The Girl With The Yellow Umbrella

s i x

April 10th, 2005
Wesley

Everyday my routine was the same, a never ending cycle of waking up, going to school, coming back home, homework, then sleeping. It's never changed, not one single bit. I was never the party girl. I barely had a social life to begin with.

But everything changed that one morning. It was like every other day. I woke up at exactly six and took a well needed shower, I dressed up in my private school uniform, I went downstairs and slipped on my black worn out shoes, and I went into the kitchen to fetch myself a bagel with cream cheese.

Something was different about today though. I don't what it was, maybe it was the taste of the air or the smell of this house. Maybe it was my bed or the water that had been poured on my body. I just, I knew something didn't feel right.

Just as I was about to open the fridge to get my breakfast, I saw it. A little ripped up note hanging onto the fridge. The only thing holding it was a little broken piece of magnet.

I didn't even have to read it to see that it was in fact my mother's scripted handwriting. Slowly, I took the little piece of paper, already concluding that it was my mother telling us she would be late today. She usually texted us about it though, never left a note on the fridge.

I skimmed my eyes thought it and put it down. I don't think the words had sunken into my brain yet until after ten minutes. Then, my eyes bulged out and I started to pant like I ran a marathon. I quickly took the piece of paper that I had put down on the kitchen counter and read it once again.

■■■■■■

Dear Carl,

I think it's best that you and I both head our separate ways. Our marriage lasted for 17 long years but I think you and I both know that we aren't happy anymore. I've found someone, he's amazing and beautiful. He reminds me what it's like to be young again and even though he's 15 years younger than me, at least I know I love him. That isn't true for us so, keep the girls and I'm leaving. Till we meet again.

-Mary

■■■■■■

My eyes were starting to water as I read it. Again and again and again and again. Tears didn't leave my eyes but all I did was shake my head. Whimpering and whispering to myself.

"No, no, no, no."

This wasn't real, this couldn't be real. I started to make theories in my head like my older sister was pranking me or this was just some type of fake letter. But I knew my mother's handwriting, I knew deep inside of me that there was no logical explanation but that my mother had left us. Had left me.

She was gone.