It was Us

It was Us

         My parents named me Richard when I was born in Atlanta Georgia on May 5, 1997 I have dirty blond hair and brown eyes like my father we lived as a family until I started third grade. When this happened my mother and I moved to New York I always knew our next door neighbors had a kid but I only saw her in the winter, every year she played in the snow. Her name was Sarah she would always be outside everyday on Winter breaks. She would build snow forts or Snow men.

One year I heard a knock on my bedroom window, when I looked up I saw her bright blue eyes staring at me through the glass, I opened it and she asked if I could play with her. I was in middle school at the time I believe six grade to be exact, she was a grade below me. I agreed to play with her even though kids at my school look down on kids in our grade who still hang out with fifth graders especially girls, We would have snowball fights in her yard and I would help her build a snow forts and snowmen .She would tell me how she grew up here and how she likes how the trees look in the fall.

She also loved how on Halloween you could dress up into anything you want and run through the red orange and yellow leaves to other people's houses to get candy. She also talked about how her parents met at the local High school in English class that they had every year together. I told her how I moved from Georgia and how my parents are split up. I told her I lived with my mom and visited my dad on the third of every other month. She liked going to school and wrote a lot. I drew a lot but hated school.

We talked about anything and everything on those cold winter days. I even got to meet her parents, the Martins. There house was a two story it was white on the outside with green and blue lights around it, the inside had light brown walls and had a fireplace blazing, Christmas decorations were hung up on the walls and by the living room window a tree with lights and ornaments hung off its branches with a star on top.They would always give us snacks and hot chocolate when we were done playing,


Her mother was a cop and her father was a electrician. They would always laugh and say we're crazy for being outside in below zero weather. A few years later, Sarah got very sick and couldn't play outside anymore I would come over and bring her a book or soup my mom helped me make. I was a sophomore in high school and she was a freshman but because of her sickness she had to be home schooled, everyday after school I would sit and work on my work and would help her with hers. She couldn't move around a lot so she would always be in her bed when I arrived at her house.


         One day before winter break I knocked on her front door she opened it and let me in, "Shouldn't you be in bed resting?" I asked her She laughed and said "It's starting to Snow again, I want to go outside and have a snowball fight later." I looked at her parents who just walked in the foyer from the kitchen "It's alright with us." said Mr. Martin She went over and hugged her father "Thanks dad." He looks down and smiles "Bundle up it's cold out there." She runs up the stairs to her room to get ready.After ten minutes she came out and raced down the stairs and smiled at me "Ready." We walked outside and walked around the block "Well, there's not enough snow to have a snowball fight today." "Okay." She reached in her coat pocket and pulled out a dark purple hat and put it on. I looked down at her "Looks nice." "Thanks, my mom got it for me a few years back." she looks up at me "Hey, can you do me a favor?" "What's that?" I asked She blushes "Can you give me a piggy back ride?" I bend down "Sure hop on."

I walked with her on my back all the way back to her house "Were back Sarah, Sarah?" I look over my shoulder out of the corner of my eye and see her sleeping, her head on my shoulder I chuckle and bring her inside and take off her coat and snow pants and boots then carry her upstairs to her room and lay her down and cover her with her blankets "Night Sarah." I whisper and brush her dark blond hair out of her face "I love you, Richard ." she whispers back I look back over at her "Love you too." then I shut the door and walk down stairs to say goodbye to her parents

"Thanks for being such a good friend to our daughter Richard." Ms. Martin says to me "Means a lot to us, most kids especially boys don't speak to her unless they have something nasty to say." Mr. Martin says "She did have friends though, before she got sick." Ms. Marton interjects. "What is it?" I asked "What is what son?"Mr. Martin asks me "What does she have?" Her mother's face turns pale "She has a certain type of cancer Doctors don't know how to treat it." her father said "We would've gotten her treatment but we don't have the money right now, so all we can do is wait." her father said

"What do you mean there's insurance and at the Local Hospital they might have some test for her.' I say Her parents shake their heads the only Hospital we can go to for her treatment is all the way in Miami Florida we're all the way in New York with just enough to pay the bills, we don't have Insurance either." says her mother "She'll be alright nothing major happened yet, she'll be fine Richard don't worry." Mr. Martin walks over to the door and opens it"Have a good night." they call as I walk to my house.


