Fears, Tears And Wishes

• Annabelle Levantard, Grade 8
• Short Story
• 2020

Huddled in a tiny corner, I wished upon a river of tangy tears. I wished to be whisked away from misery. I wished for my fairy godmother. I wished for everything but this.
Glasses of clarity clattered and shattered on my precious floor. Scents of smelly brandy and wine choked my airway and strangled my sight. Slowly, I retreated further into my tiny corner. My tiny corner in this house - the madhouse.
I remember something Mother would always whisper to me, “When pitch-darkness falls and lanterns fail, fear is a luxury. When war invades and there’s no escape, fear is a luxury. When death gladly claims what life forsakes, fear is a luxury. No matter what happens, I’ll always be with you and I’ll always love you.” In this tiny corner of fear, I had the only luxury that I could ever afford. Father has finally drunken himself to sleep. Cautiously, I tiptoed to the lifeless heart of this madhouse. Mouldy ceilings, unwashed dishes, bruised bulbs of light, wrecked walls. Everything and anything but sanity. There lay the man who promised me a future. Was this my future? To live in this madhouse and… live like this?
With a tear soaked face, I made a final wish. Not upon my teary misery, but upon my hopeful heart. I selected a partially shredded stone coloured plastic and silently waved the madhouse goodbye. A new fear rooted itself in my conscience. The fear of worse happenings. BEEP! BEEP! A bus whooshed past me like an opportunity speeding away from me. “Wait! Please!” I yelled huffing and puffing.
It stopped. I hopped in. Paying the driver with my partially shredded plastic, she took pity and gave it back. The cold kissed my worned out skin as I sat on a leather seat.
I don’t know where I’m going. I only know that Mother will always love me and be with me wherever my fears, tears and wishes take me.