Far From Sweet
By Jamie A.
Beep! Beep! My alarm went off and I rolled over to stop it. It was five thirty in the morning, but I was used to this lifestyle. Every morning I get up early to help my mother and aunt prepare for a day in our bakery downstairs. I rubbed my eyes and headed to the kitchen to check in with my mom.
“Good morning Mom,” I said as I gave her a hug. I headed to the stairs to go down to the bakery, but my mom stopped me.
“We are not opening the shop today, Hazel,” my mom told me.
“What? Why not,” I asked curiously. My mom explained that she had to go to a doctor's appointment, but that she would be home before I got back from school. I left to get ready for the day and then headed to the bus stop.
“I’m back from school,” I yelled as I walked in the door to my house. I didn't get a reply though.
“Mom! I’m home,” I called again. That’s weird; I thought she said she would be home. She must be down in the shop. I headed down to the bakery, but no one was down there. Usually my aunt works with my mom in the bakery. I decided to go back upstairs and called my mom. The phone rung but ended up going to voicemail. I hung up and decided to start doing homework in my room.
…
An hour later, my aunt, Aunt May, was at the front door.
“Aunt May, what are you doing here,” I asked.
“Your mom got news that she has cancer and is at the hospital right now. Come quickly, I'm here to take you there now,” she replied. Aunt May looked like she had been crying and right now that’s all I felt like doing, too. I took a deep breath, but it was like my legs didn't know how to walk.
“Hazel, we have to go,” Aunt May urged. I walked out the door and to her car. We didn't talk the whole way to the hospital. I could hear Aunt May trying to choke back her tears and stay strong for me. I was just dazed, not believing this was actually happening. We arrived at the hospital and I followed Aunt May to the front desk.
“We’re here to see Charlotte Finn,” Aunt May told the lady sitting at the computer.
“How are you two related to the patient,” she questioned.
“I am her sister and Hazel is her daughter,” Aunt May told the lady.
“Ok she is on Floor 3, Room 313,” she informed us. We headed to the elevator in silence, neither me or my aunt daring to talk about my mother. I never even asked what type of cancer she had. That wasn't important to me; I just wanted to embrace my mom. We stepped in the elevator and pushed the button with a three engraved on it. It felt like it took an eternity to finally get to the room. When we got there, I ran in and gave my mom a huge hug. Seeing her there in a hospital gown, with lines connecting to her body, the fact that she was sick finally hit me. This was real and that was when I burst into tears.