Friday, May 21, 2010
Hey guys. Read this story, it's from my friend who wrote this essay. And she got gold for Paramount Championship English Essay Writting!!! WoW!! XD This story is very touching, and I like it a lot!
Disclaimer: I do not own this story, it's from my friend.
For most part of her life, Alice has always remembered living in the pale white sanctuary of a hospital wing. Room A-14B was her slice of heaven. She was only six when the government agency brought her here for a full medical check up.
And found out she was diagnosed with leukemia.
Her parents were both hardcore drug addicts and passed away not long after they were detained by the police for attempting to hide heroine in their shoes. Alice was sent for a medical check up before they decided to put her under a child-care agency’s care. But after the doctor diagnosed her with leukemia, everything changed and she was whisked away for many immediate treatments under the watchful eyes of experienced doctors.
Her first chemotherapy session was on 19 April 2009. It was successful.
Alice was a girl that you could completely walk pass a thousand times in your life, and never even take a glance at. She hardly spoke a word to anybody, never smiled and never shed tears. Even though she was under the ever loving care of the nurses and doctors, but the scars from her ugly childhood left a deep, unadulterated impact and she always had bad nightmare problems. She was a cold lifeless doll with no breath of humanity until she met Emma.
Emma, also aged 10, was diagnosed with leukemia on 1st May 2009.
She was a happy and exceedingly brilliant child, filled with love and energy from her tight-knitted family. When she was diagnosed with leukemia, her parents’ love was greater than ever. Emma and Alice was a world difference apart. They had nothing in common except that they were both of the same age; same gender, and had same disease.
But nonetheless, they became best friends.
It was on a bright, sunny day.
“Mommy, mommy. Who is that girl? ” Emma curiously asked when she saw Alice around for a few times waiting for her monthly blood tests. Alice was reading intently on a chair.
“Darling, she’s also sick. She just has been here longer than you have.” Her mother replied promptly.
Emma trailed her eyes over the child while fingering her necklace, and decided that that child was the prettiest girl she ever met. And after her mother left the hospital, Emma sneaked out of her room and went into the room the pretty girl always walked to. As usual, the pretty girl was reading a book on her bed. It was titled Pollyanna.
The door closed with a soft shut. Alice was shocked to see a blonde child walking up to her shyly. But her face was impassive, showing no sign of emotion.
“Hello.. Nice to meet you.” Said Emma.
Alice didn’t reply, instead she closed her book and stared at Emma.
“Well I just happened to saw you outside Dr.Hugh’s room and..”
Alice stared.
“OH STOP STARING AT ME. THIS IS SO WEIRD. ”
Both of them stared at each other for a few moments, still tension was in the air.
“Are you…real?” Alice finally asked, with eyes wide open as though Emma was a tooth fairy that only existed in story books.
Emma laughed, and sat on the edge of Alice’s bed.
“Of course I’m real! ” Emma took a bewildered Alice’s hands and cuddled them.
“My name’s Emma Beaufort . Just call me Emma ! I was recently admitted into this big, big hospital and the food here isn’t that all bad , you know? The nurses even gave me a bar of milk chocolate the other day because I was brave to take that injection that Dr.Hugh gave me. It was all painful and I happened to see you there again and—Oh. I completely forgot. I was babbling away and I forgot to ask, what was your name again? ”
“Alice.”
“Alice? What a pretty name ! You’re so pretty too. Oh you’re reading Pollyanna ! I love Pollyanna, she’s the girl that everyone….”
And that was a start of a beautiful friendship. They began to form a strong and fiercely loyal bond. Even Alice’s nightmares were slowly going away. Every day, they would read to each other, play games and even sometimes nick a bud or two from other patient’s flower bouquet just for the fun of it. Of course, they would give them back with a solemn face and then burst out in hysterical laughter when they were safely back in their rooms. They hardly ever spent a day apart.
To Alice, Emma was her Pollyanna.
The girl with the ever-glowing sunshine.
All along, Alice was always quite jealous of Emma’s diamond necklace. It was a simple string with a beautiful square-cut 4-carat diamond set deep in sliver. It was a breath-taker. The necklace was given to by Emma’s late grandmother who adored her grandchild above anything. Even Emma kept it very well and barely let Alice touch her most precious possession in the world, Alice would always stare at it hungrily, and only dream of having a necklace like that one day.
After a whole year of bliss, Emma was to undergo a bone marrow transplant after doctors confirmed her elder brother, Robert, was a near perfect match and that Emma should take this operation. Everyone in her family was overjoyed, because the doctors said Emma had a fairly good chance to live as a normal child again as her condition was looking good and stable. Everyone was happy.. except Alice.
For Alice, this meant that she would lose a best friend, no, an only friend. Emma would be skipping her way out of the hospital and go to a proper school and have proper friends. Although Alice heartily congratulated Emma at first but deep down, she wished that the operation would never happen. She wished that Robert never existed. She wished and wished. And all that anger and jealousy tore away at her. She knew what she felt and thought was wrong, but she didn’t care, because Emma was always the one getting attractive flower bouquets, daintily-wrapped chocolates and photo albums filled with happy family memoirs. It was always Emma.