         I walk to my room after I say hi to my mother I shut my bedroom door behind me and sit on my bed It's too late for her I thought Why didn't they see the signs earlier? I stayed up all night researching signs and symptoms on the American Cancer Society website of Cancer and it turns out people who have it get fevers and feel tired and their skin turns yellowish if the cancer has grown around their bile duct which can block bile flow. Signs like this mean it's in an advanced stage and is harder to treat because it spread from where it started. there are treatments like x rays and biopsies and blood tests that can detect the Cancer but without insurance and with little money no Hospital, no treatment.




I rejected this idea at first but in the end I decided to do this. Before Christmas day I went out with my mom to get gifts for family members I asked if I could get gifts for Sarah my mom said it was alright I told her to wait outside for me as soon as she walked out I browsed the shelves and wandered into the stuffed animal section and I spotted a big blue bear, an elephant and a black stuffed horse I took them to the checkout counter and payed for my items. When my mom saw what I was carrying she ran over and helped me carry the stuffed animals to the car "Holy Shit Richard did you buy the whole store to?" she joked I put a red, green, and blue bow on the animals.

On Christmas morning walked them over to her house. Her Mother opened the door and laughed "It's so nice to see you Merry Christmas, Come in." I walked inside and Sarah came running up to me "Richard!!" and hugged me She points to the things in my hands and her eyes opened wide "For me?" she asks I smile and kiss her head "Yes." She squeals "Thank you!" She runs to the living room and I follow her "I got you something to." she exclaims She hands me a small box with a shark tooth necklace "For luck in case I can't be with you, keep it safe okay?" I put it around my neck and look her in the eyes "I promise." and hug her "Thanks." I say into her hair.

"Okay guys." Miss. Martin calls "Breakfast is ready." We walk to the dining room and sit down her mother already had the food and table set. She made eggs, bacon,sausage, and pancakes with fresh fruit . Her dad came in and ate we all ate and talked about what we all got for Christmas. After Sarah and I helped clean up the dishes we went outside and had a snowball fight and made a snow fort. The only thing I wish I could've held on to was her I know all things do come to an end I just wish I could've gave it my all when she needed me most especially that last night.


I was at school in math class when I was paged by the office, "Mr. Nathans, we need Richard Davis to the Guidance area please tell him to bring his things." "Will do Ms. Mill, Richie you can go." said Mr. Nathans I put my notebook and pencil case in my bag and head down the the Guidance area which was white and dimly light and only had a few small offices for counselors. I walk up to the reception desk and tell her my name she points to the office on the far right I walk up to the door and knock "Come in." a voice says to me. I open the door and close the door behind me in front of me I see Sarah's parents sitting in the chairs looking horrible her mom held her dad's hand and was trying not to cry.

I look over at the women behind the desk, she adjusts her glasses and takes a deep breathe "Richard, Sarah's parents are here to tell you that Sarah might not make it. They went to see her doctor last night for her fever and her fever was over 101 she was admitted into the Hospital this morning her fever is showing no signs of dropping in temperature the doctors said the cancer has spread to her liver." :She had this even before we met you." Mr. Martin said "There's no hope now we can't do much to save her, tonight might be her last, so we want to take you to her, so you can say goodbye."




As we walked to her hospital room I kept thinking of everything we've done together and how so sudden this is at one point shes healthy the next she's at death's doorstep. I opened the door to her room and we filed in I sat next to her bedside "Hey Sarah." I say "Hey you." she replies I look over to her vital signs and see her temperature has not changed by much I got in the bed with her when her parents went to go get food at noon and held her and kept showing her drawings that I drew all the time in elementary and middle school everyone had a boy either sailing with his teddy bear or flying on a plane.

When I got to the most recent ones I told her how I drew her playing in her yard by herself then I drew us together playing and laughing, I drew one of me giving her a piggy back ride and her smiling with her purple hat on and one with me and her laying in her bed after I brought her inside on that cold day I had one of us on Christmas day in front of the tree with her handing me the necklace that I am wearing now and will never lose for as long as I live. After we got done looking at my drawings she showed me what she wrote there was one story that I liked the most and it went like this,

There was a girl who always played by herself out in the snow. No one really liked her in school in the last year of elementary school the only outings where to doctors because she had a checkup or she got sick again. The only friends who had felt sorry for her in school moved away from her. They would call or write everyday but they became to be far and then stopped calling or writing altogether. The girl then started reading and writing to keep her mind off of things.

