Teras Of Sorrow

• Rachael Cox, Grade 9
• Short Story
• 2010

Tears of sorrow

The ride to the hospital was unbearable for Annabelle.
“Are you alright? Everything is going to be fine,” explained her mother, as she put on a brave face but deep down her stomach was churning as if she was on a rollercoaster.
“How do you think I feel mum? How would you feel?” Annabelle snapped.
“It’s like waiting for the golden Logie to be announced but much worse. I could have this disease just like dad did and might not be able to fight it off. I won’t be able to be a normal kid; I will have to be in hospital attached to cords and tubes,” yelled Annabelle as she slammed the door behind her, storming off to the doctor. Her mother hastily followed. Both of them awaited the doctor to come in and inform them the results. It was so quiet that you could have heard a pin drop. The wait was agonising for the both of them. It could either be good or bad news. The sound of the turning door knob broke the silence, it was the doctor. Annabelle clamped her hands together praying to god that it was going to be good news.

“I am sorry Mrs Moore but the tests have come back. It appears that your daughter has Leukaemia,” the doctor said apologetically.
“No, no she can’t,” replied Mrs Moore as a small, clear tear rolled down her cheek.
“Is it true mum? I am in a dream aren’t I. Pinch me mum, please pinch me,” demanded Annabelle as a heart-breaking look came across her face. Tears fell from Annabelle’s and her mothers miserable eyes. Just a short time ago Annabelle’s beloved father died from this ghastly disease. He kept fighting but, the disease spread and he could not fight it any longer. It was an army of horrific soldiers who took over his body. “I am so sorry, but it’s unfortunately in her genes,” explained the doctor.
“Sorry? My daughter has just been diagnosed with Leukaemia and you say sorry?” yelled her mother as her tears came faster and her words became harder to understand.
“Can I fight it off?” asked Annabelle as her emotional eyes filled with tears.
“Well…..”
“Can I fight it off?” as the silence deafened the room and Annabelle wiped her tears away.
“Well with chemo you can hopefully fight it off, but it will take some time,” explained the doctor.
“You will have to come back next week for your first round off chemo. If you have any problems during that week do not hesitate to call me.”
Annabelle stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind her. She began to run down the hallway and out of the hospital. Her heart began to beat faster and faster as she ran down the road to her house. It was like she was running away from what had just happened. She began to feel the pain that her father had felt. Meanwhile her mother was frantically running down the hallway to the car in search for Annabelle. As she was trying to drive, tears still flowed from her miserable eyes. She wiped away her tears as she pulled the car over; she was so angry that it has happened to her darling girl. She anxiously sorted through her handbag to find her tissues when she came across a photo of her husband and Annabelle. She used her T- shirt to soak up her tears of sorrow and drove off telling herself that she and her daughter would get through this.

Once home her mother opened the door looking for Annabelle when she found her sitting on the lounge crying her little heart out.
“Honey, we can get through this,” as she sat down beside her rubbing her back.
“But what if I don’t mum? What if I just die like dad did?” asked Annabelle as she began to sit closer.
“Well for starters your father didn’t just die, he fought as hard as he possibly could, it was just that the cancer was to strong, he just lost the battle that’s all. You’re a strong healthy girl, we will just take it step by step.” They both began to fall in each others arms, feeling the warmth of each other’s hearts. Both feeling like they were safe and everything was going to be alright.
“I love you mum.”
“I love you too sweet heart, now lets go find something for tea,” as they both disappeared into the kitchen.
While in the kitchen Annabelle and her mother talked about dreams that she had and accomplished.
“When I was younger I had a dream to walk the Kokada track like my father did and I did,” explained Annabelle’s mother. “All I am saying honey is that start with a little goal and accomplish it step by step like we are going to do with this disease. First you will fight this disease and then accomplish your dream. What do you want to do?”
“Mum, I think I am going to fight this disease and walk the Kokoda track like my grandfather did some what fifty years ago.”

By Rachael Cox