Princess

Pink

"Umm babe, this came in the mail for you today from your doctor and I..I opened it thinking it was just another bill." Deon said as she looked down trying to compose herself as her hand shook from a combination of anger and immense pain,

"But instead it says here that you..uhh.. that you suspended your chemo and no longer seek treatment. Babe, is this true?" Lilac stopped washing dishes, freezing. She said nothing.

"Babe, is this true? Tell me th-this isn't true!" Deon said as she shook the papers yelling and her fighting of tears causing a subtle crack to her voice. Lilac slowly turned around with her head down.

"Baby..I ju-" She said walking to Deon before she took a step back making her stop mid-sentence,

"Why are you moving away from me?" Lilac continued now looking up to Deon with tears welling in the bottoms of her eyes.

"I can't believe Li...Like what the fuck?" Deon said shaking her head looking back at Lilac.

"Don't cuss at me!" Lilac yelled back in response before breaking down cupping her face into her hands.

"Then don't lie to me! Especially about matters like this! This said you stopped your treatments almost 4 weeks ago! When the hell was you gonna speak to me about this?! When were WE going to discuss this?! Or were you just gonna lie to me saying the treatments weren't working? What about our daughter?!" Deon yelled throwing the papers down furious with Lilac.

By that time all there was left of the conversation were tears and pain. That was one of the only memories I have of my mommy. They didn't know it at the time but I was standing behind the door the entire time. My mommy crying...my mama crying too..I never forgot that day. I didn't know what chemo was or cancer; I still don't. I don't know why cancer took my mommy..it took my mommy and she never came back. Now all that's left is my mama. Mama never talks about Mommy..I think it makes her too sad. But I want to know about my mommy! I want to know what her favorite color was! I want to know why I have the word, "Belle âme" on my only teddy bear from her! I want to know EVERYTHING about her..but my mama won't talk about her. My mama says she has a sister too, but she hasn't visited since my mommy left with cancer.

I'm Ari. Ari Liza Brown. I'm 5 years old but already in the first grade. My teachers say I'm very bright. My mama says the same too. Today's my birthday! Mama said I was going to get a big surprise! I can't wait! But I wonder what it is..As I finish my coloring page for Ms.Rodgers she taps me on the shoulder.

"Happy Birthday Liza!" She says as she holds a big chocolate cupcake in my face making me smile.

"You remember!" I say jumping up and hugging her as tight as possible grinning from ear to ear,

"Thank you Mrs.Rodgers!"

"You welcome hun, Now blow out your candles and make a wish!" She says back to me holding the cupcake in front of my face. I close my eyes. I close my eyes tight. Then blow out my candles and everyone smiles and claps for me as I smile too. Mrs.Rodgers then ask me who I would like to share my cupcake with, suggesting my two best friends, Zari and Janét.

"Duhh Mrs. Rodgers! They're my best friends" I say hugging the both of them as they hugged me back us all giggling. We all sit down to eat my cupcake, then it was time to go home. Mrs.
Rodgers walked us all out to our cubbies then to the play room as we waited for our parents.

"Ari! Are you excited for tomorrow?! I can't wait to eat ice cream!"

"Oh! And Candy! Don't forget the candy!" Zari yells interrupting Janét as she tackles us both as we laugh laying on the floor.