TW (not sure if this is needed but): This is a story that is based on the death of a loved one
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The day Jasmine lost Hope, she was 9-years-old.
Hope Jackson was 4 years younger than Jasmine, and yet they had formed a bond no one could ever break. It was like having a little sister; a little sister that unfortunately got sick a lot.
Jasmine always knew Hope had something wrong with her; every person on their street knew something was wrong. But 9-year-olds don't have the best comprehension on dying. So when Hope got sick again, Jasmine thought she would get better per usual.
...
But Hope didn't get better.
She kept getting worse, and worse, and worse. Her normally honey-colored skin was deathly pale, her eyes were sunken in to the point where she didn't look the way a healthy 5-year-old should.
Everyday Jasmine would visit Hope after school, telling the younger girl about her day.
"Today we learned how to multiply!"
"Today we learned about the Civil War!"
"Today we learned the life cycle of a mammal!"
Everyday, for three, very short months.
The day Jasmine lost Hope, she was once again going to the younger girl's house, excited to tell the other about her day.
When she arrived at her house, Jasmine did as she always had; took off her shoes and placed them neatly at the front door, knocking twice and waiting. Seconds felt like hours to the 9-year-old as she waited for Mrs. Jackson to open the door.
Mrs. Jackson, Hope's mom, opened the door slowly, peeking her head out slightly. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, as if she had been crying for a while. Jasmine noticed this but felt it was rude of her to ask, smiling as she asked the usual question of: "Where's Hope?"
Mrs. Jackson sighed softly, her breathing raggedy as she looked at the young girl, "Hope's gone, Honey..." She whispered, tears flooding her tired eyes. Jasmine frowned, not understanding what the older woman meant by 'gone.' A person could be gone in many ways; such as in gone on a trip.
"Oh, that's okay! When will she be back?"
Mrs. Jackson held her breath, trying to hold back tears and sobs. "She... She won't be coming back, Jasmine..." She mumbled, closing and locking the door without another word.
The young girl was confused, putting on her maroon sneakers and quickly running home to ask her mother what Mrs. Jackson meant.
Soon enough she made it back to her house, taking off her shoes once again and knocking.
Her twin brother, Peter, opened up, tilting his head to the side in confusion.
"Hey Jazzy, you're back early. I thought you went to see Hope?" He said, but Jasmine rushed past without saying a word, going to her mothers room.
"Maman!" She said, opening the door and running up and jumping onto the soft bed. Her mother sat up, her gentle blue eyes looking at her daughter. With her thick French accent, she asked:
"What is it mon chéri?"
Jasmine flopped into her mom's lap, looking up with an innocent expression. "Why did Mrs. Jackson say Hope's not coming back? Where did she go?" She saw her mother tense but continued asking questions concerning Hope and her sickness, "Does she not like us anymore? I thought she couldn't go anywhere because she was so sick..?"
Her mother took a deep breath, having her daughter sit up and wrapping a comforting arm around her.
"Chéri, you know I will never lie to you?" Jasmine's breathing hitched; her mother only said that when the following sentence was going to upset her.
"Y...yes maman, I know that."
"I'm not going to lie to you now either; Hope really is gone. Remember how when Papi left, we said he went into a deep sleep? That's what happened to Hope. She fell in a very deep sleep and won't wake up for a very long time."
Jasmine's whole world seemed to shatter right then and there; Papi had "fallen asleep" 2 years prior and, although she hadn't known him well, she did remember seeing him inside a black box with flowers his eyes closed peacefully, forever.
She was told Papi was no longer in pain and that he'd continue to watch over her.
But she didn't want Hope to be the same way. Jasmine wanted Hope to be here on Earth, with her, playing and having fun as kids should.
"Maman, why did H-Hope have to fall asleep? C-..couldn't someone fix her..?" Jasmine's voice came out tiny, a small sniffle coming from her as she tried to remain calm.
"Some people can't afford to pay someone to help their kids, like Mrs. Jackson. She would've done anything to help Hope."
The nine-year-old wiped away any tears that formed, now looking at her mother with pain, yet also determination.
"Then... then I'll become a doctor for children, so no kid has to be like Hope, and they'll all play and have fun like Hope used to!.." She stated, hoping off the bed and running to her room, writing down her goal and sticking it to her wall.
No kid would ever end up like Hope.
not if she could help it.
Several years later...
A young woman with her hair tied into a bun walked into a cemetery, carrying a bouquet of flowers and a certificate. She looked around before spotting a specific grave, walking over and gingerly placing the flowers down next to it. Tears starting to form.
"Guess what Hope?" She held up the certificate, smiling through the tears.
"I did it..!"
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This took so long and I'm pretty sure there's some grammar mistakes but i d c at this point-
Hope you enjoyed my awful writing-
