Two Sides of the Same Coin

New School

My alarm sent a deafening sound into my ear. I shot upright and stole a glance from the clock, which showed me it was time to get up for school. It was my first day of junior year at a new school, Golden Oaks High School home of the Eagles located in Golden Oaks, Washington.

I got up out of bed. The drapes were still covered the windows making my room almost black and the grey paint on the walls didn't seem to help making the room lighter. I walked over to my closet and turn on my closet light. I searched the never ending closet for something to wear. It was my first day and I needed to make a good impression. I pulled a burgundy colored shirt from my the hanger and pulled on a pair of jeans. 

I walked out of my room, across the hall, and into the bathroom. I switched the light and looked into the mirror. A mundane, emotionless face stared back at me. I tried on a smile, but it looked peculiar. I tried to do something with my hair like braiding it, but the black mess wouldn't move. I sighed and headed downstairs.

"I was 'bout to go and get you up." Ellie, the housekeeper, said as she put a plate full of pancakes and bacon onto the counter. "Is your father up?" She asked, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"I haven't seen him," I replied. "I thought he would be up by now but I guess not."

Ellie nodded and walked upstairs to check on my father.

He's been spending time in his room, sleeping and weeping, since the love of his life was taken away from him from brain cancer. 

It all started around last year and it was close to Christmas time, I'll never forget the look of horror on her face when she said, "I know you but I can't remember your name." Or when she said she wanted to go out for an oven instead of saying going out for a pizza. That's when my father and I decided we should go and see what's wrong with her. After an MRI the doctors discovered a brain tumor that's been silently tearing her life apart.

We were told that we had limited options for what to do, chemotherapy or surgery, and even if we try them there was a slight chance she would make it since the cancer was so far along. That's when my father and I decided we should get Ellie to stay and keep my mother company during her final days so my father could go back to work to help pay off the medical bills.

I remember the hospital bed in the den, she would moan and say something that didn't make any sense. But most of the time she would sleep. We weren't able to turn on the lights because my mother's vision was worsening from the tumor. The drapes were closed and the walls were painted a dark army green. It was always dark and warm in that room. 

Every time I walked pass the den my heart would break. To see my mother in that bed not understanding what she was even saying was the hardest thing to look at throughout my whole life. My mother was always the one to pick me up after I fell. Instead I had to be there for her instead of her being there for me.

Reporters and TV broadcasters would be outside our house and my father would yell at them to leave or else he would call the police. When my mother finally passed on, my father wanted to step out of the spotlight and move to a quieter place. It wouldn't affect his job because he had his own independent company. It was nice for a fresh start to get away from the past. That's when he found Washington and thought it would be the perfect place to live. I didn't mind moving, after all, the kids at my old school weren't the friendliest around. Our house was a little bit smaller than the one back in California but we didn't need a lot of space just for the two of us. It was a two story brick house off the main road. The rooms on the lower level were light colors to lighten up the house since the flooring was a dark hardwood. There were only two bedrooms and they were both upstairs. The whole house was modern and updated, which was something my dad didn't want to change from California.

"Missy, you're going to be late!" Ellie yelled coming down the stairs.

I shoved the last bit of bacon in my mouth, and I headed out of the door.