Mum had died two years ago. Rosie could still remember the time when Mum was still around. That was the best and the happiest time for the whole family. As if it was just yesterday, the laughing and the noises echoed in her ears. Her Dad and Rosie would work in the garden energetically. Her Mum would look out from the window. Sometimes they would play hide and seek. Her Mum would nod her head and smile to Dad “You are just like a child.” At the end of the day they would all be laughing at each other because they looked like muddy pigs. Happy moments never stay. Just after that year, her mum started to became very ill. The doctor said Mum had a cancer. It needed surgery. Rosie was worried that Mum would never get better and feared that she might lose her. Rosie told her Dad how she felt. Her dad hugged her that day for a long time and kept saying to her that Mum would be fine, as if trying to convince himself too.
Time passed quickly, her Mum lived on the edge of life and death. She had to rely on machines. She spent less and less time awake, because of her illness. Rosie’s dad encouraged Rosie from time to time to have faith in God. From that point Rosie dared to tell her Dad about her fears. She didn’t want to upset Dad. So she decided to kept it all to herself. And pretend that Mum would get better.
Time was now flying like a comet. They were half way through that final year of Mum’s life. They tried very hard to make her as comfortable as possible and fulfil her wishes. Rosie wanted to show her that she was strong and that there would be a miracle. Every time Rosie saw her Mum was fighting like a hero, she wanted to cry, but she didn’t want her Mum to become worried. She wanted her Mum to be happy until the last minute. She allowed no weakness to show in her eyes and she even practised her fake smile from time to time. On the last day of Rosie’s Mum life, amazingly, she was awoke quite a long time. She called Rosie to her bed. Rosie sat there smiling her fake smiles. She smiled back cheerfully and held Rosie’s hand in her feeble little hand. She gazed at Rosie and sigh
“ I think my time is up”
“No, Mum. You will get better,” Claimed Rosie.
She smiled once again and rocked her head slightly “ I know my body better than anyone else. What I want to say is that one day we all have to face death. Mum is just going before you. I will meet you one day in heaven. OK?”
Rosie nodded and nodded. There was nothing else she could say or do. Her eyes were stinging and her throat felt as if a peach stone had stuck inside.
“ I know you will be very upset about my death. But, darling, promise me that one-day you will get on with your life and meet your own destiny. I will always watch you over in heaven. Remember, no running away!”
“ I promise you Mum, I promise!” Rosie sobbed.
Rosie’s Mum smiled and closed her eyes. Then her head dropped to the other side. Rosie knew immediately that Mum was gone forever. She slung herself on to the body and starting crying uncontrollably. That day Rosie and her Dad cried sadly.
As the time passed. Rosie still had not recover from the loss of her mother. Misery and despair filled her mind so that life seemed empty and all ambition worthless. Her Dad saw what had happened to his daughter and he decided to talk to her. One day, her Dad dragged Rosie from her bed and said “ Get dressed Rosie, we are going to have a walk.” They walked around the peaceful park until they saw a wooden bench. They walked to the bench and sat on it. Her Dad looked at her for a moment.
“ What is it Daddy?” Asked Rosie
“ Nothing really, but I know how you feel. You see when I was your age my mother was dead as well. I was just like you. I felt grief and despair. The world didn’t matter to me anymore. But when I meet your mother at university, things are completely changed. Your mother taught me that there is hope, and that the future will be better. And because of your mother’s patient love I was able to walk out from my misery and enter the world of hope. So darling, I know exactly how you feel, but you have to move on your life and try the best for your future. After all, your mother would not want to see you so miserable. She wanted to see you happy and getting on with your life.
Rosie cried once again, but this time she was crying goodbye to her grief. Her Dad hugged her and rocked her like a baby. After a while, Rosie lifted her head up and asked “ Dad could we going to Mum’s grave?”
“ Yes, of course darling.”
Finally they arrived at Rosie’s Mum’s grave. Rosie bent down and gently putted a red rose on the gravestone.
“ Mum, I know you have entered a better place where you don’t suffer anymore. And I know you will always be a part of my heart. My soul is free now. As I promised you, I will not run away anymore, and I am going to trying my best for my future. Now I really understand what you said no running away. Anyway, take care of yourself. Bye, bye mother.
The sweet spring wind gently kissed Rosie’s cheek. As if Rosie’s mother was still alive. Rosie smiled and walked back home with her Dad. She now had a new beginning…