Then one day a boy and his family moved a few houses away from hers and she would always go outside during the winter to get his attention and one day she worked up the nerve to knock on his window and asked if he could play with her, the boy agreed and over the years fell in love with her. They spent Christmas day together and the boy brought her a bear, horse and elephant that she kept in her room on her window sill as a reminder that there is someone out there in the world that cares about her. Sadly the girl got sick a few months later and had to be admitted into the Hospital. Is this the end of me and this boy? she thought If this is the end I want to the boy to be strong and to not dwell on her that she will be fine.


I read the last lines over again and held back a sob "Sarah, I won't let that happen." I told her The Martins came back with subs for us and we ate in silence. When it was time to leave I walked over to Sarah's bed and gave her the longest hug ever. Her parents did the same. As we were driving to our street her mother broke down "She might not make it Tom." "We waited to long we should have we should have.." her mother sobbed uncontrollably they dropped me off and drove to their house three doors down from mine. I didn't sleep at all that night and I wasn't prepared for the news I had yet to receive.

         
When dawn was breaking I got the call about her passing. They wanted me at the funeral that was that weekend. I got up and dressed in white and black and went downstairs where my mother was drinking her coffee and reading the newspaper. She looks up at me "Richard, your awake this early wow that's a first." She looks me in the eyes "Your eyes are bloodshot put some drops in before we go, hurry now get ready." I go to my room and get my suit. After I get ready I walk out to the kitchen and grab a breakfast bar and get my shoes on."Mom." I call "I'm ready." I check to make sure I have the letter that I'm going to read at her grave, Will she even hear as I read? I thought.

         We drive all the way to the cemetery in silence my mother put a bunch of boxes of tissues in her car the night before but I don't feel like crying, I can't feel anything at all. When it was my turn to read my letter to her I looked over at all the people that knew her and some that didn't but were there to be nice and pay respects. They have guts, I on the other hand am trying not to fall apart. I begin to read;

Dear Sarah,

I'm sorry this happened to you and I wish I knew you longer then just five years, This was a shock to me. I wish we could've had one more time in the snow together like we used to on Winter break. I should've showed you my drawings sooner. See you again, glad I got to meet you.
Rest in peace.

Richard

I fold it up carefully then walk off the stage and sit down with her parents, "Good job, although that's not a eulogy but that works." Her parents then go up and talk about how she grew up and how she liked the snow even as a small child in Preschool We watched her be lowered into the Earth, where she would stay forever. I took the note I was holding and threw it on her casket then it was time to go I say goodbye then follow my mom to the car.

We are almost home when I find the courage to speak"Mom?" "Yes Richie?" "Is it cold they're?" "Cold where, outside?" I shake my head "No, and don't call me Richie I hate that nickname!" She sighs then pulls the car into our driveway and turns it off. She turns and looks over at me "No, Richard it's warm underground in the winter, plus she wouldn't feel cold even if it was." "Why would you ask a question that a five year old would ask?" I look away "I don't know." "Well come on let's get inside."


I stayed in my room all day reading, which it has been a while since I last read anything on my free time. I just need something to pass the time with so why not read about dragons and aliens for a while? After a while my mom calls me for dinner but I don't want to eat, I look at the chapter I just started chapter 30 I was on chapter one this morning how long have I been reading this? I'm not a fast reader either did I skip pages?

I shook my head then went out to the small dining room. I grab my plate and get the pasta with white sauce mom made, before dad left he would always compliment on her cooking but when things were falling apart he would come home late or not come home at all. Its sad to hear but someone has to say it.

I don't miss him, he had a chance to turn his life around but no he chose her over us. I hate him for leaving. Now he has another child with the woman he cheated with. I came second I almost ended it all before I met Sarah, What now? you're gone and I'm still here. My dad called that night I usually don't talk to him, it always turns into a huge argument with my mom if I don't speak to him so I suck it up and answer. "How are you doing Richard I heard about your girlfriend, i'm sorry." "I'm okay dad, I'm moving forward, I know what death does it's cruel but it's life." I say "Well you can always come here with me and your step mother and brother." "Thanks dad I'll keep that in mind, I have to go and do school work, talk to you later." "Bye buddy." "Bye, dad."

