How our lives changed - thepurplebutterfly (nonfiction book recommendations .TXT) 📗

I always knew this day would come. I didn't want it to but it did and it arrived so fast. I just sit here not moving, waiting outside her hospital room. My mind replays the events of the day. Why was life so cruel? Dad and Anna came back from the bathroom and joined me outside the room. Christian was in the corner silently sobbing to himself, and Steph was on the phone to her boyfriend, Ryan. Uncle Paul was quietly talking to Auntie Maria, Lucy and Ruby.

Today was bad. Like really bad. We haven't even told Grandma and I don't want to, and neither does Anna and Steph. Dad knows it has to be done but he doesn’t have the heart to tell her.
Earlier, Anna rolled into Dad's shoulder and started crying as we waited for the news. I looked over to Dad; his red, puffy eyes were filled with worry and pain. I got up and walked over to Christian. I sat down beside him and wrap my arms around him, hugging him tight. He rolled over in my arms to face me. He is so hurt and sad, it almost brought me to tears but I was still in shock.
"Is this real?" He murmured. "Did this really happen?" I couldn’t say anything so I just hugged him tighter.

Dr Mann came out of the room. Everyone but Christian and I stood up. Dr Mann looked tired and worn out. We all knew what happened but we didn't want it to be true.
"Is she…" Dad started, but he couldn't continue because he started to cry again.
"I am so sorry for your loss. We tried everything we could do, but it spread so fast and, well…"
This was when I stood up, interrupting her. "WHY DIDN'T YOU SAVE HER? WHY DIDN'T YOU DO SOME SURGERY OR SOMETHING? WHY, WHY?" I started to cry. While I was standing there like an idiot sobbing my eyes out Steph came over and hugged me tightly.

You see, what happened was mum had cancer, really bad cancer. Lung cancer or a tumour or something, I don't know. All I know is that it was bad, really bad. But the worst part wasn't her death, though that part was terrible, the worst part was all the suffering we saw her go through and us helpless. That was the worst.

Aunt Katie ran into the room. Her makeup was smeared and running down her face. "It isn't true? Tell me it isn't true!" she screamed. She searched our faces and shook her head.
Christian tried to be nice to her. He stood up, raggedly breathing with tears still streaming down his face, and walked over to her with his arms outstretched. "Do you want a hug?" he asked.
"Do I want a hug? Do I bloody look like I want a hug? Go away you filthy child. I hate you! You’re hers! Every time I look at you I'll think of her and cry!" She screamed at him.
"KATIE!" Paul yelled. I ran to Christian, who once again was crying. Katie turned her attention to Paul and stared at him icily. "Katie, you can't do that. We're all hurt and in pain. How do you think he is going to feel growing up without his mum? The fact that you turn his kind gesture away like a horrible insult is absolutely appalling", he lectured.
I scooped Christian up like he was a baby and walked over to Dad, who took Christian from my arms. Mum had always called Christian her late but special gift because she had had him a day after her birthday.

Steph got up. "I’ve gotta go. Ryan and Elise are outside." She exited the room, giving everyone hugs and kisses and avoiding Aunt Katie.
Steph is my older sister. She is 24, has recently finished university and has a daughter called Elise. Ryan, her boyfriend, is a charming man but I don't trust him. Anna is my 13 year old sister and Christian is my 2 (3 on Sunday) year old brother.
I am 17 years old and have golden brown hair. I'm speckled with freckles and have a huge family. My name is Lyhla Mason.

Dad walked over to a seat with Christian still in his arms. I looked over to Lucy and Ruby, my baby twin cousins. They had matching pigtails and spotted purple ribbons, purple and pink dresses and white knitted cardigans on.
Dr Mann was still standing there in the doorway. I walked over to her and asked "Can I see her?" She moved out of the doorway and I entered, closing the door behind me.

