Life is a rocky road; one that cannot be altered or transformed into perfection. I am a firm believer that we must endure the hardships and struggles of our existence, which will mold us into who we are meant to become.
Although pain is meant to be felt, I have always had a difficult time coping with the loss of those around me. I guess that's why I find it easier to render little effort to building relationships. Therefore, I build walls; walls that cannot be knocked down.
"Landon, it's time."
I hear my mother calling from downstairs, alerting me of the hour. I make my way across the darkened hardwood floor, past my younger sisters room, and down the steps. As I descend, I see Shalyn standing by the door, oxygen tank in hand, ready to set out on this new adventure. To her, leaving Hazard behind meant starting fresh, starting over, cancer free. To me it was avoiding the inevitable.
Every time I lay eyes on the beautiful twelve year old little girl I get to call my sister, all I want to do is cry. Unlike others, I do not see her bald head or fragile body. I still see her long, black hair cascading down her back, and her perfectly tanned body running and jumping and playing with the other neighborhood kids. I still see the beauty in her crooked smile and a twinkling in her brown eyes. Cancer could never cause me to look at her any differently.
"Are you ready, Shalyn?" I ask, with a smile beginning to form on my face.
"I am! What do you think Miami will be like?"
"Well, I'm guessing lots of sun."
She giggled as she embraced me.
For the past eight years, it has just been me, Shalyn, and my mom. My dad left us when I was ten, which urged me to grow up extremely fast. Since that day, I have not been the same. Last winter, mom and I collectively decided once the school year ended, we were going to pack up everything and head to Miami. Well, today is that day.
I do not know whether to be happy or sad with the move. I am not running from my problems here in Hazard, only because I know they will follow me. Shalyn will still have Cancer, I will still long for the father I know I will never have, and mom will continue to struggle. But everything will be alright. We will make it.
"Let's hit it, guys." My mom says enthusiastically. Through all of the the hard times we have endured as a family, she has kept a bright smile on her face, yet it is obvious how it wears down on her.
I know that I will miss Kentucky. I am practically trading the serene mountains and southern hospitality for the lions den. I have a feeling that life in a big city will be much harder for someone like me, but I have learned to deal with what is thrown at me, and I'm positive that I can handle this. Besides, it's Shalyn I'm worried about.
As we set out on our journey, I realize everything will be worth it. Maybe a change of scenery is just what we all need. We could pretty much go anywhere in the country if we wanted to, because we have no roots, no family anywhere. We are the only ones. I never knew my moms parents, they passed away in a house fire when I was a baby, and my dads family has nothing to do with us. But the beach is my sisters favorite place in the whole world, and with her condition, I will do anything to make her time worth whild. Therefore, we are off to Miami.
YOU ARE READING
A Shadowed Mist
Romance"I've learned to live every moment, every second, of my life with no regrets; we're never promised a tomorrow. My twelve-year-old sister taught me that."
