Stitching Hearts

Prologue

Simon

I remember it like it was yesterday. Mom and dad were happy, and enjoying every moment that we could together. Dad was a writer, and had retired from being a police officer. He had written some books and they became very popular. Mom was a nurse, so she worked a lot. Just the three of us. Life was perfect. But then, mom announced that she was pregnant. I was excited hoping it would be a boy so then I would have a little brother to hang out with while dad was working on his books. As time went on, I noticed something different about mom. I couldn't figure out what exactly it was. I just knew she was hiding something though, and that dad knew about it too. Dad told me one day that mom would be staying home because the doctor told her to go on bed rest, and that I had to make sure to behave and not be loud so she could rest. There was one night I woke up from a nightmare about fighting dinosaurs. I lost to them. I needed to go to the bathroom, and as I walked down the hall to go I could hear my parents talking.

"I know it's hard, hun, but we will get through this together. If I need to I can go back to work while you stay home and rest." My dad told her.

"I know. I'm starting to think I shouldn't have gone through with this." Mom sounded like she was crying.

"Why would you say that?"

"You heard what the doctors said. As many difficulties that I am having through this pregnancy-"

I couldn't hold it anymore. I had to go pee. Quickly, I rushed to the bathroom.

The time was growing closer for the new baby to arrive. Mom told me that it wasn't a boy, but she did say they could be wrong. I think she only said that to cheer me up though. She came into my room one morning and sat down on the edge of my bed. I had just been going through my trading cards and making sure all of them were placed in the binder my parents had just got me.

"Can we talk?" She asked. Her voice was serious and sounded a bit sad.

"Sure." I sat next to her.

"Are you still excited about the baby?"

"I guess. I still wish it was a boy." I looked up at her.

"Even if it isn't a boy, can you promise me something?" Her voice started to break a little.

"Promise what?"

"Promise that you will help watch over your sibling, and protect them." I could see the tears in her eyes. "I won't always be there to help out, so I need you to help your father out. Can you promise me that?"

"Yeah, mom."

"Do you really promise me that?" She asked.

"Yeah. I promise."

"And always remember that I love you and that I am with you even if you can't see me." Her tears were falling now.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. It's just my hormones." Mom hugged me tightly, kissed my forehead, and then got up to leave the room. "I love you so much, Simon."

"I love you too, Mom."

She stepped out into the hallway and cried out. "It's time!"

"Faith?! It's time?!"

The next thing I knew we were at the hospital with my uncle who lived next door to us. My dad went back with mom so I had to stay with my uncle. We had waited a long time and I ended up dozing off in the chair. When I woke up, dad was walking toward us. My uncle approached him because he came out white as a ghost. He whispered something to my uncle. They both then looked at me.

"Simon," Dad spoke while holding back tears. "You''re sister is okay. There was some trouble, but she is fine now. Your mother....." He stopped.

"Can I see mom now? I know you said she would be tired and need rest, but I want to see her." I asked. Dad's lip shook.

"Buddy, your mother.....You can't see her now." He choked on the words as they came out of his throat.

"What do you mean I can't see her now? I want to see mom." I raised my voice.

"You can't see her, because she......"His voice trailed off. "She....didn't make it.."

"You're lying!" People started staring. "I want to see her! I want to see mom!"

"She's dead...She died giving birth." By the way dad was acting, I knew he was telling the truth. I just didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to believe that the last time I saw my mom was being wheeled to the back of the hospital. That the last time I spoke to my mom was that morning when she made me make that promise. That's when I realized that what my mom was saying that morning was goodbye. She knew that she might not make it, which is why she asked me to keep that promise. She wanted me to protect my sister, but how could I protect the person that stole my mom away from me?