Stains of ink

My alarm went off at a startling rate. I felt the jolt of my heart before slamming down on the snooze button, I yawned sleepily and my eyes drooped limiting the amount of light coming through my eye lids. I couldn't feel the body warmth of my sister, Sharya besides me as I stirred. Which lead me to knowing that she had slept the night in her own bed. Suddenly, the sun broke through my eyes as my mum pulled back the cotton curtains that held the sun shine back.

"Good morning, sleepy head" my mum said to me, before kissing me on the forehead.

"What time is it?" I murmured sleepily folding my pillow over my ears and face.

"It's past noon, Kasia. It's about time you get up" she replied.

"What?!" I shriek, appalled at how late I had slept in.

Suddenly, Sharya waltzed in. Carrying her favourite red-headed cabbage patch doll. She jumped into bed with me with a grin on her face and continued to rant about how proud she was with herself for managing to stay in her own bed the entire night. Sharya heaved herself onto my mattress and bounced up and down, grinning.

"It's Wednesday" she exclaimed.

"I know, Sharya. What about it?" I yawned.

"Kasia! Dad's letters arrive on Wednesday's, duh!"

"Oh right, right" I say, I'm always the one who forgets.

Sharya drags me out of bed and pulls me outside, eagerly awaiting the mail man to complete his rounds. This happened weekly, Sharya would get excited about Dad's letter, we'd read it together without allowing Mum to know and then Sharya would stuff it away in a shirt box at the top of her closet. Same old, same old.

At long last, the mail arrives. A package that I have to sign for, a bright yellow envelope, two bills and Dad's letter. Sharya walks inside, her tiny arms overflowing with items. She spills them all onto the kitchen table and I begin sorting through them, Mum suddenly walks in and I shove Dad's letter underneath my shirt. She doesn't know we have any sort of contact with him and we don't plan on telling her any time soon.

I hand her the package and two bills, I tear open the yellow envelope and immediately wish I hadn't, it was addressed to us from the hospital informing us about Sharya's chemotherapy that is taking place in 2 weeks. It will be the most risky and the last she'll ever have. All goods come with a bad, I suppose.

Once Mum has finished sorting through the mail both Sharya and I race to the bathroom, the only room with a lock on the door, and bolt it shut behind us. I hand Sharya the envelope from underneath my shirt and she eagerly tears it open. As per usual, it consists of nothing but a poem.

Sharya and Kasia I miss you so,

and I'm terribly sorry that I had to go,

But things took place and I had to leave,

Leaving me to regret and to grieve,

But things with get better I promise you two,

And I want you both to know that I love you.

I wipe a single tear from my cheek and unbolt the door, there goes another week.