Losing It All
By Gia, age 16, Florida
On one cold, dreary day in our London flat, as the rain rattled against the windows, I held onto Mimi as she breathed her last fluttering breath.
It's been a week since I'd seen those eyes staring at the camera on the mantle. Or her hands gracefully fingering the remote control. A week. If something happens to me, Ron, I want you to leave London. She gave me a weak smile. London was her dream. She loved it here. Not me. I loved her though, and would follow her anywhere.
It's time for me to leave London. I haven't slept in weeks, caring to her every want and need. Her once athletic body became a saddened victim to the sores and pains that plagued her. At least I'm not dying alone, she added one morning after an hour of chills and vomiting. I'm missing that longing gaze that made me fall in love with her. Her eyes that have a hold on me.
I walked into the bathroom ready to brush my teeth. There were two toothbrushes staring back at me. I'm living in denial, I state to the walls, since there is no one around. I want to hear Mimi saunter in through the door after one of her many two mile bike rides. Ron! That ride was amazing! The scent of her vanilla and strawberry shampoo lingers. I want to run my hands through her hair and watch her giggle as I tickle her. I walked into our bedroom and knew I had to leave London for good. She wants me to be happy.
The For Sale sign flaps in the wind as I pack up the last of the boxes into my Mini Cooper. All that's left is the red velvet couch I can't salvage. It tugs at my heart. Goodbye, Mimi, I whisper.
Ron! That car never worked! she would yell, then giggle as I told her she was wrong. I look up at the flat, teary eyed, and then without another glance, pulled out into the five o'clock London traffic.