I hang up and go out into the dining room and sit at the table and open my English textbook and start to read Romeo and Juliet then try to answer what's the meaning of the story but I keep getting distracted. My mom walks in, "So how was the talk with your father?" "Fine." "That's good, you know he was like you in high school." I laugh "I don't cheat and beat on women." She stares at me "Don't ever say that ever again you hear me!"

I shut my book and stand up " He beat you in high school why the hell would you marry him?" "He didn't beat me Richard!" She steps closer to me and points her at me " He had anger issues but that was all before he met me, he was good to me." I laugh "Yeah he was so good that he had to go and cheat on you and get that women pregnant." I felt a sting across my face, "Get out." she said "What?" "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE, PACK YOUR SHIT AND GO!" with that she turns on her heel and goes to her room and shuts the door. "FINE I DON'T NEED YOU!" I yell.



I run to my room and pack my things I zip up my suitcase and check if i forgot anything I look on my desk and see the shark tooth necklace I put it around my neck then look over at the small blue bear that I got at birth I pick it up and debate in my head whether to bring it or not after a short time I put the bear back on the bed that isn't mine anymore. I walk outside and start walking I have fifty dollars enough to get a bus ticket but where would I go? I can't go to my dads could I? I pull out my phone and look at my contacts, most of my friends are out of town. I look at my dad's number but I don't call it I can't go back to them. I don't want to run back to them not after how much trouble I got in. I go to a shelter and ask to spend the night there so I can come up with a plan She had to be joking, she couldn't be serious maybe she's out looking for me right now.


I shove those thoughts aside and go to get some food to bring back. after I come back with my McDonald's a little boy looks up at me with his big brown eyes and tugs on my shirt "Can I have some?" his mother comes up and bends down to his level she puts her brown hair behind her ear and says "Tommy, don't beg it's not good." I smile "It's fine, I usually don't eat it all." I open my bag and unwrap my burger and split it in half "Here you go Tommy." The boys eyes light up and he grins"Thank You uh." "Richard." "Thank You Richard." I look over at his mom "Do you want any, I have another one in here." I offer She smiles and shakes her head "No thank you." She grabs her sons hand and they walk off to their beds. I never realized a shelter had twenty or more beds in one big room then again I've never been without a home until now.

I get on my bed and fall asleep I saw her in the snow outside her house then the snowman we made together. I wake up to a baby crying at twelve in the morning, I watch as the mother holds her infant as he calms down and falls back to sleep. I get up and walk to the desk and grab a pen and paper and begin to write.


Hey Sarah, mom, dad I'm sorry for running off, I'm fine and I'm taking care of myself I just can't be in this drama anymore, I'm sorry but I need something more out of life than just negative influences. I'm not saying you were a negative influence Sarah, you kept me same you made me want to stop getting arrested for fights and drugs thanks for that. As for you guys, mom, dad, I'm sorry I wasn't the best but I'm going to prove to you I can do better than this. I'll keep in touch for now this is goodbye.

Love,

Richard



I copied the letter with the copy machine then addressed the ones to my parents and put them in the outgoing mail box then folded up the one for Sarah and put it in my bag. I stayed at the shelter for a few more weeks then went to the bank to get all of the money out of my account then went to the bus station and boarded a bus to Colorado.

When I arrived in Colorado twenty seven hours later I turned on my phone I had many messages from friends, my mother,father, and Sarah's parents telling me to come back saying that I'm ruining my life doing this. I have a goal it's to get rid of those memories out of my head and prove that I'm not a piece of shit that I can do something with my life. I took a cab to a hotel then once I got into my room I looked for a job since I'm nineteen I can work more hours after many searches I found a small toys shop was looking for help with shelving and that they need a cashier twelve dollars an hour and if I work over time I get paid more.



