Valentines Day

A short story about a big brother trying to have a happy valentines day with his little sister.

“Ugh, I don't wanna go to school!” Pouted my little sister In her winter jacket and boots. It was early and she was grumpy. “Why don't they give us a day off for valentines day?”

“Because then how are you going to give these flowers to your teacher?” I said smiling and handing her the bouquet of flowers i had picked out for her teacher the other day. She grabbed the flowers but pouted again. “You need to go to school.”

“Why? Because you told me so? You’re not my dad, you can't tell me what to do!” She snapped.

“No, I’m not, and I never will be.” I said suddenly washed over with grief. “But...” I started putting on a smile. “If you stay home you’ll end up spoiling the surprise.”

“What surprise?” She asked curiously.

“I can't tell you, It’s a surprise.”

“Give me a hint.” She demanded.

“Only if you promise to go to school.”

“Okay fine I’ll go.” She said still being a little pouty.

“It's something delicious.” I said bringing a smile to her face.

“Is it strawberry cheesecake?” She asked excitedly.

“It just might be. But you won't know until later, now here’s the bus. Its time to go.” I said a*s the big yellow bus pulled up past the mountains of snow blocking the view of the street. I opened the door for Sarah and she rushed out towards the bus.

“Bye!” She shouted waving from behind her with a smile. I smiled back and waved from the doorway.

“Have fun at school!” I shouted. It wasn't long before she was aboard the bus with her friends and It pulled away down the street. She was gone now, Leaving me in this empty house, all alone.  I stood there for a moment and looked over to the kitchen table besides me. I was supposed to go visit mom today, but, it’s too painful. No! I have too, i'm her son and I need to see her! With a fierce determination I grabbed the flowers In my hand and made my way out to my car.

The drive was long, and the roads were treacherously slippery but after a while I finally made it to my destination...

Boston Memorial Hospital...

I checked in and made my way to the elevators. I managed to catch one as it was just about to leave. I walked my way in and stood next to a woman and her daughter. She looked over to me and smiled, and i returned the smile. Then i noticed her eyes gaze over to my bouquet of flowers.

“Those flowers are pretty.” Said the woman.

“Thank you.”

“Who are they for?”

“My mother.”

“Oh... I’m sorry.” she said with a guilty look on her face. I just flashed her a smile and waved it off.

“It’s alright.” I said.

*Ding*

The elevator had stopped at my floor. I smiled again and waved goodbye to the woman as I stepped off the elevator. I made my way down the hallway waving hello to all the familiar faces that I see whenever I come to this place. Rooms passed by and with each step I found it harder and harder to keep going forward. Unfortunately I was soon at the point of no return. I stopped.

“Room 314... Mrs. Susan Miles.”

*Knock Knock*

After knocking i soon opened the door to see a woman sitting on a bed in her hospital robe. She looked over at me and smiled. I smiled back and walked into the room. The person here was my mother, but every time i come and visit her she seems to become more and more of a stranger.

“Hello there... Who are you?” She asked.

“Oh, I’m sorry ma’am, i'm just going around giving patients flowers in honor of valentine's day.”

“Oh! It’s valentines day? Wow, i must have been in that coma for a long time.” She said. That's not true, she’s been awake for three years now.

“Oh, if you’re not feeling well i can come back.” I said.

“Nonsense, Come on in... Visitors are always welcome.” She said smiling. I smiled back and walked over. I placed the flowers in a vase at the table by the bed. “My, those are pretty flowers. Thank you so much, it means a lot.”

“I’m happy to hear that.”

“Now i just have to wait for my husband to visit with my two adorable children.” She said smiling.

“Oh, you've got kids? They must be adorable.”

“Do you want to see them?” She asked grabbing a picture on the table. Without me even denying she showed me anyway. the picture she showed me was an old picture, about 8 years old. That picture was taken two months before the accident. I was only fourteen at the time, and sarah was only two... And dad was still alive then.

“you’re right, they are adorable.” I said trying to choke back my tears.

“that’s my husband Robert, oh and my son Alex, and that's Sarah.” she said.

“They look lovely... But i have to get going. More flowers to deliver.” I said.

“Oh, sorry for taking up you're time... Have a wonderful day.” she said. I forced a smile as best as I could and waved back as i left the room. I closed the door, and i could finally let the tears stream down my face.

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“What do you mean i can't see her?!” I demanded yelling at the doctor.

“Her condition is serious.” He said. “She just got out of a coma, and we just found out that she has retrograde amnesia.

“What the hell does that even mean?!” I shouted.

“That means she can't form new memories.” He said. It's been five years since she was in the coma and she doesn't even remember being in it. If you go in there and tell her that you’re her son and she’s been in a coma for 5 years there's no telling what could happen. She could have a sudden relapse and fall into a coma again, and I don't know if we could pull her out the next time.”

“That's bullshit!” I said. “There has to be something... ANYTHING!?”

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“Big brother! BIG BROTHER!” Shouted a young Sarah leaning over her father laying sprawled out in the living room.

“What?! What is it?!”

“Daddy won't wake up!” She said.

“What... Hey... Dad, Dad get up.” I said running over and rocking the body of the sprawled out man i knew as my father. “C’mon old man get up!” I shouted. his eyes were open, but they were hollow and vacant. Even with my hand on his chest I felt no pulse.

