My Greatest Regret

Chapter 1

Ever wish you could go back in time to change something you regret? So do I. 

I had a pretty good childhood. My mom and dad would spoil me, I had a younger brother and sister who were twins. Life was good. At least I thought it was. 

When I was 4, I was diagnosed with leukaemia. 

My parents were so scared and worried that I wouldn't be okay and that I was going to die.

The doctor miraculously made the cancer disappear. Ever since then, my parents became very overprotective of me. I mean they always have been protective over me, but after that, it was 10 times worse.

They wouldn't let me out of the yard, they wouldn't let me go anywhere, they just would not let me out of their sight at all. I understood that they didn't want anything bad happening to me, but I found it annoying.

One day, I was out in the yard playing with my Barbie dolls, when I saw a big white truck pull up into the driveway of the house beside ours. Obviously it was another family moving in, as there was a white sign by the house that stated it was sold.

I got curious, so I decided to get up and check out our new neighbors. As I walked over to the gate and opened it, I could already hear my mom calling me.

"Maryse!" She yelled, "Don't go out of the yard, you could get hurt!"

I did not understand how I could put up with her back then. I loved my mom, but aren't kids supposed to have at least a bit of freedom? I was 6 at the time, already two years after I had my cancer.

I slowly walked over to the 5 foot fence around the yard. Obviously at the time I was too short to just look over it, so I had to settle for peeking through the cracks of it.

As I was looking, I saw a tall lady with red curly hair get out of her car. She looked beautiful. Next, I saw a tall, sort of chubby man with light hair and glasses. Then, I saw a boy who looked around my age, with light brown hair and blue eyes.

The boy was getting out of the moving truck. I remember he had a dog, a golden retriever to be exact. They say that golden retrievers are supposed to be nice and loyal. The dog didn't look vicious at all, but I was wrong.

I had my favorite Barbie of all when I accidentally dropped her. While she was on the ground, I guess the dog must've heard something, because it came charging to the fence. The dog reached under the fence with it's teeth and just dragged her over to their yard.

"My Barbie!" I screamed, not caring who was listening. I didn't even have a chance to pick it up. 

I saw the boy raise his eyebrow and walk over to the fence. "Buddy? What is it you've got there?" he said. The dog turned to him with my Barbie doll still in his mouth. The boy gently grabbed her from it's mouth and took her. "You stay here" he commanded, pointing to the ground.

At this point, I was away from the fence balling my eyes out, because I knew there was no way I was getting my Barbie doll back. I'd try going over to get it, but I know my mom would never let me.

I heard the gate open, but I was still too upset to look over at it. "Hey.." He spoke quietly, "Please don't cry". He sat beside me, holding his hand out. I just couldn't stop crying.

"Is this yours?" He said again. I slowly uncovered my face to see my Barbie in his hands. She was a little chewed up, but eh.

"My Barbie!" I shouted, immediatley grabbing it and hugging it. He chuckled "I take that as a yes". I quickly got up and hugged him. "Thank you!" I said, overjoyed. "You're welcome" he responded.

"What's your name?" He asked. "My name is Maryse" I replied. "That's a cool name" he smiled. "I'm Mike."

We spent hours and hours talking and playing in my yard. Finally, I had someone I could talk to and play with.

"We're going to be best friends!"