I woke up the next day and arrived at the shop for an interview and I was hired on the spot they must've really been hurting for someone to hire me. it was okay they had me wash the windows and shelve supplies that came in. The store is small and clean the old lady who is the owner likes it that way. She asked me where I'm from and I said New York, I didn't tell her that I ran off to get away from all the drama that's happened recently. She was easy to talk to, she told me about her granddaughter's new baby and about how she can't get enough of him. She told me how his parents met and I told her how my parents divorced.when I was in middle school.

A month later I got a call from an unknown number while I was on break, "Hello?" "Is this Richard's Golden?" I harsh voice asked "Yes speaking." "This is officer James from the New York police department do you know you had a missing person report filed on you?" "Sir, I'm nineteen I shouldn't be qualified as missing." "Well you are." he clears his throat "Why did you do this son?" "I can't tell you, you wouldn't understand." "Don't think I know about Sarah we are all saddened by that but you can't keep running forever." "It's not just that, It's my parents and how messed up my mom is for still loving him even though he cheated on her and has a child with someone else." He sighs "Look just tell us where you are, we can come get you." I hang up and clock out, later that night I check out of the hotel I run as fast as I can from the town I run until I can't breathe anymore. " What the hell!" I scream I fall in the snow and just lay there.



I wake up to sirens wailing and people staring at me A man was standing over me shining a flashlight in my eyes "He's awake, hurry let's get him in the truck." They put me on the stretcher and put me in the ambulance and drive me to the local hospital they rush me into the e r "We found this boy laying in the snow outside of the town's limits." "Okay thank you guys we'll take it from here." said the doctor she was tall with blond hair and blue eyes staring down at me concern in her eyes

They wheeled me into a room and looked me over "Well, congratulations your frost bitten, it's not bad though your just really red, we just need to warm you up." she says to me She calls for a male nurse to take me to the showers, as he wheels me down the hall he asks "What were you thinking son?" I shake my head "I don't know, just wanted to go for a run." he laughs with all your things with you?" I look up at him as he says "Something tells me there's more to this then you're telling me."

We arrive at the showers he lets me shower privately and waits outside the door before he let me go he told me to slowly turn the water to hot "If you just jump in a hot bath you'll go into shock after being this cold." After I get down showering the nurse hands me a hospital gown I look at it "Uh underwear?" he shakes his head "Just put the ones you have back on this isn't a clothing store." After i dress he takes me back to my room where my doctor is talking to someone, that someone is my father.



The nurse sees my face and chuckles "Afraid of your dad boy?" I shake my head he wheels me towards them my dad sees me and comes up and hugs me "I was worried what were you thinking, I'm taking you home, this isn't right." The doctor told my dad that I have to stay overnight to watch how I'm recovering, my dad stays in my room with me his brown eyes watching my every move.

After we get done eating the dinner the hospital provided for us he sits at my bed side and clears his throat "Why did you run all the way here, you could've came to live with us." "By us you mean my half brother and wicked stepmother?" He crosses his arms "Son she was worried about you more than anybody, I understand your mom kicked you out but that doesn't mean you run all the way to Colorado." "How did you find me here?" "The New York police traced your call." "Now stop fighting with me you're going home and that's final."


Early the night morning I was discharged from the hospital and my dad drove us in his rental car to the airport. after we brought the car back we checked in our bags and went through security after getting something to eat we had to start boarding for Georgia, we didn't speak the whole way there. When we arrived we met my step mother and brother outside of the airport "Richard!" she says as she wraps me in a hug "It's so good to see you, how have you been?" "Fine." I say We grab our bags then get in her small car I have to sit in the back with a fussy infant I call my half brother the whole way to their house.

When we arrive I grab my bag and walk inside there house is a small two story with four bedrooms and two baths, the best thing is I don't have to sleep in the same room as my half brother who they named Ollie who was born two days before my birthday. "I'm so glad you're here, we missed you." my dad clears his throat "Speaking of which we need to talk to him later Victoria." her green eyes flicker between us "Oh, alright that's fine with me."

She puts Ollie in his playpen and starts making lunch for us. I sit in a kitchen chair watching my step mom cook "Hey, I'm sorry for worrying you I just want to belong somewhere." She stop stirring the sauce and looks up at me "You do belong somewhere Richard, you belong here." after lunch is ready we start to eat and my dad talks about how his football and stocks are doing I try to talk but I talk very little overall.. When they put Ollie to sleep they both sang to him that followed with "We love you Ollie."

