Hello, I am a sophomore at St Peter High School and I took this Creative Writing class because I felt as if it would be similar to English which is a subject I am particularly good at. I feel like I learned a lot in this class especially during the poetry unit. I never envisioned myself to be good at that specific part of writing but I definitely surprised myself. I would say my favorite part of this class was the Magical Realism unit which I made into a short story. This story was written in a group and my partners were Zakiya Sayidnour and Luke Warmington.
Ashes
I woke up early Monday morning, December 14th, stoked for school. Mornings with my parents were always my favorite times of the day. Every morning, we had the same routine of greeting at the breakfast table.
I walked downstairs and saw the glow of the sun coming through the dining room window, which was unusual for this time of year. Like every other morning, my parents and I gathered around the table, talking about our plans for the day. My mom made my dad his annual morning coffee with a dash of cinnamon while my dad cooked the eggs for my plate.
After I finished eating my food, I looked at the clock and realized we were behind schedule for the morning. I ran to the entryway, grabbed my backpack off the hook, and returned to the kitchen to clear my plate.
“Bella hurry up, we're going to be late.” Shouted my dad from the door.
“Coming”. I yelled as I ran out the door.
“You look gorgeous today, Bells. I love your outfit choice.” My mom said when I entered the car.
“Thank you, Mom,” I said with a smile.
As we drove to school on the icy roads, I began to notice that we were sliding quite easily. Having school projects on my mind and hearing the music come from the radio in the back of my head made me feel a bit better.
As we approached the biggest hill in town located on Frost Avenue, I noticed that my dad no longer had control of the wheel. Sliding back and forth down the hill, my mom and I began to scream.
“Daddy! What’s happening? Watch the road!” I screamed although I knew there was nothing he could do.
I woke up to hospital lights blurring my vision and machines hooked up to what seemed like every part of my body. As I slowly got used to the hospital lights, I saw what looked to be a tall man in a white coat standing above me.
“Hello, My name is Dr. Evans, and your name is Bella Winslow correct?”
“Yes.. Where am I?” I asked in confusion.
“You and your parents were in an accident.” Dr Evans had said.
“Do you remember anything that happened? Anything you could possibly tell me?” He asked.
“No, I’m sorry.” I said in disappointment.
“But where are my parents? Are they okay?” At this point, I was really just hoping for good news.
“I’ll have your dad come to the room in a bit, okay Bella?” Said Dr. Evans.
“Okay,” I said out loud, but to myself, I really thought about why my mom wouldn’t be coming as well.
(Moments Later)
“Hey Bells, I need to have a talk with you.” My dad said with tears rolling down his face uncontrollably as he entered the room.
Dr. Evans was holding Dad's hand as he sat down next to me. I had a vision. I knew what was going on but I didn’t even wanna hear the words.
“Where’s mom? Tell me where she is. I need to see her” I said with a quiver in my voice.
“We ran into a car coming down the hill and It hit my mom's side. It was so powerful, Bells. I'm so sorry, Mom is gone.”
I didn’t even know what to say. The chills that ran through my entire body made me go numb. I couldn’t live without her. My mom was the closest thing I ever had to a best friend. She was the only person I felt like I could tell anything to. She was the only person I had special occurrences with, like our nightly walks throughout our neighborhood, talking about my future. How could I do this without her?
Life then went downhill for my dad and I. Mornings were never the same, and it always felt like there was a huge gloomy cloud over my dad's head. I missed my mother more than I could ever explain.
Weeks later my mom’s ashes were given to us. I hated seeing my “mom” like this. She didn’t deserve to be in there. She didn’t deserve to be taken during the accident.
I got home from school one day and it was one of the worst days I've had since her passing. Everything reminded me of how she was gone and how I was never going to see her again.
“Are you okay?” I was always asked.
“I'm sorry for your loss.” Was all I was told at school.
I got home and saw my dad lying on the couch, a beer in his hand. He looked like he hadn't slept in days.
“Hi Bells, how was school?” He said lazily.
I didn’t like that nickname anymore. The only person I wanted to call me “Bells” was my mom. Although I knew I would never hear that from her ever again.
“It was fine,” I said as I closed my door, ending the conversation.
He didn’t deserve anything from me. He completely let himself go after mom died and It seemed as if I wasn’t anything to him anymore.
I launched myself onto my bed, tears rolling uncontrollably down my cheeks. Tucked in the corner of my room, I glanced at my mom’s vase full of ashes.
Weeks after my mom’s passing, my father gifted me with her ashes. He must’ve thought that this would help me grieve, yet it only made things worse. I hated seeing my room like this.
I walked to the corner of my room and grabbed the vase. This wasn’t where my mom was supposed to be and I couldn’t help but be angry at her for not making it.
I could feel the temperature in my face start to heat as I clenched it between my fingers. I didn’t want this to happen. I didn’t want my mom in our home like this.
“I… made a mistake.” I knew right then that I shouldn't have done what I did.
Moments later my dad stumbled into my room, barely keeping himself on his feet from the amount of alcohol in his system.
“Bells! What is going on here?” He said as his words slurred from his lips.
“I'm sorry Dad, I don’t know what I was thinking.” I stuttered.
“It's fine Bells, Just clean this up and come eat dinner.” He said as he walked away.
“I'm so stupid.” I thought as I pulled the covers over my head, almost as if I were hiding until my dad was gone.
Suddenly, I heard the strangest thing. Something that sounded like a gust of wind picking up, although inside my home.
I carefully pulled down the covers, and my hands shook. I looked down at the ground and my mom’s ashes were no longer there.
“Am I going crazy?” I thought as I pulled the covers back over my head.
“Hi Bells.” I heard my moms voice echo.
That couldn't be. She was gone. She would never call me Bells again.
I looked over at where my mom's ashes had once laid on the ground but now instead was my mom's image staring at me made up of ashes.
“What the hell.” I blurted out.
“Hey, Watch your mouth. Just because I'm gone doesn't mean you can have a potty mouth.” My mother's ashes insisted.
“What is going on? I'm scared. How are you talking to me? Why can I see you?” Questions swarmed through my head.
“Calm down Bells, I’ll explain everything.
I had no clue what was happening but hearing my mom's voice made me feel comforted. She floated over to my bed, tucking a piece of hair behind my ears.
“You look so tired and fragile, my love. Have you been eating or sleeping?.”
“Things haven't been going well with just dad here,” I said, still in confusion.
“I am always here for you Bells.” I know this seems strange but I still want to be a part of your life.
My mom and I had a whole conversation before I finally let the words
“I love you Mom” Slid off my tongue.
My mom vanished. I could no longer see her. Questions unanswered, , but at least this time I got to say goodbye. At least until next time. Her ashes were picked back up into the vase and were sitting in the corner of my room almost like I never even touched them.