Tragic realisation

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Melody griped the steering wheel tight and concentrated on the road ahead. She kept glancing at her daughter not shore what to say. Penny was eight but right now she looked like a defenceless five year old gripping her favourite teddy so tight her knuckles had turned white. Her usual angelic eyes were red and raw from crying. The car pulled up onto a drive outside a pint sized semi-detached house. Melody’s hands slipped down the wheel and rested in her lap as her mind went over the events of the last twenty-four hours. Regret crossed over face as she did so knowing that if only she had not gone out with the girls they would have got the earlier flight and missed the accident.  Her heart went out to those who had not been so lucky as her daughter.

The girls had dragged her home at about 3am her head pounding most likely from too many cocktails. She just about managed to make it to her bedroom before collapsing in a heap on her small yet comfortable double bed. It was not until around 10am she awoke. Blinking for a moment she wondered what had woken her when the shrill sound of her phone broke though her thoughts. Pushing her tangled strawberry blond hair out of her face she had answered the call. As she listened to the caller her face paled. Five hours later she was pulling up at an airport the other side of the country. The phone call had been from the police her ex and her daughter had been in a plane accident nothing too serious but it had cost Toni his life. Despite herself pain gripped her, she may have hated the guy but she would never have wished his death.  Now her daughter was in there some wear alone and confused. She may not have been the world’s greatest mum but now she had to be for Penny’s sake. Shaking her head to clear it Melody rushed inside dreading what she would find.

 Penny had not said a word since leaving. It was now 10 Pm dusk had fallen swiftly and now the night settled fast draining what little energy Melody had left. Exiting the car she closed the door carefully so as not to startle Penny. Going round to the passenger side to opened the door and held out her hand to Penny which she took. Her hand felt so small and fragile even in Melody’s relatively small ones. Melody began to lead them silently inside not even noticing that she had forgotten to lock the front door in her hurry to leave. The house was a state, take out boxes littered the floor and who know what else. Melody knew she needed to get her life back on track now more than ever.  That meant no more late nights with the girls and definitely no more one nighters.

To Penny this all felt just like a dream one big bad hideous one but like she would wake up soon and realise. She could feel herself being led down the familiar corridor to her room. Before she knew it she was snuggled down in bed surrounded by her vast collection of teddy’s and other such toys. She Gazed up at her mum who stood over her deep concern in her eyes, she realised her mum was talking but the words where not registering in her brain. Melody had been trying to get Penny to say something; anything but she could see the faraway look in her eyes and knew she could not even begin to comfort her until both of them had had an undisturbed sleep. Sighing deeply she turned to and turned on the old night light, she knew Penny would want it tonight despite insisting she was a big girl now. Melody was just about to close the door when she heard a faint whisper of a voice. " Mummy please don't leave me". Melody pushed the door open wider and saw Penny eyes glistened with fresh tears as they began to run down her face. Without hesitating Melody was beside her in seconds rapping her in her warm embrace. Rocking her back and fourth until she slipped softly to sleep. Melody did not leave her daughters side all night and even then it was only to fetch her some juice and cookies.

This tragic event would stay with both Melody and Penny until long after the rest of the world forgot. It had cost them dearly but if had given Melody the chance to repair the damage she had caused her daughter long ago after a line of abusive boy friend’s. Melody had made the decision that day it was time to clean up her act, go out get a job; become the mother Penny deserved and needed.   Melody spent the rest of her life completely devoted to her daughter, thankful for the chance she had been given, until she too left this world. By then though she was old a gray and her daughter had a family of her own to care for, but they never swerved in their love for each other. Penny looks back upon this chapter of her life with misery and pain but also with understanding and acceptance. Now the cold creeps into her bones and she know she will be with her Father and Mother soon. She goes gladly with no regrets from her life.