They switch off his light then come downstairs to where I was sitting "Okay, we have some rules we want to discuss with you keep in mind you're not in trouble with us." my father said "We want to trust you we really do."says Victoria "Since your mother won't take you back you will live here until you find a job to support yourself with, we will help as much as we can but you need to put forth effort." my father says I look up at them "I will I promise." Victoria smiles "Good, now here are the rules, You can go out with friends but on a school night you must be home by ten, You will help care for your step brother when asked no if's and's or buts, Lights out by ten, eleven on weekends and breaks, Help out around the house. We don't have any rules against dating,but we don't want any grand babies yet so wear a condom if you ever date again." My dad looks at me and smiles "Any questions?" I smile "No sir, I understand completely." "Alright son you may go." I stand and climb the stairs to my room

When I open the door and turn on the light not a thing has changed all of my stuffed animals were all still on my window seat and my bed was made everything wasn't moved to altered in anyway I took off my shirt and jeans and took out a pencil and my notebook and flipped through my drawings of us I stopped at the one I drew of us kissing I stared at it wishing things were different wishing I was with her in her room cuddling with her. I put my notebook away and fell asleep I dreamed of her in her room with me "Sarah, can you hear me?" She looks over at me "Yes, we're in a spirit state remember?" "I guess, I need you back I'm a wreck right now." she walks towards me "I know baby I can tell just by your eyes, I want to fix this but I can't." I hold her in my arms and stroke her hair as I hum a song my mom used to sing to me when I was little when I couldn't sleep she would hum hush little baby she laughs.

I look down at her "What?" she looks at me "I should be singing that to you." "I missed you."I say as I lean in to kiss her She takes my hand and leads me to her new home It's a small house like hers was "Do you live here by yourself?" "Others come to visit when they can but for now it's just me." she says "Come on I'll show you." She shows me around her small home the house has two bedrooms and two baths a kitchen and living area the house has wooden floors throughout it she leads me to her room and tackles me on her bed "I missed you, wish we could still be together on Earth." I kiss her "We still can." we get under the covers and cuddle then she falls asleep in my arms. I look outside down at Earth and realize the sun is coming back up limiting my time with her I look over at her and see how the morning sun hits her hair and face I kiss her then I wake up in my room in Georgia.


I walk downstairs and smell bacon and eggs that Victoria made she looks up and smiles "Good morning sleepy head how did you sleep?" I smile back "Okay." "Here I fixed you a plate." "Thanks." I take my plate and sit down at the bar and eat. "Is there a lake by here?" "Yes, why?" "I want to try fishing." I lie "I never got to do that with my mom." "Sure, just get your chores that I gave you on that list over there." she points to a yellow paper with three items on it "Ten minute chores you can handle that right? " I pick up the paper and read it and nod "Yeah, I can do all these." After my chores were done I grabbed my notebook and pencil.


I found my old blue and black skateboard and rode it down to the lake in the park I threw pebbles in the water for a while then I found a tree to sit under and open my notebook. I decided to draw the lake and I planed to see if my dad or Victoria has any paints I could use to paint it. above the lake I drew me and her in the sky, I decided to draw the same picture on another page so I could keep it for when I might need it again.

I stayed there for a while after watching the little kids running around on the playground wishing I was that small again and the only worry was if I could get chocolate ice cream later or not. I watch as one kid pretends to shoot the other two then watch as one kid pretends he got shot then the other kid who pretended to shoot him yells"You get move I tazed you, now you're coming with me!" the other kid runs over and grabs the boy's feet "Let's go boss." "No No, not the slammer anything but that!" I watched as a young couple pushed a baby carriage past the boys playing holding hands as they walked.on the path, it makes me want you even more. I lay down on the grass and close my eyes and drift off.



"Baby? Baby, wake up" a soothing voice says to me I open my eyes and chuckle as she shakes me a little then looks at me "Oh, good you're awake." she gets off of me and stands by where I'm lying "Get up come on I need to help the kids with their projects today!" I sit up "Kids? I asked she smiles "Yeah kids die to, come on their waiting." We walk to the backyard where a table of ten kids are sitting, "The ages range from five to ten." she whispers "How did they all die?" I whisper back "Some were killed others died of cancer." "That's horrible." I say we walk up to the table "Okay, so their making ornaments for whatever holiday they celebrate with their families here."

