Love Like the Ocean

What a day.

-Vader’s POV-

I wake up to my alarm clock beeping signaling it’s time to get ready for school. I roll out of bed and make my way over to the bathroom. I really don’t feel like going to school today. Maybe Mom will let me stay home today. No, she wouldn’t do that.

As I turn on the water to brush my teeth, I hear my mom scream.

“Mom?!” I call. No answer.

“Mom are you okay?!?!” I call while running down the stairs to check on her. When I get down, I look in the living room and dining room with no sign of my mom. I cautiously walk over to the kitchen. I feel my eyes bulge out of my head as I look down at the ground to see my mother lying on the floor with blood around her head. My breathing hitches in my throat, holding back my scream. I grab the phone and fall by her side, holding her unmoving hand. I dial 911. Please be okay. Please be okay. Please be okay.

“911 what’s your emergency?” The voice crackles over the phone.

“My moms on the floor she's not moving I don't know if she's okay"

 "An ambulance is on its way. Could you please check to see if she’s breathing?”

I held my finger under her nose to see if I felt anything. There was nothing there.

“No, no she’s not breathing. "

“Okay. You can go into a different room if needed. Just make sure you can open the door when the people get there.” 

I then hung up and walked into the living room. I began pacing back and forth until I heard a knock on the door. I ran to answer it. People began rushing into my home towards her. A police officer came over and forced me to stand in another room.

“What’s going on?” I asked scared.

“They’re putting her into an ambulance and are going to bring her to the hospital.” He replied, a little calmer than he should have. 

“I need to go with her in the ambulance. I need to make sure she’s okay!” I shouted, trying to run past him.

My mom is all I have left. She’s been here for me even after my dad left both of us. He didn’t like the idea of his son being gay. But my mom loved me unconditionally. I can’t lose her.

“I’ll bring you to the hospital in my car, but you can’t see her yet.” He said, leading me to his car.

I sat silently, until we got there. I then ran into the hospital where I was directed to sit in the waiting room. I waited for an hour, but that one hour felt like a life time. Soon, a doctor came in with a sullen face and told me the news.

“Your mom has passed away. I’m very sorry. But we’ve called your Aunt Claire and your Uncle Frank, and they’re going to come pick you up. You’re going to stay with them from now on. Don’t worry, they’ll take care of you.” He said, with a hint of sadness.

I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t speak at all. I felt all of the words being ripped out of my throat as I begin to get choked up with the threat of tears.

I just followed him to his car to my house. I need to pack my things so I’m ready.  They live in Maine so they have to fly here. Since we’re in Arizona, it will take 5 hours in all, but they left an hour ago.

When we got there, I slowly walked in. So many memories flooded into my mind as I entered my house which I’d be seeing for the last time.

*Flashback*

I was sitting there at my 11th birthday party. Already 6 years ago. No one showed up to my party because they were either on vacation or sick. Even though no one was there, my mom made it the best birthday I’ve ever had. My dad was still there, but he was too busy in his office. I didn’t realize I was gay until I was 15.

My mom and I were sitting at a table that had balloons floating all around it and a giant cake in the middle. I had a huge smile plastered across my face as she sang happy birthday to me. I then made my wish and blew out the candles. We played games all night and it was a lot of fun.

 *Flashback #2*

I was 14 and walked in from my day at school. I had a bruise under my eye from Tom punching me. My mom immediately ran up to me, grabbed my face, and asked me what happened. When I told her, she got a look of anger, which faded into sadness for her little boy. She knew it was because I was gay. She’s always supported gays, and hates how everyone else doesn’t. She put ice on my bruise and then watched my favorite movie with me with popcorn.

 *Flashback #3*

I ran down the stairs after hearing my mom scream. I looked around but couldn’t find her. I then saw her laying on the floor unconscious in the kitchen with a puddle of blood around her. She wasn’t responding so I called 911….

 I was snapped out of it by the police officer touching my shoulder to get my attention. He gave me some suitcases and told me to go pack. 

I didn’t want to take much. It felt better to start over. So I only packed my clothes, my sketch book,  laptop, phone, iPod, and a snow globe my mom had given me. I then made my way downstairs to leave. We stepped outside and I turned around. This was only home with Mom. I took one last good look at the shell of a home, before following the police officer back into his car. We then headed to the airport to meet my family.

I had never met Aunt Claire and Uncle Frank before. Not only was it terrifying to have my mom die, but it was also terrifying to have to move, especially when I’m moving in with people I’ve never met.

We waited for a while until they announced the plane has landed. We then made our way over to where they’d be getting off.

The rest of the time was just a blur of people dragging me here and there and shouting in my face. I felt dizzy and so very out of it. I had no idea of what was going on around me. When I finally came to it, I opened my eyes and was on a plane. I sighed and looked next to me. I saw my aunt and uncle. They look like decent people. They look to be in their early 40’s, late 30’s. They were holding hands, so obviously they liked each other. Maybe I’ll like it here.

I turned my attention to the other side of me and looked out of the window. I watched the ground pass far under me. I’ve never liked planes. But they’re tolerable just because of the view.

I soon drifted into a light, dreamless sleep. Maybe it’ll be better here.

Boy was I wrong.