In case you’re wondering what it is that I won, I recently entered a short story contest for all the Dakota County libraries. The subject was supposed to be Nail Biters. The description was, ‘Write a chilling, mysterious, suspenseful short story.’ I figured that even though I’m not that great at writing scary stories, it would be good creative practice. So I wrote the story down, typed it out, edited it and sent it in. It was shorter than I wanted it to be, but that was okay. What worried me more was that it wasn’t going to qualify as chilling, mysterious, or suspenseful. It was more dark rather than any of those descriptions. I didn’t think it was my best work, but I thought, ‘What the heck, might as well send it in.’
So today, we went to Galaxie library in Apple Valley, where the winners were going to be announced. Mom and I had to sit through some lame presentation from this organization called P.R.O.P.H.E.T (Paranormal Research Of Poltergeists, Happenings, Entities, and Tragedies. Nice and sunny, hmm?) about the paranormal. After that was (finally) over, the winners were announced. The lady announced the age category 12-14, which was my category. She said that she read through all 89 entries and picked out which ones were the best, than sent them to the two published authors they have on staff to decide the best out of those.
First there was the honorable mention, whose name was Pate. I visibly twitched at that, I thought she was going to say my name. Then she went on to third and second place. When she finally got to first, I thought, ‘Say Patience, say Patience!!!!!!!’
“And our first prize winner is…Patience Stewart!” I could have screamed and danced around, had my voice been working (I have an evil cough), but I settled for whispering , ‘Yes!’ and leaping from my chair as Mom said, “That’s you!!! Yay!”
I also got a $50 gift certificate for Barnes and Noble, which I wanted to go and spend right away, since there was a Barnes and Noble right across the street. Alas, I must wait for next weekend when we go to the mall.
If you want to read it, I’ve posted it below. It’s not horribly long. Keep in mind that it’s kind of depressing (I was exercising my dark streak), and that I don’t feel that this is my best work. But if it was good enough to be first place…
Charlotte
Death walks with me.
I remember the first time I met him. I saw him standing next to my grandmother’s hospital bed. My grandmother was dying of cancer, hooked up to all these machines. I was young, not yet old enough to understand Death completely (but then, who does?). He was standing, simply standing, waiting. My grandmother coughed, and he laid a pale hand comfortingly upon her forehead. It was at that moment that I realized my grandmother was passing from this life to the next. I began to understand, a little.
“Why?” I asked Death’s shadow, not wanting to look up and meet what I was sure would be a horrible gaze. I felt that cold hand on my shoulder.
“All things die, Charlotte of the Crooked Sky,” he told me. And then he disappeared. I wasn’t exactly sure what had just happened, but I did not ask why my sky was crooked. It was only natural. Or, in my case, unnatural.
The second time I met Death, it was when my father died, three years after Grandmother left. He and I had been out running errands, when out of nowhere a large truck plowed into us in the middle of the intersection. Our small car was demolished, I later learned. As I lay among the twisted metal and scattered groceries (I don’t know for certain how I got there), I saw Death again. He was kneeling next to Father, who had blood running down the side of his face. Death touched Father’s chest, and Father left this life. I understood, a little bit more. Death then came over to me and held his hand over my head.
“No,” he said in his dark, whispery voice. “It’s not your time yet.”
“Why?” I asked of Death again. “Why was it his?”
“Because all things must have an end, Charlotte of the Broken Heart,” Death replied, and disappeared. I did not ask him why my heart was broken. I already knew.
My mother started drinking after my father died. Her life slowly started going down.
“You are such a disappointment to me, Charlotte,” she said when I told her what I had seen. “I have lost your father, and now you are losing your mind. Such a terrible disappointment.”
“I’m sorry, Mama. I lost him, too,” I said to her. She scoffed at me.
“You’ve lost him? Don’t talk to me about losing people. I’ve lost my husband, my brother, and my parents. I’ve seen more of death than you have, Charlotte.” I doubted that, since she didn’t believe me.
Now I see Death everywhere. I see him standing behind Mother sometimes. Once I saw a squirrel get hit by a car, and Death was there for a split second.
I have come to realize that Death is just another part of Life, a very real occurrence that happens to everyone, no matter who they are, how old they are, or what they do. In a way, Life is Deadly.
My mother is dying. I see it in her eyes, aside from the fact that Death haunts her back. Her spirit has been broken, and it seems to be beyond repair. It is only a matter of time. The only question is, when? When will Mother leave this life that is so full of sorrows and joys? I have tried to ask Death, but all he says is, “It is not for you to know.” It aggravates me. A lot.
Sometimes I wonder if my life is actually death.
~*~
One time I went for a walk, and I found myself surrounded by one of the numerous gangs in my city. They had heard of the fact that I can see Death (apparently, my mother had told the bartender at her favorite pub about what I had told her, and the story had spread from there). I felt like I should have been afraid, but I wasn’t. I guess my mind was occupied with other things.
“So, Charlotte,” one said. “You think you can see what we can’t?”
“Suppose you think you’re better than us, huh?” said another. I could tell that this gang wasn’t particularly bright.
“When we’re through with you, you’re going to fear Death just like the rest of us,” said a third.
I rest my case. I never said anything about not fearing Death.
“Why should I fear Death?” I said. “I know him!” That seemed to throw them off for a second. In that second, I saw Death standing behind them, and smiled. They mistook my smile for disrespect, however, but before they could make any move, they all suddenly fell to the ground, unconscious for some reason.
“Why?” I asked Death, yet again.
“Because, Charlotte of the Sorrowful Joys, I have taken a liking to you.” I did not ask him why my joys were sorrowful. It only made sense. Instead, I said:
“If you like me so much, then tell me: When will you take my mother?” Death sighed and looked up.
“Soon, Charlotte. Sooner than you know.” And, predictably (who knew that you could predict Death?), he disappeared. I hurried home.
It happened a week later. I got home from school late on a rainy day, and instantly knew something was wrong. As I entered the living room, I saw Mother, the one who had taken care of me for all my life, sprawled out in the middle of the floor. I rushed to her.
“Mama,” I whispered. “Wake up.” No sign of Death yet. She opened her eyes.
“Char…Char, I’m sorry,” she rasped, her voice dry and barely above a whisper.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for, Mama,” I answered her honestly.
“I’m sorry…for doing this…to myself,” she said. “And…for leaving you….” Death had finally arrived.
“No, Mama,” I said, even though I knew it was useless. Death was here, and not to be denied. I looked up at him, then down again. She smiled a little.
“Do you see him, Charlotte?” she asked. I nodded, unable to speak, and a tear escaped my eye to fall uselessly onto my shirt.
“I…love you,” she said, and for a second, I saw her spirit reaching out to take Death’s hand. Then they both disappeared.
“I slowly stood up and walked out the door. It was still raining as I walked to the cemetery. Death was waiting for me there.
“Why?” I asked him, one last time.
“Because, Charlotte of the Crystal Heart. Because.” I did not ask him why my heart was crystal. I just knew.
“So is that it?”
“Is what it?”
“Is this the end?”
“Only if you want it to be.”
“I do.”
“Are you sure? You could continue, get a job, maybe even become great.”
I could have. I could have lived out my life, without my family, without love. But even death sounded better than that. I reached out my hand.
“You realize that if I do this, there’s no return?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said, the rain falling down my face like teardrops from heaven. He took my hand.
“That’s my Charlotte.”
And we flew through the air.