We help them make all different kinds of decorations and things for their families I met this one girl and boy whose names were Greg and Daisy, they were twins when at age five died in a car crash their car was hit by a drunk driver their car was shoved into a barbed wire fence the drunk driver was driving on the wrong side of the road and hit the left side of their car they both died when the car spun and hit the fence.

One little girl named Gabby was killed by her mother at three years old her mother abused her and finally decided to kill her by stabbing her. Both people in both cases were tried and given life in prison. After we got done it was time for the kids to leave, everyone of them came up to hug and thank us. When everyone was gone we cleaned up and went back inside I held her and whisper why can't we have that?" She looks up at me confused "Can't what?" I let go of her and sit down "You know." I sigh "Have a kid someday." I put my head in my hands and look up "It will never happen." I stand and take her in my arms and look down at her "It will never happen." I whisper as tears roll down my face I kiss her "I have to go." then I wake up under the tree.


I sit up and notice the sun starting to set "Sarah." I call out to the sky "I love you." I hold the shark tooth that's around my neck and squeeze it, I stand and walk to the swing set and start to swing I watch as I go up then back again I swing until it's almost dark then stop and look around at the now empty park I walk back over to the tree and grab my things and skate home grinding on rails as I go.

When I get home I notice the lights are off I walk inside and they are waiting for me "Where were you?" Victoria asks "I was at the park." I say as I walk towards the stairs my father shoves me to the floor and takes my notebook from me "Hmm some fishing you did!" he hands the book to Victoria and crosses his arms "What were you really up to?" I panic what if they see my drawings of Sarah and me? What if they think we had sex based on those pictures that I drew not that any were of her nude or anything I would've never drew her like that I would never think of that.I thought "RICHARD!" my father yells "Answer me!" I look him in the eye "Just drawing that's it." "I don't believe you." my father turns his back to me "Fred, wait he might-" my dad puts hand hand up to silence her "Don't Victoria." he says then walks in the kitchen. She looks at me "Go to your room I'll bring your dinner up."

I walk upstairs and head to my room I stop by Ollie's room and peer inside and see his small chubby body lying in his crib fast asleep. I go to my room and sit on my bed and stare at the wall until Victoria brings my food in she closes my door and sits next to me on the bed, "I know you are going through alot right now but that doesn't mean coming home late and disobeying us." I take a bite of my mac and cheese" I just did it once it won't happen again I promise."

She looks at my eyes "Your eyes are bloodshot are you high right now?" I look at her in shock "Are you crazy, I haven't been like that for six years now." She sighs a relief "Good, good." I finish my plate and hand it to her "Thank you." "Your welcome, oh school for you starts next week last year of high school ya!" "I missed a lot of days I'm not sure if I can get caught up with my class in time. " "You've only missed six days you can catch up I'll help you okay?" I smile "Yeah okay thanks." she hugged me "You're welcome."

When she leaves I strip down to my boxers and came into bed I lye there for twenty minutes tossing and turning but sleep wouldn't come. I walked out of my room to get a drink from the fridge downstairs,before I descend the stairs I hear my father's voice "That kid is nothing but trouble." "He's grieving he just lost his girlfriend." Victoria said "I don't care if his dog died too that's no excuse to go out until dusk and "draw"." "He said he would go there and I trust that he did." Victoria says my father sighs "Whatever Vicky." I hear pages being turned and I knew it was my notebook my dad sighs then laughs "Look at this." "Aw it's beautiful ." he laughs again"Beautiful huh?" "Yes it is he draws so well."

I hear him laugh once more then he yells "I know you're there Richard." I walk down the stairs and he puts his arm around me "So boy what if I burn this shit?" he leans his face closer to mine and I smell the alcohol on his breath "Answer me." I break out of the hold he has on me "No." "What?" he asks "I said no!" He stands back then turns around, opens the front door and leaves I run after him. He walks towards the fire that is blazing in the middle of the yard

He raises the book over his head "This is for lying to me for all those years!" I run up to him and shove him over he lands in the fire he screams and runs around trying to put it out Victoria runs and gets a bucket of water and tosses it on him, He runs at me and pulls me up by the neck :THINK ITS CUTE? THINK IT'S FUNNY HUH? I'LL SHOW YOU FUNNY!" He carries me by my neck to the fire "You little bastard!" "FRED DON'T!"

