Broken

One

It was a cool crisp September night and I was lying asleep in my bed until I heard my name being yelled.

"SARAH SARAH, WAKE UP, GET DRESSED WE'VE GOT TO GO!"

Bursting awake in fear and confusion, I look at my phone to see it's two in the morning.

"What is it dad?"

"Your mother. Now get up, I don't care if you get dressed anymore, just come on."

Rushing out of bed I grab a hoodie and catch up with my dad.

"Get in the car, we have to go to the hospital."

The car ride to the hospital was quiet, but I broke the silence by asking my dad a question.

"D-dad?"

"What is it Sarah?"

"What happened to mom?"

"I'm not quite sure, it all happened so fast, but I woke up to this huge thump on the floor and when I got up to check what it was I saw your mother on the floor having a seizure."

Tears began to form in my eyes as my dad explained what had happened.

Taking a deep breath I wipe my tears away and clear my throat.

"Will she be okay?"

"I-I don't know honey"

We sat in silence the rest of the way.

~~~

I've been sitting in the hospital waiting room for two hours now and my hands are still shaking. I sit in silence by myself and I prefer it this way anyways.

I watch my dad talk to the nurse at the front desk. I could faintly hear what they were saying so I just decided to listen, as my dads voice always calms me down.

"So you've been living here for two months now?" Asked the nurse.

"Yes that is correct." Answered my dad.

"Where did you live previously?"

"Los Angeles."

At that point I stopped listening to their conversation and plugged in my earbuds.

Putting my earbuds in my ears I start listening to Trees by Twenty One Pilots. Humming along to the song, I close my eyes and fall into a deep sleep.

That's when I appear in a bright green forest with dew dripping from the trees and the sound of birds chirping in the distance. I then see my mom. Her long brown hair up in her usual bun and her pale green eyes, that are identical to mine, stare deep into my soul as if she was reading my mind.

Smiling, I run up to her and wrap my arms around her as tight as I can, not wanting to let go.

She smiles back at me and we start adventuring deep into the forest, discovering it's dark hidden secrets.

I never wanted this moment to end, but unfortunately nothing lasts forever.

I was awoken by my dad shaking my shoulder. Taking my earbuds out, I look up at my dad with tired eyes.

"She's awake." Said my dad.

The first thing that popped into my head was if she's okay.

Slowly walking into her room, I see my mom laying in a hospital bed wearing a pale blue hospital gown. I hate seeing her like this, all weak and brittle.

"Sarah." My mom calls in a soft whisper.

"Yes mom?"

"I'm going to be okay, I promise."

Sniffling softly, I hold my moms hand and nod, as no words could escape my mouth.

Taking a moment talk to the doctor I ask him the question I've been dying to know.

"What happened to her? She's going to be okay right?"

Looking at the doctor with watery eyes, he sighs and says.

"Your mother has terminal lung cancer. We're doing all we can to help her, but her cancer has spread faster than we predicted and she may only have five months left to live."

I felt like I've taken a soccer punch to the stomach. I could hardly breathe and I felt like I was going to get sick.

Uncontrollably, tears started to pour out of my eyes. Running up to my mom I hug her and refuse to let go, until my dad says it's time to go home because tomorrow will be my first day of grade 12.