Lesson #328

• Lauren Hardy
• Short Story
• 2004

“Kate, Kate.” “What? Oh it’s you, just leave me alone.” I was sitting at my desk in science and I just wanted Chelsey to back off. “Kate, are you alright? Look I don’t know what’s been happening lately, but you’ve changed, a lot” Chelsey tried to tell me. “Yeah Chelsey is right Kate, you have changed, it’s like you never talk to anyone anymore.” Bronwyn said. “Just because I’m hopeless at everything I do, doesn’t meant there’s anything wrong with me,” I yelled at them. And with that I slowly but furiously made my way out of the room.

At the time I had absolutely no idea about where I was going, but I did know that I hated being different from everyone else, and I just wanted to be left alone. I don’t how, but I ended up talking to this really cute guy. His name was Tom, and for the first time in ages I started to relax and enjoy life. It just felt so good to be treated like everyone else for a change, and I also felt happy that he hadn’t runaway the minute he saw that I was different.

“Kate, what do you think you’re doing?” It was Mum. I guess the school rang, and told her that I had runaway. I started to scream at her, at the top of my lungs “I hate you. Why do you always have to ruin my life when something good happens?” “You call a boy something good, do you? I really thought that after the accident you’d be different, more responsible for your actions.” She said. Now I was crying, why did she always make me cry in front of boys? I started to push the wheels of my wheelchair, willing it to go faster. “Hey wait up Kate, wait for me.” I turned to see who had spoken; it was Tom, so I waited for him to catch up. Then he started to push me and we left my Mum standing in disbelief.

After that day, I started to spend more time with Tom. Then suddenly, he told me that he had to go. He didn’t tell me why, he just said he had to go. I felt heartbroken, like my time of living life in the spotlight was over, for good.

One week later I was watching a movie on TV. On one of the add breaks a news report came on. They showed a picture of Tom, I froze and I felt a shiver go up my spine. They started talking about how Tom had been suffering from leukaemia and then how he suddenly gave up hope and passed away, this morning.

From that day on I was somehow happier, even though I felt lonely without Tom standing beside my chair. Tom, he made me realise that you should never worry about what other people think of you, because chances are their not perfect either. Instead you should just be happy to be alive.