Uncertainty

• Jennifer Lee, Grade 8
• Short Story
• 2022

“Zoop” the big weight door to my mum’s hospital ward slowly opened. As I walked in I heard the news on the TV…
“A new healing apple tree was just planted down the road from Westminster hospital.” The voice was coming from a young and cheerful reporter who I had a major crush on.
“Oh hello Lilly dear.” said my mum’s tired yet happy voice, “How was school?”
This was a regular question and I always, always gave the same answer.
“As good as possible, but I couldn’t stop worrying about your cancer. Are you sure you will be ok?” I asked scared that the answer might not be what I wanted.
“The Doctors are trying their hardest honey” she replied in an uncertain and shaky voice. This gave me no more hope than I have ever had. If anything it made me more nervous as she sounded more scared than she was yesterday.
I laid down on a long stretched out armchair and with a lot of struggle and trying I finally fell asleep.
The next morning was Saturday. When I woke up mum was still asleep so I left with as little disturbance as possible. I tiptoed out of the room and then I ran down the stairs. Luckily for me we live right next to the hospital. So I quickly ran home and put Skittles (our dog) on his leash. We walked down the road until we saw three police, juniors but still police, guarding a small golden apple tree.
Turns out junior police aren’t that strong. They were all knocked out clean with a couple of punches. I grabbed an apple from the tree, ran home and put Skittles inside barley shutting the door. I ran up the hospital stairs filled with hope that I would soon have a healthy mother.
“Zoop” mum’s door opened and I saw lots of doctors with solemn looks on their faces.
Three weeks later, it was mum’s funeral day. At the end of the funeral I walked home dragging my feet along the ground and dropping my head low out of despair. As I slowly walked inside I called for Skittles but he didn’t come, so I called for him again and again until I was filled with fear. I walked slowly out the back to his kennel, still calling his name very quietly but when I got there all I could see were his muddy paw prints leading to a hole in the fence. It looked like I had a big walk ahead of me.
As I was leaving, I saw mum’s diary laying half chewed-up on the floor. I picked it up and it fell open. I looked at the page it had opened up to and read what it said. It said… All I want is to see an apple tree flower bloom before I leave this world. As I walked past the apple tree the only flower bud bloomed. I looked up to the sky teary-eyed and smiled.