Hannah Cesal

Harrison Middle School Grade 7 2014

498 word count

Forever Too Late

A famous saying by Alex L. Picketts states, Life comes and goes, like season in a year.
My entire family was downstate to enjoy our annual family Christmas at my Grandparents
house in New Lothrop. As we unloaded the van, the various aromas swarmed my nose like a
group of bees. My body tingled with anticipation.
I entered the dining room and my face went from a smile to a complete frown appalled at
what I was seeing. My breath sucked out of my lungsa bolder sized lump developed in my
throat. There was my Grandmother hooked up to an oxygen tank. SSSSSSS, the machine
hissed as she took slow deep, breaths, in and out.
The pain was unbearable as I gave her a soft and meaningful hug. Honestly, I pondered that I
might break her. She of course told me she was fine as she noticed my concerned look. I kept
the tears back as they fought my eyes, wanting to be set free. I tamed my emotions, but like wild
stallions, they wouldnt stay that way.
Excitement masked the pain as the night progressed. Grandma was delivering the stockings
by name, slowly making the stack shrink. My eyes stayed glued on Grandma who distributed the
stockings while looking into Grandpas shiny green eyes. They shared an intent stare as if they
both knew this was indeed her last Christmas. A salty tear rolled down both their cheeks.
Grandma erased their sorrow with the sweaters sleeve motioning for us to open our gifts.
Something wasnt right. While unwrapping the present, I reviled a beautiful bracelet which
evoked hugs of sincerity.
I wanted to spend time with Grandma. The possibility of losing her lurked within me like a
rock, sinking to the bottom of my gut. The memories of unity were like gold, possessing
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Hannah Cesal
Harrison Middle School Grade 7 2014
498 word count

sentimental values. The adults obviously had the same idea, they were all talking her ears off.
When time finally allowed me to have my turn I inched over to Grandma and sighed. She
wrapped me in a comforting hug as tight as she physically could. I love you, she whispered in
a fragile voice. As our hug came to a conclusion I looked down unable to make eye contact. A
tear broke free but I tried to hide it. Bursting into the bathroom, I looked into the mirror and
wiped my tears of agony. I tried not to cry but that just made it worse. Eventually the flow of
liquid depression ended. The rest of the night I was emotionally handicapped but tried to be
social.
She lost the fight. Cancer took her life January of 2009. Emptiness still consumes when I
reminisce about her. Her battle lasted over three years and she never lost her smile. I take things
for granted all the time and I guess my Grandma was one of them. My Grandma helped me truly
understand the saying, You dont know what youve got till its gone.