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

would never intentionally hurt you like that." I answered, "go get ready for bed."
Getting up to speed

I changed him into his pajama's and tucked him into his bed and pulled the blanket up to his chin and kissed him on the cheek. I turned on the monitors and took one. I smiled as I saw him curled up with his koala and the last of the tears for today on his face.

As I walked out of his room I turned the light off. I went into my room and opened the blinds and sat on my bed. I looked over to my phone and there were thirteen missed calls from Alice, my best friend. I lay on my bed as I listened to them.

"Hey Ly, its just me. How is it? Just call me when you get this." There were six like that.
"Lyhla seriously, this is serious now!! Where are you? Call me." Another three.
"Lyhla pick up the PHONE! I'm seriously worried." another three.
"Oh, I get it. Things must be really bad. just call me when you can. Remember, no matter how bad it this gets, I'm here. I'll always be. I love you Ly. Bye." This last one made me shed more tears.

I managed to get my breathing under control and dry the tears. I walked over to Anna's room and I knocked as I entered.

"Hey," she whispered. By the way she said that I could tell that she took what I said to heart.

I sat down next to her. "An, I really didn't mean what I said, I'm sorry I said it especially at a time like this."
"No its alright, I mean your gonna be on Christian all the time like mum and you'll have school stress. I'll help out more I promise and do really think Steph is gonna stay with us?" she said.
I hugged her. "I don't think, I hope." I kissed her on the head. "Night An," I smiled and walked out of her room.

I went into the kitchen and emptied the dishwasher. I was standing at the bench and grabbed the home phone. I dialled Steph's mobile number. It rang.

"Hello?" She answered.
"Hey Steph. Its me." I said.
"How are you kiddo?" She asked.
"Bad. How are you?"
"I'm better than before." She replied.
"Oh, hey I was wondering if you wanted to stay here for a while, to help so dad and us can start getting our lives back together?"
"Oh gee kiddo, Ryan has work Saturday and we gotta go back tomorrow."
"The funeral is on Friday." I said.
"Oh,"
"And its Chris's birthday on Sunday." I said.
"Right, look kiddo I'd love to stay for Chris's birthday and I will stay for mum's funeral but Ryan has to work and we will have no where to stay. We just can't." She replied.
"Steph the city is an hour away from here and you guys can stay here." I said
"Look," she started
"No, you know what if you're not gonna tell me the truth, save your breath." I almost yelled, the anger was bubbling up inside of me.
"What truth kiddo?" She asked.
"You don't want to stay because of Ryan doesn't!" I said, "cause he never liked mum because she was so protective of you and he hated that."
"Ok, I'll come stay but for you guys, not to prove anything," she said
"Are you all coming?"
"I guess so." She replied.
"Ok thanks, will I see you tomorrow?" I asked.
"Yes kiddo, bye," She said.
"Bye," I put the phone back in the receiver.

Alice Hurtts

I stumbled down the hall to my room. I flopped onto my bed. I was so tired! I reached over for my phone. Two new texts. One was from Alice and the other was from Jason.

Alice's was so long. I'd better call her, I thought. I quickly dialled her number and she answered on the first ring.

"Lyhla?"
"No, I'm the crazy pedo from the gas station. Of course its me." I replied.
"Oh my gosh, how are you? I've been trying your phone all day but you never answered. How is your mum? What happened?" she questioned.
"Alice! Stop ok!" I ordered, "I'm not good. I got your messages, all thirteen of them. She won't be making you ANZAC kisses anymore, that's for sure."
"Oh Ly, I am so sorry," she sympathized. "I'm here. You know you can tell me anything. I promise, and I won't judge you."
"Thanks. Her funeral is on Friday, Steph is coming over for a while. I just want things to get better. We haven't even told Grandma and she is gonna be so pissed," I explained. "Uncle Paul has been trying to get through to her but we can't reach her. I think she some how disconnected her phone. We're gonna have to go to her place and get her."
"That's a shame you can't contact her, have you spoken to Jason yet? He is really worried about you," she suddenly changed the topic. That's just like Alice, always talking about boys.
"I got a text before but I called you first." I answered.
"You should call him." she said.
"Ok, I'll get right on that, Bye bestie," I said
"Are you coming to school tomorrow? She asked.
"Probably not," I said. "Come by tomorrow afternoon if you want."
"Ok, I'll cya then. Bye bestie!" She said
"Bye." I pressed end call. Jason was a really good friend of mine although almost everyone of my friends knew he wanted more than just that with me. I'll just send him a text, I thought.

'Hey hope your alright.'

his text read.
'Yeah not so good, she has died :( Don't wanna go into it just now. Talk more tmw bye.'

I sent back.

I rolled over and cried myself to sleep, still hoping this wasn't real.

The next day

When I woke up the next day it was dead silent. I picked up Chris's baby monitor and crept out of my room. I peered around Anna's bedroom door, she was still sleeping. I wandered over to Dad's room, he was sitting on his bed flipping through their wedding album. I walked over and sat beside him on his bed.

"Hey poss," he sniffled.
"Are you better?"
"No," he said. "Thanks for helping with Chris."
"That's okay. I called Steph last night she said she would come and stay to help for a while." I told him.
"Oh ok."
"Want some breakfast?" I asked.
"No its alright. I gotta go with Paul to set up Mel's funeral." he said.
"Right. I've been thinking you should probably make it Monday, I mean she only died yesterday." I said.
"Or we could do it on Saturday."
I glared at him. "No, Alice might come by this afternoon." I whispered. "You should probably swing by Grandma's place today as well."
"Ok, will do. I'd better get ready."
"I'll go check on Chris and Anna is still sleeping," I said as I walked over to Chris's room.

I placed the monitor on the dresser and tiptoed over to him. His eyes fluttered open and he moaned.

"Want some brekkie?" I murmured, picking him up.
"Yes," he said sleepily.

I carried him into the kitchen and strapped him into his chair. I poured some milk in his sippy cup and placed it in the microwave. I pulled the pre-made pancake mixture into a bowl and stirred it. As I continued to make the breakfast my mind kept flitting from pancake making to mum. How she looked, how I almost held her hand for the last time. I tried to remember her with her smile, flashing her glistening white teeth but every time the images always went back to her lying on the bed in the hospital. The sheets covering up her body and her arm hanging over the edge of the mattress. The ding of the microwave snapped me out of my daze. I pulled the cup out and twisted the lid onto it and handed it to Chris, flashing him a tired smile.

"ANNA! DO YOU WANT SOME PANCAKES!" I shouted.
"PANCAKES!" She yelled as she came bounding down the hall almost bursting with excitement.
"Yes Anna, maple syrup, butter, sugar and jam." I smiled. She was grinning ear to ear. She absolutely loved pancakes, it was her all time favourite breakfast. Her smile suddenly got washed away by a wave of sadness.
"Mum-" I saw the tears coming. I didn't want Christian to start crying again.
"No, come with me, hall way now." I interrupted dragging her out of the kitchen and into the hallway. "Anna we can't start the day like this for Christian, for Dad, for us. I know it is sad and really hard to wrap your head around that she is gone but this is what we have to do."
"Ok, I'm sorry but she always made the best velvety pancakes. I don't think I want any thanks." She said.
"Anna no. What, do you think I'm gonna poison you?" I joked. She smirked. "What was it Mum always used to say? 'When you fall off the horse the best thing to do is to get right back on.'" She nodded her head glumly.

We walked back into the kitchen.

"So who wants what on their pancakes?" I asked pouring some of the mixture into the pan on the stove.
"Maple syrup!" Chris exclaimed.
"Same,"