A Sunrise Sorrow

I say hello to the rising sun. Sunrise is the prettiest time of the day. I fell like the colors sing to me. It is like the colors tell stories by dancing in the sky. My expert fingers twitch as I think of the shades I well be able to use in a painting of this sunrise. I like sitting on the porch with Makas, my service dog, and watching the rising sun's reds, blues, and purples. It is the only music I can hear. I sit there and hope for a new and better day. My mother, the only peson who know my full potential as an artist, has been sick for a year now, but I keep hoping that she will suddenly get out of her bed and watch the sunrise with me as we used to.

Dad said that we will have to say goodbye to Mom any time soon and that scares me. Mom will most likely be dead in two to three days. I start to cry softly. Having my mother taken from me is the most terrifying thing in the world. Maybe Dad will come to watch the sunrise with me. That would make me feel better.

I run into the house with Makas to tell him and find my father crying over my mother’s limp body. I back away not believing what I see. Suddenly my father turns towards me and signs the most terrifying words of all.

"I am so sorry. You will never talk to her again. She's gone." Tears fell down my father's face. I turn and run out Makas at my heels of the house. I never want to see that house again. It will bring too many painful memories, memories of me, and my mother, memories of the time she used to be healthy....memories of today. I never, never want to see it again. I run to my friend, Nova's house.

When she saw the look on my face she signs, "Is your mom dead."

"Yes," I sign back. The tears that flowed down my face seemed to tell her exactly what happened.

"Oh no. Where are you going." she said her eyes filling with tears as well. Nova and my mother had a special connection. They both had a love for painting, same as me. my mom taught us how to blend the colors perfectly to make them match the image we have in our heads.

"Away from here."

"But I want you to stay here."

"I am sorry but the more I stay here the more I will want to return to Mother."

"Then I am running away with you." she signs.

She runs and goes into the kitchen. She hops up on the stool. Grabbing the suitcase she fills it with food and other necessities. "I think we need to go. I have all we need" she signs as she grabs the tent. Opening the door they both set off.

"So where are we going?" she signs.

"I thought you might have an idea Nova." I sign.

"Well, maybe we can go up into the mountains and set up camp."

We walk toward the sunrise and mountains. As we get up high, Nova and Makas hear something.

"Your dad is calling your name. Are you sure that you want to run away?" Nova.

"Yes," I signed solemnly.

"Well, we better go because I think someone’s coming."

We start to run up the hill with the dog trailing behind us. We follow a trail they know by heart. Up the mountain we climb. Walking the path that we know could have consequences. The forest was beautiful but we did not stop to look at it like they have done many times.

"We are near the top I think." Nova signs after a steep climb.

"Can we stop at the top to look at the sunset like we used to?" I sign.

The day is almost over and we hope to rest. I stop to look at Makas. To my surprise, she is limping. Taping Nova on the shoulder I point at Makas. Nova nodes and lifts Makas onto her shoulders. We hike slower now because of Makas' injury. I know that she is crying in pain.

As we are close to the top a bear comes from the forest. We stop and stay still. The bear looks at Makas. It slowly turns and walks away. We were lucky that the bear did not charge. When we reach the top, a small tree grows in the center. Me and my mom came and planted it here. We were going to make a bench swing when it grows big and strong. So we could sit and watch the sunset and the stars rise. We would never do that now. I feel tears flow down my face.

We look at the valley. The lights turn on as the sun slowly creeps to bed. I know I will never see this with my mom, but I saw it with my best friend.

I look back as we walk away. I can see what looks like my mother's ghost sitting next to the tree. In my heart, I hear her singing to the stars.

As we walked down the slope of the hill I felt hot tears flowing down my face. How could she be gone? The painting and coloring that we used to do together could never have prepared me for this losing her is more painful than when I accidentally burned myself on the oven. More painful than breaking my first bone. More painful than the car accident that had killed my little brother. All of this was more painful. Even though me and my little brother loved each other we never even had met each other. I had just heard about what had happened. They were bringing him home from the hospital when he was a baby, but me and my mother we we had a different connection more than just mother and daughter love but it was special. We couldn't bear to be alone for this long. I look over at Nova. I realize I'm not alone. I have Nova and my dog. I'm never alone and I never will be. So I said Goodbye to my old life and hello to my new one.