Feb
07
Posted by admin on
February 7, 2008
The following submission is completely un-edited. Vote for this story by leaving a comment.
Love, Death & Life
By Mattmak
I think the absolute worst Valentine’s Day I ever had was February 14, 2006. My husband had left me at the beginning of January and we had decided that we would spend time together for Valentine’s Day to see if our problems could be resolved. At that point we had been married 10 years. Before the alarm clock could go off to wake me for work, my daughter, who at that time was 9 years old, woke me screaming. She was in so much pain in the left side of her abdomen. I got up and began dressing and preparing to leave for the emergency room when my phone began ringing and it was my mother informing me that my grandmother had been admitted to the hospital with not much chance of survival. I let her know that I too was leaving for the hospital with my daughter she said she would see me there. My grandmother practically raised me growing up and I lived beside of her for years and still live beside the house that was once hers. After reaching the emergency room they began a series of tests. I called my husband at this point to tell him what was going on and that I felt that he needed to come to the emergency room. We discovered my daughter had kidney stones and that my grandmother had sepsis. We spent 16 hours in the emergency room with our daughter and our time together went right out the door. Fortunately, we have since then reconciled and our daughter has had several attacks of kidney stones. My grandmother passed away on March 6, 2006. For a day that held such promise it ended in absolute disaster and uncertainty. Now it is 2008 and a week away from Valentine’s Day and my husband and I had thought we would do something special this year. However, I am leaving soon to go to the burial of one of my very best friends and our financial situation is rapidly deteriorating. Perhaps one day I will have a nice Valentine’s Day but it has not been in the cards for me recently. This contest would at least supply us a way to go out to eat or catch a movie but if I do not win I know that I have at least tried. Thank you for the opportunity.
Feb
07
Posted by admin on
February 7, 2008
The following submission is completely un-edited. Vote for this story by leaving a comment.
QuitSmokingPainlesslyNow
By QuitSmoking
I had written about my little red hair girl in my blog and I didn’t think I would want to touch on that subject again. Still, with Valentine’s Day nearing, my heart aches a little for her. Even until now, I entertained the thought that we probably could lead a happily ever after life had I not stank like a chimney.
I thought everything was going well. That first date was awesome, we were glazing at the faraway stars on the beach, talking about our dreams and aspirations in life. She looked so sweet and so demure in her swaying white dress and I honestly thought she would made a perfectly beautiful bride for me. That was our first date and our last, because the second date did not happen. I had planned our second date to be on Valentine’s Day. Before I bade her good bye outside her house, I asked her to reserve that special day for me. She looked into my eyes and smiled. She looked so sweet that I bent to kiss her and she shrank back, looking quite confused. I thought she was shy and I just smiled. I let her go and that was the last time I ever held her in my arm.
I began to plan for the big day. It must be perfect. She said she like the beach and I booked a small yacht to bring us out to the sea to swim and fish and maybe get on shore on one of those secluded little islands. It will be a wonderful day being with her and nature. I even ordered a big picnic of food and wine from the famous Mother Sandra’s Cafe a few blocks away. Mother S said she would even throw in a box of her specially made truffle chocolates for me. She must have been very amused seeing a big guy going ga-ga over a picnic trip. I even cajoled my dad to lend me his Nikon. And of course, I bought a heart shaped locket with chain for her. I was hoping that she would put my photograph in there in the very, very near future. I made my plans and I went ahead to execute them excitably and I got my dad rolling his eyes and my mum grinning funnily.
I was walking on cloud nine. The night before, I was so excited that I paced up and down in my room wondering what to wear. Can you imagine a big guy wondering what to wear? That was so unmanly but I was that excited. I was musing over a white Nike tee or a blue Addidas when I heard my mum calling me.
“Open up, this just came for you”
I opened my door and my mum waved a letter to me. She was perplexed as it was already past midnight. The envelope was pale green in colour and there was that familiar lily fragrance. My heart skipped a beat. It couldn’t be from my little red hair girl, could it?
Yes, it was her. She wasn’t going to turn up for my date later that day.
I was speechless. I was so stunned that I sat on my chair for close to 3 hours before I dragged myself to bed. I stayed at home the rest of the day chain smoking, one stick after another. I told Dad to bring Mum for the yacht trip and collect the big basket from Mother Sandra’s. The locket I gave to my 16-year old baby sister who was looking forward for her first Valentine’s Day celebration. At least I didn’t waste the presents I bought.
By evening, I was stressed out with just booze and cigarettes. I had never drink so much and smoke so much during my entire college life. It was a sad, sad day for me. Perhaps I should have gone after her but until I gave up something else, I know I have no chance. That letter said it all.
(For those who are intrigued with what my little red hair girl had written, you can go read A Letter to Dear Smoker-Boy.)
