Shattered
By: Pranathi Selvakumar
It was a cold, rainy night in the city of London. The rain trickled down the glass windows as I sat in my hospital bed. I traced my fingers along the cold glass window, tears pouring from eyes. The rain reminded me about the nightmares of my life. I closed my eyes, but couldn't sleep as my body felt numb. I was very cold, clutching on my blanket as tight as I can. I suddenly sprang up from bed as I saw a light coming towards my room. I saw my father's gentle face, and soon relaxed. He walked up to me and handed me a box. It had a perfect tiny golden bow. I smiled as I opened the box. Inside was a blue shiny watch. I gasped, and gave my father a very big hug. He smiled, but inside his smile was a hurting heart. I then asked him, "What's going on?"He glanced at me and sighs. "Today is your twelfth birthday, and this is the day where the secret shall be revealed." I stare at him all confused. What are you not telling me?" He finally looks up to me and says, " Honey, you do have a mom. She was the reason for my joy and tears. When she disappeared, I became hopeless, but knew that you had a bright future, so it's my responsibility to take care of you." My eyes filled with hot tears which dropped down my cheeks. I pulled my blanket closely to my chest. I was in shock. My past was as terrifying as my present. I then hugged by father who hugged me, tears filled with sadness. He then said, "Your mom has left a letter especially for you. She requested that you open it on your twelfth birthday. Please read it." He handed me an old tattered envelope, and on the front was my name, engraved in golden letters. I gave my father a weak smile and opened the envelope. I carefully pulled out the letter in it. I slowly read the letter, each word being so important.
I read over the letter multiple times, crying every time I read it. Though my father had revealed this shocking secret, I still have more questions, but I just neatly folded the letter back into the envelope and laid down in bed. My father smiled and kissed me good night. I closed my eyes, ready to go to sleep, but the terrifying thought filled my head as I slept. The next morning the sun shone on my face as I sat up on bed. I got all dressed up and ready for the new day. I have made my decision overnight. It was a hasty, quick decision, but my curiosity has taken over me. I have decided to go in search of my mother,who will be waiting for me. I want to meet her at least once in my life. Though this is a big goal, I have pneumonia, and the doctors are making me to stay at the hospital for most of the time, so it will be hard. I will still try, at least this once. I picked up the letter, and flipped it to the back. In golden letters it said, "Alisa Smith, professor at Oxford University" I knew this must be a clue which would lead to my mother. I knew definitely at that moment that I was going to find my mother. I want to see her soon. Will she look like me? Will she remember me? I needed to know the answers to my questions. I quickly looked up the Oxford University's phone number, and dialed it. The lady picked up, and soon, I had a conversation with Alisa Smith. She was my mother's close friend, and has given me the missing piece to the puzzle. Her clue was "11 Downing Street, London."This was where my mother lived. I yelped with joy because I have solved the puzzle. All I have to do was go there, and I look for my mother. My heart longed for her ever since I have knew about her, and this was the time. I quickly wrote a note that I would be at Hyde Park, and slowly closed the hospital door behind me. I silently creeped down the halls, and opened the front door to feel the fresh warm air on my face. I then saw the bus passing by. I quickly starting running towards to it, desperate to catch it. The bus finally came to a stop, and I quickly climbed in the bus. I was so excited I couldn't even sit. I held on to the rusty old bars until Downing Street was in sight. I ran out of the bus and searched for the number 11. I ran quickly, determined to find my mother's house. I finally came up to a brown and red house, with a stone pathway. This was the house my mother is living in. I would be able to meet my mother today. I slowly walked up to the front porch, and searched for the doorbell, but couldn't find it. I then gently knocked on the door. No reply. I knocked louder this time, and the door creaked open. My heart was beating rapidly, and my palms were sweating. This was the moment I was waiting for: meeting my mother. The door then opened widely to reveal a blonde haired woman. She had blue eyes like sapphires, and pale, pretty skin. I immediately hugged my mother. I cried and cried, with tears of joy. I then let go and smiled back at her. I quickly said, "Mother! I have missed you so much, where have you been?"The women look bewildered, staring at me like I was crazy. She then replied, "I am dearly sorry, but I am not your mother. I am simply the housekeeper for Matilda Brown. Do you need any help darling?" I stood there all startled. I started crying even more. Where is my real mom? I wanted to see her so much. I looked up at the lady and asked, "By any chance, do you know Eleanor Jones?" The lady's smiled disappeared. She started to look gloomy. She finally looked up at me and said, "I am very sorry honey, but Eleanor Jones has passed away ten years ago. She ran away from her family knowing she was going to lose her life because of tuberculosis. She was admitted to a hospital, and lived in this house until she tragically died one day." I froze and looked at the lady in disbelief. I fell onto the floor and started to cry, tears landing on the wooden floor. The lady came over and wiped away my tears and whispered, "It will be alright, I promise. Let me bring you to a special place. It will remind you of your mother." She took my hand and walked over to the cemetery filled with black and gray tombs on the grassy fields. She then walked over to a gray tomb. The name "Eleanor Jones" was engraved in beautiful letters on the dark gray tomb. I knelt down and started sobbing. "Oh mother, I miss you so much! Your daughter has come to see you!" I could barely speak because the sadness filled all over me. The lady placed pink flowers on my mother's grave, and she said, " I should probably be leaving. Matilda would be waiting for me." She walked away slowly. I looked up at my mother's grave and said, "I will love you always and I really miss you. I wish I got to see you once." I slowly got up and glanced over at my mother's tomb one more time. I then followed the lady and caught up to her. I said, "Thank you for bringing me to my mother. I will never forget what you've done for me today." I gave her a huge hug and waved goodbye at her. I then walked towards the bus stop and climbed into it. I sat on the cold hard seat until I could see the hospital. I jumped off the bus and sadly walked towards the door. I continued down the hall until I came to my room. I soberly walked inside, but sat on the cold floor, burying my face into my arms. I couldn't face the terrible truth. Suddenly, I started to breathe heavily. My lungs were getting weaker, and my heart rate was slowing down. I started to reach towards the oxygen mask, but it was out of reach. I was fighting for my life now, suffering every moment. I slowly started to stop breathing, my heart rate reducing quickly. The doctors rushed in and reached quickly for the oxygen mask, but before they could save me, my eyes were shut, never to open again.
