Time flies by when you are going to die!
Preface
I raced down the hallway and headed towards the stairs, tears were already beginning to blind me. That stupid clock that was broken fell to the ground and hit my foot as I passed the ledge by the dining room. It landed with a thunk as the pain immediately began to spread from my toes up my leg. I groaned and bent down to pick it up. That's when I discovered the others.
Chapter 1
My shoes squelched beneath me as I turned the corner and trudged down the dark alleyway that led to my road. My wet hair was dripping down my back and the rain finally stopped as I got to my house. The lights downstairs were on but I wasn't worried because it was probably just Hannah the cleaner. I squeezed my hand into the soaking wet pocket of my jeans and opened the front door with my black skull and cross bone keys. My dad had got them especially made for me, that was before he died. I walked into the warm hallway and noticed the clock that my mum had received from her parents had stopped working. It was old anyway, and it's not like she was at home. My mum is in hospital because...well no one actually knows why but she was found on the floor with several broken ribs and other icky stuff like that. She is also going bonkers. Ever since the accident she has been telling me all sorts of weird stories. I heard shuffling in the kitchen "I'm just gonna change and have a shower then we can sort out your money alright Hannah,"
I headed for the stairs but just as I reached the top I recognised my uncle's voice calling my name. Uncle Roo never visited unless it was urgent and whenever he did he always called before. "I didn't realise you were visiting uncle Rufus,"
"Come downstairs Esme," was all he replied.
"Well it's nice to see you to Uncle Roo,"
"Come downstairs Esme. We need to talk,"
"Can I not at least have a shower first I'm completely drenched," now he was starting to irritate me. "No this can't wait come down now," he was also getting irritated.
I signed then stomped down the stairs, as I reached my uncle he signalled with his hand for me to follow him into the dining room and sit on the couch. I found Hannah in the armchair silently sobbing. "Ok is anyone going to tell me what's happening?" without realising it I had stood up from my seat and began pacing around the room. I hated secrets. "Sit down Esme this is important,"
"If it's so important then just tell me what is going on,"
"Fine if you insist. First of all where have you been?"
"Um visiting my mum, is there a problem with that because can I just point out that you haven't exactly been going to see her a lot and as I'm-"I was cut off by Hannah's fresh tears. "Your mum is dead Esme" he looked solemn but I could see he was bluffing, besides I'd just seen my mum about well 1 hour and a half ago.
"Oooooh I'm sooooo upset. Now what's the real problem?"
"She is dead Esme," god now he was taking the joke too far.
"Seriously stop calling me Esme. Everyone calls me Emmy and don't you think that's kind of a sick joke. I mean my mum is in hospital so she could die and then you would feel really guilty. Oh that wouldn't be too bad actually. Carry on with your weird sense of humour," he gave me a blank stare that revealed nothing.
"I will tell you once more, your mum is dead. If you choose not to believe me then it's your fault when you realise how stupid you are being," I ignored his insult.
"So if she is dead you wouldn't mind telling me some details?" I hoped he would crack. He signed "What do you want to know?"
"Time of death?" he wouldn't have planned small details like this.
"Um... seven o'clock I think, the nurse wasn't very good at telling bad news over the phone," oh maybe he had thought through his little joke a bit more than I imagined. Suddenly my brain registered what he had said. Seven o'clock. Omg how creepy I had left the hospital at quarter past six and got home around half past seven so...wow that is weird. What if he was telling the truth? How embarrassing! Wait that would make me an orphan. Well there was still a possibility that it was just a coincidence but then-no it must be a coincidence. "Where will I live?"
"With me,"
"There is not enough room in your flat,"
"I will move in here," damn what if here's right? I fell really stupid now.
"What about your job?" there must be something fishy about this?
"Family is more important," Anything at all. She just can't be dead!
"When is her funeral?" Please be a lie.
"Emmy she died today. I am not superman," She's dead.
"Right, um are you 100% serious about this?"
"I don't have a choice. We can't control death," That's when i saw her face in the mirror.
I screamed. I woke up. It was just a dream.
I picked up the phone to check how my mum was doing but before I'd started dialling the numbers it rang. "Hello?"
"Hello hello. Oh hi, this is nurse Athenick. Is this Esme Reldov?"
"Yes but please call me Emmy. Is everything alright?"
"I'm sorry, Emmy, to be calling so early in the morning but I have some bad news for you. Are you alone?" what kind of a question is that? A bit personal or what?
"Yes. Why?"
"You should probably have someone with you. Do you want to come down to the hospital?"
"No I'm fiiiiiiiiiiiiine (I yawned) could you tell me now please?"
"Well...um...if...you want to come you are welcome. The thing is...your mum ... has...has...has...died,"
"What? When? Why what happened? How...you must be mistaken...this is the wrong person...it has to be!" ten million thoughts all crammed into my brain, buzzing in my ears and making my heartbeat get faster. "She had a bad reaction to something and died at seven o'clock," the nurse said.
"I'm sorry I have to go. Thank you goodbye," I hung up on the poor woman before she could respond. What was I going to do? Who should I call first? Where am I going to live? ...uncle Roo? My dream! It is a sign! I slid down the banister on the staircase and ran to the clock on the ledge. Seven o'clock, uncle Roo shouldn't mind being woken up now. Seven o'clock! That's the time mum had...oh the clock has frozen. For a minute I freaked! I wonder how long it's been like that for? Ah I can't keep stalling. Phone Roo. Phone Roo. Phone Roo.
