r e d e m p t i o n s

mother

         CHAPTER ONE, mother      [wasabi]
 Fall leaves fly down from the trees, reflecting the colors of autumn. I wish I could float along the breeze without a care in the world, yet somehow I can only manage to fall and help flood the ground. My mother and I, [formerly known as Mrs.Everdeem] used to watch the fall leaves float in the breeze, and rake up the ones that fell. These memories only came back to me as I approached the hospital where my mother lay. She has a sickness the doctors do not know of, meaning there is no cure. When I came into her room her drined face resembled the colorless hospital. She only felt pain, but I was relieved to see her alive, ''Mother,'' I said, ''how are you feeling?''

''If only Olive,'' she replied, ''If only I knew.''

''At least your not feeling worse!'' I hopefully said, although she knew better. ''Mom, I think I going to tell dad you are doing okay!''

''You can't leave yet,'' she said, ''at least not without a hug!''

''I love you!'' I whispered as I came in for a hug, then left. We live on Maple Street in New Orleans, in a small row house we call home. When I walked in our house my dad, [formerly known as Mr.Everdeem] greeted me, although his eyes were fixed on the tv screen. I knew he didn't really want to talk, so I kept the conversation short.

''Hey dad!'' I shouted, ''Mom is okay! I went to check on her earlier!''

''That's good!'' he replied, ''What do you want for dinner?''

''Pizza sounds good!'' I happily replied.

''Okay monkey!'' he joked, then walked into the kitchen. I went up-stairs and checked phone, my friends must have been calling me, but I didn't care I was too tired to answer. So I layed down on my bed, and just as my eyes closed I thought I heard yelling coming from the kitchen, but I convinced myself it was a thought.

In the morning I woke to the sound of a screaming dad, yelling at me to get ready for something. The rest of the morning was a blur until I was in the hospital at my mom's bedside. Her face was more pale then I remembered, and I could hear the faint beat of her heart, ''Mom?'' I whimpered, ''What's happening?''

''Everyone has an expiration date,'' she choked, ''and i'm afraid mine is today.''

''No! No! You can't go!'' I cried, ''You have so much to live for, we have so much to live for.''

''I'm sorry I can't, just know I love you! And live your life to the fullest although I won't be there to watch you!'' she cried.

''No! You can't, I won't!'' but I was too late, the ECG monitor sang it's siren song. I froze, rivers of tears flooded the floor. No it can't be, she can't be dead, I fell, I sank, I struggled to get up. But the scar still existed no matter how hard I tried to patch it up. Mother was gone, mother was dead.