Corey & Sandie
image source: google images
Corey couldn’t remember where to go. She had spent the day in her Uncle Stevie’s fields, chasing butterflies and collecting flowers in a bouquet for her Aunt Linda. She looked up to find the sun hanging lower in the sky and the house nowhere to be seen, just a dirt road surrounded on either side with bright red flowers that extended from the tops of the hay and leaves of the crop. Corey called out for her Aunt and Uncle for a few minutes until she realized they would not be able to find her unless she found them first. So she walked back on the dirt path, kicking at the sands and stones littered about. The day had gotten much hotter so she peeled off her mother's old knit red sweater and tied it carefully about her waist. Up ahead she saw the dirt path diverge into two separate paths. This was going to be a problem; Corey always had trouble remembering things; her Uncle Stevie always told her to use landmark and key notes to help, but that didn’t help because she never remembered to do it in the first place!
Corey couldn’t help but think of her mom, Sandie; she would’ve been able to come on these adventures with her and she could always remember everything. Her mother had been her best friend until she got sick and had to live in the hospital. That’s when her mother’s sister, Aunt Linda, came to town and helped take care of Corey and her mom until the day. It was hard for the both of them; Aunt Linda called Corey in to give her a chance to say goodbye, but insisted that she leave so she wouldn’t see her mother die in front of her. In the midst of arguing, the hospital machines beeped loud and fast for a few seconds until the last beep sustained. They stared at the empty shell of the bright human Sandie once was in shock as the nurse hurried in to turn off the incessant machine. Corey remembered feeling extreme relief when the noise finally shut off, and remembered desperately trying to hang on to that one thought - that one feeling - so she wouldn’t have to think or feel anything else. She felt as though a cannon had blasted right through where her heart was. It was dull and numb and her head felt droopy and heavy.
She couldn’t bear to actually think the thought but like a window open in the background of her computer, she couldn’t deny it was still there. Her life would never be the same again. This was horrifying, but it wouldn’t be the worst. The worst would be the attempt at living that would have to come next. The worst would be not even having her mother to look at in real life anymore. The worst would be feeling so sad and no longer having the one person in your life whose job it was to help you and love you, no matter what.