One Step At A Time

She didn’t take the news too well. She was overwhelmed and her breath became short – shaking uncontrollably, the tears rolled down her cheeks as she walked down the street. It couldn’t be true, it just couldn’t, thought Allison as she pulled the note from her pocket. Glancing at it, the words repeated in her mind, as well as her mother’s delicate voice.1

Dear Ally,2

You know I love you with all my heart, and you know this is hard to say. Your father died today at 1:38pm. It is so hard to tell you this, and my heart aches with sorrow. I will never love anyone like how I loved your father. Still we have to stay strong. We need each other the most at this moment. You need your family, we need you. Your brother needs you. At this moment, all we can do is be there for each other. You will see that as you grow, you will become a stronger person from this drama that has happened…3

She couldn’t bear the fact that this was her reality. No. Why me? Why now? Why did it have to happen? It’s not fair, thought Allison, the tears rolling down her face faster. She stopped walking and stared down at the note in her hand. The rain and her tears had completely soaked it. It became so fragile that it ripped in half. Not knowing what to do or where to go, she stuffed the note in her coat pocket and continued down the street once more.4

Every time Ally looked up, she got reminded of a memory she shared with her father. Going “Trick-or-treating” down the dark, gloomy street, helping out the neighborhood by cleaning up the dirty gutters and even helping the old, poor woman down the street paint her house. All of this with her father.5

“At fifteen, this couldn’t be possible,” said Ally to herself. “oh wait, yes it could. It’s life and it SUCKS!” hollered Allison, kicking a pop can halfway down the street.6

“I feel so alone. So far away from the world around me. I’m so lost, so confused! What should I do!? GOD! GIVE ME A SIGN!” cried Allison, who was now shivering from her wet clothing.7

Looking back down at the ground, she saw a piece of paper, crumpled, dirty, weathered, and abandoned. It looked as if it would fall apart any time now, but it didn’t.8

Ally picked it up and began to read it.9

“It’s not your fault, beautiful child.10

Don’t give up.11

Soon it will be okay.12

Hold on; please don’t let go.13

You’ve got so much to live for and life goes on.14

Stay strong, young warrior, others need your blanket of security, and they need your love.15

You’re not in this alone.16

You are never alone as long as you believe my words, my child.17

Love is your endless strength.”18

The storm had begun to die down, and when Allison finished reading the paper she found on the ground, she knew what she had to do. Carefully, she tucked the paper into her pocket, and turned around.19

“Mom!” she hollered. “Mom! It’s okay!” and with that, Allison ran home.20