Immunodeficiency virus is.%
I could feel the stinging warmth of tears welling up in my eyes making it hard to look
right at him behind the watery scope my tears created trying to creak free. But I held them back(
trying to keep my composure was the only thing I had left as I tried one last time to win this
seemingly hopeless battle.
$I did not spend damn near two years to stop here. Im part of this now. I am completely
-ualified with e"perience and intellectual intel that you do not hold. I can help. 1ou need my
help. Trust me( Im the only one who can come within 4 ft of her without fearing for my life. 5y
demands became more whining my yearning clear. 5y entitlement unfulfilled. Im the one who
came up with the base of this drug( I deserve to continue working in on this. 1ou cant cut me out
now.%
!e just stood there. !is eyes clear of all emotion. !is decision was clearly made. !is
look of sheer confidence was for some instinctual unknown reason a bit alarming to me.
I turn away though I have the look of despondency written all over my face I fully
intend to stay through with this project till the very end. 0nd this is not the end.