“Daddy...Daddy wake up please!” Said the young Sarah bawling her eyes out.

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“Lets see... Milk, Cream cheese, Sugar... Strawberries.” Alright i've got everything. i started work on my famous strawberry cheese cake. With all the ingredients in the bowl and the crust already in the pan my masterpiece was near completion. I poured the filling into the crust lined pan and flattened it out with the rubber scraper. Oven set to four hundred, and in it goes. Set the timer for thirty minutes and we’re good to go. I dusted off my hands in victory just in time for the phone to start ringing. Without checking the I.D. I picked up the phone and answered. “Hello?”

“Hey there kiddo!” Replied the voice of a familiar man on the other side.

“Oh! Hey uncle Scott.” I said smiling happy to hear his voice. “Happy valentines day!”

“Happy valentines day. Just calling to say hello, Your aunt is busy right now, but she wishes you a happy valentines day too.”

“Thanks, tell her i said hello, same for Sid and Jack too.” I said smiling over the phone.

“Will do, and you say hello to Sarah for me.”

“I will... Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.” He said until the line clicked and i put the phone back. With nothing left to do i spent the rest of my time surfing channels until the cake was done. I took it out of the oven and started working on decorations for it. Design the edges with whipped cream and slices of strawberry and we’re all good to go. That's one damn fine cheese cake if i do say so myself. I put the cake inside the fridge to cool and was on my way back to the living room to watch more tv when the phone rang. i walked back and answered the phone.

“Yes? Hello?” I asked answering the phone.

“Hello? Alex...” Asked a woman's voice on the other end.

“Mrs.Thurber?” I asked. Mrs.Thurber is the schools nurse. “Is everything okay? Is Sarah alright?” I asked frantically.

“Yes Sarah is fine.” She said putting my mini heartache at ease. “She’s just a bit teary eyed right now and I thought it might be best if she leave school early.”

“What's happened?” I asked getting ready to head back out.

“Some kids were picking on her and i guess they said something that really struck and nerve because she started crying in class.”

“What did they say?” I asked.

“You... Probably don't want to know.”

“What did they say?” I said this time more sternly. over the phone i could hear an audible sigh.

“The kid said something about you're sisters mother being so stupid that she doesn't even recognize her own daughter.” she said. Even though that joke wasn't directed at me personally it still stung.

“I’ll be there in five minutes.” I said hanging up the phone and hopping in the car.

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“C’mon Sarah, open the door.” I said knocking on the door to her room.

“NO!” She shouted from the inside of her room. She was still a bit grumpy from what happened at school.  Also while I was there I might have raised a little hell, but that's besides the point.

“You know what that kid said isn't true.” I said. “C’mon, i made strawberry cheesecake... its your favorite.”

“I don't care!” She said.

“Hmm...The cheesecake didn't work, I’ll have to pull off...” I said pausing for dramatic effect. “THE BIG GUNS!” I said in a deep and dramatic voice. I opened the door trying to think of something that’ll make her laugh. But not long after I opened the door I quickly found a pillow hurling towards my face. The pillow in question hit me square in the face and i quickly feigned death.

“Ick...Bleh...Urk, *Cough Cough*...Sister...Why?

“DON'T JOKE ABOUT THAT!” She said getting really mad now, s**t. I quickly stopped my ‘playing dead’ routine and stood back up. She was crying into her other pillow now. I walked over and sat down besides her on her bed.

“This isn't really about what that kid said is it?” I said sitting down besides her.

“It is...” She said.

“What's wrong?” I asked.

“H-he said, that everything I love dies...”

“Well i’m not dead.” I said.

“Yeah but what happens when you do die?” She said.

“Nothings going to happen, because i'm not going to die.” I said patting her on the head.

“B-but...”

Sarah:

I will not die.

I can not die.

And i will not die.

Because if i die, who is supposed to take care of you?

Although dad’s heart stopped that day

Mine will continue to beat and pump life through my body

My heart will continue to beat for you.

Although mom cannot make new memories and will never remember us as we grow

I will always remember who you are.

My memories of you will persist forever.

That's because I love you Sarah

And if any punk kid tells you that i'm going to die ill kill him.

“Okay?” I said smiling as i patted her on the head again.

“Yeah...Okay.” She said whipping the tears from under her eyes. We sat there in silence for a moment until she looked up at me and said with a weak smile, “Happy valentines day big bro.”

“Ha-ha, Yeah, happy valentines day Sarah.” I said smiling.

“Can we have that cheesecake now?”

“Ha-ha-ha, of course.”

Author's Note

In honors of Valentines Day.

Reviews

[Crazycatgirl_10]

This story is a great reminder that Valentine's Day can be painful. This pain was shown so clearly in this story. I love the raw emotion that was used in this.

[The Rubik]

This struck hard. Valentines Day (ignoring the true meaning behind it) is usually about lovers sharing the day with each other and showing some sort of devotion through love and chocolates. For others, it can be a day to point out that it can be extremely lonely for them sometimes. You turned it into something that has sweet sentimental value for the two; rather than looking for someone else they found love (in a family way) with each other even though they are enduring something that would tear most apart in frustration and anger.

Nice job :)