*a small girl sits at her bedroom desk.. around her room are small flowered wallpaper with little bears lineing the ceiling, while her ceiling itself a night sky with stars and planets of all sorts. Upon her desk sits a clean piece of paper, a pink stationary with the letter N in the corner is a script like font, and a pen with a small frog eraser next to the paper. The girl has her brownish blonde hair up in a half ponytail, the ends are curled naturally around her shoulders. She smiles as she picks the pencil up and begins to write: *
Dear Mommy,
I started fourth grade this year. My teacher, Mrs. Almont, started teaching us to write letters. I know you won't get this for awhile, since I have not been able to see you since I was little, but I know you will soon. Daddy says you are getting better and should be coming home soon, but you will still be sick. The Doctors told me I have to go back to see them soon, too. Daddy probably already told you though, Right? He should have.
I met a new boy at school yesterday. He has to be in a wheelchair because his spine was hurt in an accident. He lost him mommy and little sister. I felt really bad. I told him I'd be his sister, since I don't have any of my own. His name is Randy Vaugden. His really nice and smart. We help each other in school and decided for the Valentines Day party, we'd stick together. I really think he's my best friend, Mom. His sister would be 5 now and in kindengarden, but I guess she's happier now, though. At least she's with her mommy. His daddy picks him up from school and drops him off in the morning. Today we met by that tree in the park, the one you and me used to sit under. It's grown alot since you went into the hospital. We'll go see it with Randy when you get better, I promise.
Daddy's a really bad cook, so you should come home soon. Aunt Rachel is coming over to babysit me while Daddy goes out of town this weekend. Her and I are supposed to go to the movies, but I think I want to go stay over at Randy's house. I hope I don't get sick again, it's too soon. My arm still hurts from the needles and stuff. Doctor R. says I might need new medicine soon for my nerves. I hope this new medicine will help me more than the old stuff, it made me sick to my stomach.
I should go, Daddy wanted me to clean my room some before Aunt Rachel gets here at 6. I'll write again, I promise, OK Mommy?
I Love you.
Sincerly,
Nera Raene Cunningham
*She sets her pencil down and folds the letter carefully, her left hand making the folded crease definate, then slips the paper into a small envelope and seals it with a heart sticker to match the stationary. Slowly she opens the bottom drawer of her desk and puts the letter on a small stack of other similar ones with a smile, bringing her fingers to her lips and pressing them onto the top letter before closing the drawer again. As she gets up, she reachs for two metal crutches at the end of her desk, slips her arms into the braces she stands slowly, a braces holding one leg straight at the need and the other half bent with another brace. She smiles as she hears her dad calling* "Yeah Daddy. I'll be down in a minute." *she calls back with a giggle* "Let Aunt Rachel cook tonight" *she yells down the hall as she leaves her room...
In one corner of the room, a small light flickers and flitters out into the middle of the room, a figure forms, looking out the door after the little girl. The figure, a woman, smiles saddly as she makes her way to the drawer and opens it slowly. As her ghostly had takes a more solid texture, it picks the newest letter up and sets it on the desk." A new one each day, My Sweet Nera. And each day I read it. Though... *she turns to look towards the door* You know I won't be coming home.. *her gaze shifts to a picture of herself and the child at the park* I wish I will be, but... I won't. *without opening the letter she sets it back into the drawer, unopened, unread, closes the drawer, and then slowly fades away with whispered words* I love you, Nera.
Dear Mommy,
I started fourth grade this year. My teacher, Mrs. Almont, started teaching us to write letters. I know you won't get this for awhile, since I have not been able to see you since I was little, but I know you will soon. Daddy says you are getting better and should be coming home soon, but you will still be sick. The Doctors told me I have to go back to see them soon, too. Daddy probably already told you though, Right? He should have.
I met a new boy at school yesterday. He has to be in a wheelchair because his spine was hurt in an accident. He lost him mommy and little sister. I felt really bad. I told him I'd be his sister, since I don't have any of my own. His name is Randy Vaugden. His really nice and smart. We help each other in school and decided for the Valentines Day party, we'd stick together. I really think he's my best friend, Mom. His sister would be 5 now and in kindengarden, but I guess she's happier now, though. At least she's with her mommy. His daddy picks him up from school and drops him off in the morning. Today we met by that tree in the park, the one you and me used to sit under. It's grown alot since you went into the hospital. We'll go see it with Randy when you get better, I promise.
Daddy's a really bad cook, so you should come home soon. Aunt Rachel is coming over to babysit me while Daddy goes out of town this weekend. Her and I are supposed to go to the movies, but I think I want to go stay over at Randy's house. I hope I don't get sick again, it's too soon. My arm still hurts from the needles and stuff. Doctor R. says I might need new medicine soon for my nerves. I hope this new medicine will help me more than the old stuff, it made me sick to my stomach.
I should go, Daddy wanted me to clean my room some before Aunt Rachel gets here at 6. I'll write again, I promise, OK Mommy?
I Love you.
Sincerly,
Nera Raene Cunningham
*She sets her pencil down and folds the letter carefully, her left hand making the folded crease definate, then slips the paper into a small envelope and seals it with a heart sticker to match the stationary. Slowly she opens the bottom drawer of her desk and puts the letter on a small stack of other similar ones with a smile, bringing her fingers to her lips and pressing them onto the top letter before closing the drawer again. As she gets up, she reachs for two metal crutches at the end of her desk, slips her arms into the braces she stands slowly, a braces holding one leg straight at the need and the other half bent with another brace. She smiles as she hears her dad calling* "Yeah Daddy. I'll be down in a minute." *she calls back with a giggle* "Let Aunt Rachel cook tonight" *she yells down the hall as she leaves her room...
In one corner of the room, a small light flickers and flitters out into the middle of the room, a figure forms, looking out the door after the little girl. The figure, a woman, smiles saddly as she makes her way to the drawer and opens it slowly. As her ghostly had takes a more solid texture, it picks the newest letter up and sets it on the desk." A new one each day, My Sweet Nera. And each day I read it. Though... *she turns to look towards the door* You know I won't be coming home.. *her gaze shifts to a picture of herself and the child at the park* I wish I will be, but... I won't. *without opening the letter she sets it back into the drawer, unopened, unread, closes the drawer, and then slowly fades away with whispered words* I love you, Nera.