Why can’t I have a bone marrow transplant too?
Why can’t I have flowers and chocolates too?
Why can’t I have presents?
Why can’t I have a beautiful necklace ?
WHY? WHY? WHY?
This took a drastic turn on their friendship. Emma couldn’t understand why Alice felt such anger towards her. They no longer talked and barely looked at each other. Even Alice kept to herself in her room. She felt lonely and hard again.
The day of the bone marrow transplant operation came not long after.
The day that Alice wished would never happen.
Alice was standing all by herself waiting for her next injection when Emma was wheeled into the operation room. Her family was close by, tearing up with happiness. Then, both friends shared a glance but Alice looked away.
If one was a close observer, one would notice that Emma’s eye lowered in disappointment as the operation room doors closed behind her. Alice walked inside Dr. Hugh’s office to get her injection.
The only thought in her mind as she saw Alice’s eager family waiting in anticipation was
‘ I hate her ’
After many hours, the doctors came out and pulled their masks off.
“Doctor, how did it go? Was it okay? Is she okay? ” the whole family crowded around the doctors, looking worried and impatient.
“I am happy to say it went well, congratulations Mrs.Beaufort . The bone marrow transplant operation was very successful.” The doctors smiled and excused themselves politely.
The whole family was in an uproar and news traveled fast. Alice heard about it, and she felt her world was growing bigger and lonelier. Nobody was with her now.
Alice and Emma never talked to each other, even during Emma’s last weeks at the hospital. Emma tried to greet Alice every time they met, but no avail. The wall Alice had built around her was so solid and strong.
The few months in which there was no Emma to talk to, was plain hell for Alice even though she would never admit it. She still felt the jealousy of Emma being able to be a normal girl again, but deep down inside her heart, she had this tingly feeling. Like something was wrong.
The hospital days passed slower and slower. Until one day, an enclosed letter addressed to Alice was sent.
It rained heavily, What an ominous, gloomy setting for the evening, Alice thought. She sat by the window sill, and let out a soft sigh before opening the letter.
Dear Alice,
I regrettably write this letter to inform you that my sister, Emma Beaufort, passed away a few days ago. It was her last wish to inform you of her passing. She said the few months spent with you was unforgettable and she wished that you would understand. Besides that, she has also sent you something that she’s been working on the past few months. I have placed it all in a box, please collect it from the nurses…Well, I always had hoped that you two would someday reunite. This pains me.
Alice, I hope that you will give Emma your blessings.
Thank you,
Robert
“EMMA DIED?” Alice was wild in shock.
“WHY DIDN’T ANYONE TELL ME THIS ?”
She broke down and started howling. The nurses took her to her room and tried to calm her down. But Alice slammed the door shut and started shrieking.
“THIS IS A LIE. THIS IS A LIEEEEEEEEE !!!!!!!! I HATE YOU ALL . I HATE YOU ALL ! GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME ALONE ! LEAVE ME ALONEE NOWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Alice cried herself to sleep that night, in her hands clutched the letter, the words now blurred by her tears.
In the morning, without changing her clothes, with a bloated face and puffy, swollen eyes, Alice walked up to the nurse and asked in a hoarse voice for the box Robert mentioned in his letter. The nurse immediately fetched the box after seeing the poor state of her patient.
Alice walked slowly back to the room, knowing stares and whispers were thrown in her way, but everything was so numb. She couldn’t feel anything except the smooth surface of the big box Robert sent. She held onto it tightly.
After plopping it on her floor, Alice felt weak and miserable. She had given up all hope and faith. Nothing mattered. She tore open the box roughly and everything tumbled out. It was colorful. At one look, Alice could see paper flowers, soft toys, small boxes, chocolates, candies. And they all had tags on them. She curiously held a stuffed puppy and read its tag.
Aliceee ! I bought this at a fair near my house. Doesn’t this look like Nurse Lydia’s white puppy? Minus the snapping and barking ! –Emma
Alice stifled back a sob. Emma did this all for her?
She grabbed a chocolate bar and read its pink tag.
Hullo Alice! Guess what? This chocolate bar’s brand is WILLY WONKA! You remember Charlie and the chocolate factory? I’ll bet a pound that you’ll love it!
The flavors were so sour that even Robert spat it out. His expression was priceless!
-Emma
Alice went through all the presents that Emma gotten for her, every tag that she read she had to squeeze her eyes to prevent any more tears from coming out. Every tag was so meaningful, the months that she spent with Emma felt alive and real again. She hated herself for hating Emma. She hated herself for being a stupid friend. And most of all, she hated herself for not being there when Emma needed her most.
Alice started crying all over again. Emma was gone forever.
And nothing she could do or say would bring her back.
Alice stood up and accidentally kicked something in her way. It was a tiny black box. She picked it up and opened it slowly. Something long and shiny fell out gracefully on her palm.
It was a very familiar, stunning necklace with a single diamond on it.
The tag wrote:
Alice, always have faith. -Emma
Luv: JL
Lovely Angel <
6:39 AM
