My Dedication

“Sweetheart wake up right now! You need to get up right now, Mia, so you won't be late for school!" Yes, this is how I am greeted every morning, great isn't it? Instead of having one of those little things that annoy you to death in the morning, I have my own personal alarm clock...my mother. When my mother wakes you up, believe me, you better make sure that you are up and ready before she comes up after you. Even though she can be so uptight, I can't help but love her. 

I am more than halfway through my junior year of high school and I am ready to go to school. I get good grades and all, but mainly the only reason I am excited for school is because I love chorus. Many people have told me that I am such an amazing singer, well what can I say, I just love to sing. 

"I’m coming mom. When Lacey wakes up later, please tell my baby sister good luck with her treatment today," I tell my mom as I'm grabbing an apple rushing out the door. My younger sister, Lacey, has been going to the Children's Hospital for chemotherapy for about two years now. Ever since she was diagnosed with Leukemia, my happy little joyful sister has not been herself. Whenever I have free time I like to go be with my sister and I've been inspired to sing everyday and record them and post them on YouTube. I have actually started to sing covers of songs and dedicate to my little trooper. 

“Good morning to my most talented student,” my chorus teacher, Mr. Brady greets. Mr. Brady is my absolute favorite teacher and I am going to be so sad when I graduate and don’t get to see him anymore.

“Good morning to you too Mr. B,” I cheerfully reply. “So what’s new? Have you heard back from that record label you sent my recording to?”

“I have Mia and they said that they will be sending someone over here to Ruth Asawa SOTA for you!” he exclaims with joy. At that moment I am just so overfilled with joy that someone for the music industry will be coming here, to Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, for me: little old Mia Rizzo. I can’t wait to share this news with Lacey and hug her fragile body.

As the day went on I was figuring out what song I would make to a cover of and sing for the recruiter. What if they don’t like me or I mess up while singing? My nerves are going crazy and it gets a bit hard for me to focus during my other classes knowing that I am going to be singing for a major person in the music business in just a few short hours.

 

It’s finally the last period of the day which I get to head to the auditorium to sing. I have finally chosen a song that I feel I will be able to blow him or her away with. As I walk up to the microphone I see my chorus teacher sitting next to a man that was here to listen to my voice and contact the record label if I was going to get signed to work with them. 

“Hello, my name is Mia Rizzo and I’m going to be singing See You Again by Carrie Underwood,” my voice fills the entire auditorium as I sing as if my life depended on it. Such much emotion just pouring into the song and as my anxiety just disappears within seconds. Minutes go by and I know that my family would be so proud of me.

“That was magnificent and I have never heard someone who puts so much emotion and feeling into a song such as that!” I look up to see both the man and Mr. B giving me a standing ovation. “It is a pleasure to come out here and meet such a gifted girl, Mia. My name is Josh Carter and I would love to sign you to Diamond Mind Records.” He reaches out to shake my hand and I am completely speechless.

“Wow this is amazing. Thank you so much for coming out here to listen to me. I would love to be signed to your record label,” I smile like there is no tomorrow and I try to comprehend what is happening right now. 

I arrive at home and yell for everyone to come downstairs so I could share my exciting news with the people I care about most.

“Mom, Lacey I have fantastic news! Mr. Brady heard back from that record label and a man named Josh Carter came out here from Miami, FL to hear me sing. Guess what?” I excitedly blurt out without taking a breath between words. 

“What is it sissy?” My 12-year-old sister, Lacey, asks clapping her hands.

“That kind man signed me to his record company and now I will be able to sing and sell my songs for everyone to hear!” My sister jumps up from the couch she and my mother where previously sitting on, and she gave me a hug. It brought tears to my eyes knowing that she was proud of her big sister and that she wanted to hug me even though she didn't have much strength.

I feel a tug on my shirt, so I bend down to hear what she is going to say to me. “You are amazing Mia. Every day of singing was worth it and you are very talented. I love you sissy. Everyone else will too because you have such an amazing voice.” A huge smile spread across her face and I start crying and kiss her cheek while holding her close.

I love that little girl so much and I hate to see her suffer from such a horrendous disease. No person especially a little girl should have to go through chemo radiation because they have some kind of cancer. I always try to keep her happy and let her have a good time so that she isn't worrying about her cancer, so she can just be a kid. 

I still remember the day that Lacey was first diagnosed with Leukemia. I had just turned fifteen about a week before. My poor baby sister had been feeling very sick for a week or two and it honestly was the worst feeling in the world knowing that she was suffering so much. I had called my mom, who was in her office working at the time, and told her that my little sister needed to go to the hospital immediately. I couldn't stand to see her in pain and wanted her to get better. As soon as we got to the hospital I explained to the doctor Lacey's health and they took her right away to scan her to find out what's wrong. It felt like hours when they finally came back to me and Mom. 

"I'm sorry ladies,  Mrs. Rizzo it seems that your daughter Lacey has Leukemia in two different spots in her body. We are going to see if we can find a way to get rid of it. It seems that it may be a little difficult to figure a way to get the cancer out of her, but we are going to try our absolute best for your family," Dr. Edwards sadly smiled. I felt like a train just hit me and I started crying uncontrollably.

"No! Please she's just a little girl. She can't have cancer, my baby still has her full life ahead of her to live. You have to help her, please let my little Lacey live!" I drop down onto my knees with my hands covering my face. There is no way that I could have heard the doctor correctly when he said that my younger sister has Leukemia. 

"I am terribly sorry to have to inform you both about young Lacey having cancer in her body. It hurts me as well, however I know that cannot begin to compare to how you are feeling. Stay strong, we are going to do whatever we have to in order to take the cancer out," he tried to stay as calm as he could but I could tell that it was hard for him to tell a family that their little child or sibling has been diagnosed with Leukemia.

Author's Note

still adding more, but please tell me what you think

Reviews

[Ankur Sharma]

it was a very good story the way you have written it was just wonderful and the and my emotion was changing according to the flows of the story. true happiness when mia got selected for singing but her younger sister sickness and mia thoughts about her was very beautiful. i loved it.

[Lisa Marie]

Thank you very much, I appreciate it.

[zainul]

Lisa,if it is a true incident,I am very sad.
You have reported it as best as possible.
If it is a fiction,you are 100% successful.
I am very much convinced that you are a great writer.
Keep up the good work.
Congratulations!!!

[Lisa Marie]

Thank you very much and it is just fiction. But thank you for your thoughts!

[zainul]

I must say then it is a wonderful fiction.
Keep up the good work.
Wish your further success.

[Lisa Marie]

Thank you very much I appreciate it.