The Letter

Triiiinggg. Triiiinggg.

The school bell chimed and all the children leaped up with joy as home time was finally here. The first graders had been learning about letter writing. Kildom Primary School was a happy place full of laughter, fun and games. 

But one little girl in first grade had not been happy that day. Amy, who was usually the life of the class room, had been silent and sad for a couple weeks now. Her teacher Mrs. Ganish let the child be. What could one possibly do at such a time? She would try and coax the child to speak, engage, play and sing. But it was not something she expected Amy to do at this point in time. Children really do suffer too much when these things happen. Hopefully Amy picked up something about letter writing to distract herself from the chaos.

Amy shouldered her school bag and began walking out of class with her red hair in a long pony tail, big green eyes downcast and head drooping. The white van awaited her at the end of the parking lot. In she got, as she did every evening after school. And just as always, dad Billy asked her how her day went. Then they made their way to the place which smelt funny and had people in white coats roaming around. The white coat that came to see her mom was tall and kind. But whenever he came to speak to mommy and daddy, they became scared and sad.

Six year old Amy was sitting at her mother’s bedside scribbling on a piece of paper. 

Please stop hurting her. She cant bear the pain. I cant watch when she cries. The tear’s fills up. I do not know why you do this. Please stop. Don’t take her away, I love her. I promise to eat all the vegetables and the healthy food. I will sleep early and do all my homework on time. Just let mommy stay okay? Please don’t take mommy. I promise to give you all my dolls. Even Julie. Thank you.

To: Cancer

From: Amy

“Sweetheart what are you writing?” asked Nurse Samantha.

“It’s a letter to the monster who is hurting mommy.” replied Amy.

The Nurses’ eyes filled with tears as she read the letter and tried not to break down in front of the child with the big, sad, green eyes. How many lives must be destroyed before this monster has consumed its last soul? The nurse knew Amy’s mother would be gone in a few days time. No one came back from the last stage and all the cases which Nurse Samantha had dealt with had killed her sense of hope. 

But Amy fostered hope within her heart. A bright, burning beacon of resilience which would only be extinguished by her mothers last breath. 

Off she trotted down the hospital corridor. Off to post her letter. 

Maalika Kazia