Fade: Chapter Eighteen (Ending)

Chapter Eighteen1

(Epilogue)2

I woke up. The clock was shining with red digital numbers: 9:00 AM . . . Saturday I thought. Sat up in bed, and drowsily rubbed my eyes. 3

“Melissa!” I heard mom call from the kitchen. “Hurry up, or breakfast is going to get cold!”4

I swung my legs over the edge of my bed and stretched out. My feet touched the plush carpet with pleasure, and I smiled as the midmorning sun shone in through my blinds. I stood up and walked out of my room, hungry and a bit dreary.5

Mom sighed as she slipped some pancakes on a plate for me. “You know you gotta wake up a little earlier than that for school Monday.” She laughed. 6

“I know, I know.” I sighed.7

“Do you?” Mom asked as she pushed the dark hair from her eyes. “It’s not every day that you start your second year of college!”8

“I know, I’ll wake up on time for school . . . come on it’s Saturday. And you act like I’m a kid.” I sighed as I dug into my pancake, a bit annoyed but not really upset.9

Mom laughed as she pushed some more pancakes on a plate. “Your dad is at work already.” She said, sitting down in front of me. 10

“Oh yeah.” I said plainly. “He might get the promotion this today, huh?” I asked, taking a sip of milk.11

“Well, we hope so.” Mom said as she cut her pancakes up. “He’s been trying for that spot as chief investigator now for two years. Well, even before that really, he even was aiming for that promotion when we worked together as partners.”12

“Yeah . . . ” I said, taking a bite of food. I knew Dad worked hard so that he could support me and Mom, I knew mom worked equally hard–sacrificing her job with dad to cook and clean for us, it couldn’t have been easy on them to take me in just days after they got married. Lord Knows . . . no one else would have taken me in.13

“Attempted Suicide.” I remember the woman at the Ward say to Deborah—mom, when she and Nathan came to check on me. I imagine they had heard about it on the news, or perhaps they were on the scene when . . .  I didn’t really know, I couldn’t remember because . . . I was out I guess, unconscious from lack of blood . . . so much had been lost from the deep wounds in my wrists.14

“Maybe you can answer some questions.” I remember mom asking the lady in charge of the physiatrics ward. “If her mother and father were out drunk, and her sister was asleep . . . how did she ever live?”15

“Someone dialed 911.” The woman said. “Anonymous, said she saw a girl in the house cut her own wrists. She admitted to it, and so that’s why she’s considered high-risk . . . but we don’t think she’s in the right mind to try again.”16

“Why is that?” Nathan–Dad asked, stepping up beside Deborah.17

“Well . . . It could just be a guise . . . but from what our doctors gather, and what she has said . . . she seems to be in good mental health now, therapy did wonders . . . and she even talks about the future now.” The woman said. “It’s quite an improvement . . . almost as if she had a divine revelation.”18

“I said, are you going to the Library today!?” Mom called, snapping me out of my flashbacks.19

I smiled, most people would feel annoyed at their parents or inadequate, but I owed them my life. They gave me a second chance . . . or rather . . . they helped me live my second chance to the fullest.20

“Yeah, I might stop by the Library with Libby later.” I said cheerfully. I stood up and walked over to the living room, pushing in my chair. “We’ll probably stop and grab some coffee or something. Think I can use the Subaru?” 21

Mom nodded as she wiped off the dishes before placing them into the washer. “I don’t see why not.” She said plainly. “Just . . . ”22

“Be careful, I know.” I said, not annoyed, just finishing her thought. I smiled as sat down on the couch. “Mom?” I said, thinking aloud.23

“Yes?” Mom replied, not knowing I wasn’t talking to her.24

I glanced up at the small rag-doll that sat on top of the television. “....I love you.” The doll seemed limp, but alive. A reminder of the past, and a key to the future. A token . . . of my second chance.25