He ignores her and throws me in the fire I scream as the fire burns my skin I watch as my father knocks out my step mother with the bucket, I black out. I wake up in a white room with Sarah standing over me "You have to go back,it's not time for you yet." I sit up and bring her towards me "No, not without you." She shakes her head "Just trust me." "No." I jump of the bed and embrace her "You can't be here." I look at her then look around the room, there were two doors one with a halo and wings the other was black with a devil tail and horns "Let me guess." "This is where your world and our world collide, everyone who dies comes here to wait to be judged." she looks up at me with sad eyes "You can't be judged yet they want you to keep living." "Hurry there's not much time." She opens a door that is blue and green and beckons me to go through "Sarah.." "Don't talk just go they need you." I step through, find my body and go back inside it.

I wake up to an older man calling my name "Richard, Richard it's Dr. Brown can you hear me?" I nod I couldn't speak because of the oxygen mask on my face/ "You have second to third degree burns while we were working on you, your heart stopped." "We cleaned and put skin where you were burned you'll be in bandages for awhile after that we will give you cream to apply to the areas." "We have IVs giving you medicine right now." I spot paper and a pencil and write a question on it "Where is my father?" Just then an officer came in "Sorry to intrude but I have some questions to ask Richard." "That's fine." Dr. Brown said "Richard did he pick you up by the neck and throw you into that fire?" asked the officer :Yes." :Can I ask how this happened from the beginning?

After an hour of me explaining the officer closed his notepad "One more question." "Yes?" "That notebook he took from you, where was that when he threw you?" I shake my head "I don't know." the officer stands and smiles "Thank you Richard this is very useful information against him heal up okay?" "I will sir thanks." He leaves and my stepmom walks in with my baby brother "You're okay, thank god." "The trails in a few days he's looking at twenty years in jail, serves him right." She sits down by my bedside "I have a question don't take this the wrong way but did you know my dad was married while you were dating?" " He said he was divorced not married and that you were his son that was about it." she looks at the Tv "Enough of that, you have school to catch up on,the past is past nothing we can do now."



         Seven months later I was released from the hospital, I went to school and got caught up so I could graduate. six months later I got to walk across stage and received my diploma, my mom was there along with my stepmom and little brother. After we get home from the ceremony I go up to my room and changed into the outfit I was wearing the night Sarah died and grabbed the letter and drawing and skated down to the lake. I made a small fire when I got there and burned them "These are for you Sarah this is me letting go." I watch as the papers burn and when they turn to ashes I put out the fire and skate back home and prepare for what's next.






I'm in my second year of college now in New York living in one of the dorms with my old friend Dave, I've been working hard to become a photographer for companies, I have a part time job at the movies, my mother finally talks to me again I call her every other week to check on her, my father on the other hand is in jail for that incident where he tried to kill me by burning me for twenty years . I see my step mom and brother when I'm on breaks I usually draw or read but I mostly play with Ollie who is two years old now. When I don't have classes during the week I work on homework or skate around the campus. I wouldn't say that I don't miss Sarah because that would be lying, I still miss her and I wish that she was still here with me but wishing won't change anything My last picture of her I drew on my graduation night then burned it for her. I can say that I moved on with my life now, Goodbye Sarah see you where the worlds collide.

Resources

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=90&Conten...

http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=989 http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerbasics/signs-and-symptoms-of-cancer

Authors Note

         I wrote this story because I've lost people in my life that really mattered to me, I have heard of people that died because of cancer but I personally have never lost anyone to that but the process of letting go is the same and different for everyone. In my life I've lost a grandfather to a heart attack in seventh grade and in eleventh grade one of my friends was murdered. I dedicated my first story to him because he liked it when I showed it to my class and that was a way to show my respects to him. This story is fiction I've never had third degree burns but I have lost people, who I cared about. I hope you enjoyed this and be on the lookout for more of my writing.

Thanks, Anna