I had always remembered Mum with smiling red lips, rosy cheeks and wavy brown hair like Anna and Steph's. But now she lay there on the bed like a white manikin. Her once red lips were now a pale pink, her hair was now lifeless and there was nothing rosy about her cheeks. I choked on a sob when I realized that this was real and that she wasn't coming back. I walked over to the arm chair beside her bed and sat in it.
"So..." I started. Do people usually try to talk to dead loved ones? "That Cancer is a real pain in the ass, isn't it?" Do they try to make corny jokes as well? "I was wondering what I should get Christian for his birthday. I-". This is hopeless, I thought.

I'd never touched a dead person before. Maybe they wouldn't feel cold like everyone always said; maybe they'd feel normal, like room temperature. I reached out to hold her hand but I froze half way there. If I touched her and she wasn't warm that would mean she really was gone, wouldn't it? I couldn't bring myself to do it. I leaned back in the arm chair and sighed a long, tired sigh. Why was life like this?

The door handle clicked as it was being opened. I whipped my head around to see who it was. Anna was standing in the door way watching mum's body. Her lip started to tremble. I studied Anna as she stood there. Her bright green eyes didn't have their usual shimmer and her hair was flat and drooping down beside her face. I waved her over to sit with me in the chair. She shuffled over and squished in beside me. I wrapped my arms around her and cried into her shoulder. She started to cry too.

The drive home wasn't something we wanted to do. The car was empty now, and dirty. Dad had to fill out release forms and start organizing her funeral. I had to drive while dad called funeral homes.

"What day would be better, Saturday or Sunday?" Dad asked.
I rolled my to look at him. "Dad do you not remember what those days are?" I replied
Confusion swept across his face then realization hit. "Oh," he murmured.

Saturday was Mum's birthday and Sunday was christian's.

"So try Monday or Friday, no Friday." I said.
"Ok," he said dialling a number in his phone.

As I turned into the garage Christian let out a sob. Dad rolled his eyes. He couldn't handle anymore tears. Everyone got out of the car and I went around to get Christian out. Dad gave me a thankful smile and walked inside with Anna. I pushed the button to close the garage and locked the car. I walked through the door leading to the house.

"Hey Chris, you hungry?" I asked him. He nodded his head silently, so I strapped him into his high chair. I poured the tinned spaghetti into a pot and put it on the stove.

I put it in a bowl and grabbed Chris's plastic spoon and placed it in front of him. Anna shuffled into the kitchen and sat at the bench on the island in the middle of the kitchen.

"Dads gone to bed." She told me.
"Ok, I'm making a wrap. Do you want one?" I replied.
"Ok."

I made two chicken wraps and gave one to her. I placed mine opposite her and started to feed Chris.

"How are you?" I asked her.
"Terrible," She said. "You?"
"Horrific," I answered. I placed Chris's bowl in the sink and ate my wrap.
"I just can't believe this happened! UGH! We're going to have to clean the house and do the laundry, look after Chris. How did she do it all?" Anna complained.
"Yeah, she didn't have school but, well hopefully Steph will come and help out." I said.
Anna stared at me. "Do you really think she is gonna live in this house for about 2-3 months just to help us with household chores?"
"Yes and she could live in the garden cottage." I replied.
"Be realistic Ly, she has a family now!" She said.
"Doesn't mean she won't help us, her sisters, and Dad. Fill up the dishwasher please." I said getting the ice cream out of the freezer.
"But come on-"
"Want some ice cream?" I interrupted. She nodded, so I got out three bowls.
"Anyway,as I was saying, what about Elise and Ryan? They don't know this place and you know Ryan would prefer to get over this and move further away from us." She continued. I rolled my eyes and gave Chris his ice cream.
"So Ryan knows Steph needs to be with family. That means he can make an exception," I shot back.
"What about his work?" She challenged.
"The city is an hour away from here, he'll be fine," I retorted.
"You can't expect them to actually come, can you?" She asked. I handed her our bowls and got Chris out of his high chair.
"You know maybe you're right. Why would they want to be here with you?" I quipped as I walked out of the kitchen and she followed.
"You don't mean that do you?" She enquired.
"No Anna, I don't. I