...and the sun sets...
The sky was a pale orange as the last rays of sunlight drenchedthe earth for the day. Lavinia stood in the center of the field, her arms outstretched, as if receiving the rays of sunlight in her arms. She breathed deeply, savouting the fresh air within her lungs. The world seemed to be at a stand still, save for the grasses which swayed gently to the slight breeze. She watched silently with no worries in her heart, until the sun finally set in the distant mountains. Night was at hand.
Lavinia hummed to herself as she walked home in the rapidly fading light. She reached her house gate just as darkness loomed. The only source of light came from the small light her mother had lit in the front of the house. Lavinia opend the gate and stepped in, locking the gate behind her.
"Lavinia! Do you know what time is it?" shouted Lavinia's mother as she stepped into the house, "You were supposed to be back more than an hour ago."
Lavinia looked down at her feet and simply replied, "I'm sorry mother."
Lavinia's mother was a strong woman. She had to be since her husband, Lavinia's father had passed away one year ago. She was now the sole breadwinner in the family. Lavinia knew her mother loved her but she still wished for the happier days when her mother smiled and laughed more often, and never shouted at her.
Lavinia's mother served dinner which consisted of rice, some cooked vegetables and lefover curry from yesterday's dinner. They ate in silence. After dinner, Lavinia washed up the dishes. She then went into her room and took out her report card to show to her mother.
"Three B's and a C!" shouted Lavinia's mother angrily for the second time that night, "Why aren't you as clever as all your friends? You know, Mrs Wong's son scored six A's. Why can't you be more like him?"
Lavinia just stood there sadly. Her mother hadn't even noticed the three A's she had scored after working hard.
Suddenly Lavinia's mother clutched her right breast with her right hand. A sharp pang of pain hit Lavinia's mother. She sat down abruptly and panted for breath. Lavinia asked her mother what was wrong. Lavinia's mother simply told Lavinia to go into her room. Lavinia slept that night with her face buried in her pillow.
Lavinia arrived home the next day to find the house strangely empty. The car was missing and her mother was nowhere to be seen. Lavinia sat on her house gate, swinging her legs, and waited for ther mother to return.
Lavinia was getting hungrier and hungrier when she finally saw her mother's blue car at the end of the road. Lavinia's mother parked the car and stepped out. Lavinia could see that her mother had been crying. Lavinia simply hugged her mother.
The next few weeks passed by. Sometimes time seemed to fly by. But sometimes, time seemed to be at a standstill. Lavinia found out that her mother had been diagnosed with cancer and needed an operation to stem the cancerous cells from spreading.
Lavinia's mother was now in a constant state of depression. "Why me?"she asked God, "First my husband had to leave me and now this." This was also not helped by the fact that the house looked even shabbier than before. She no longer had the strength or desire to clean the house. She also had to sell her car and jewellery to cover the operation costs.
Lavinia tried her best to do all the housework and gave her mother whatever she wanted. Lavinia's mother snapped angrily at Lavinia at first and told Lavinia to leave her alone but finally gave up when Lavinia kept persisting. Lavinia spent all her time after school sitting with her mother either sitting silently or reading stories alound from her mother's favourite book.
The night before the operation, Lavinia's mother lay on her bed unable to sleep. She thought about her whole life including the ups and downs until now. Her thoughts then fell towards her daughter, Lavinia. She thought about all her daughter's love, compassion and care the whole week that had passed. Suddenly she realized that her daughter had always been loving and caring. She had just been to blind and aloof to notice it. She resolved that she would be strong for both her daughter and herself's sake. She made up her mind that she would try her best to make her life more plentiful with 'ups' rather than 'downs' starting from that very operation.
Lavinia's mother underwent a successful uncomplicated operation and recovered completely. No sign of the cancerous cells reappeared again. Lavinia on the other hand grew up and became a much sought after surgeon. Lavinia's great success as a doctor was not only because of her skills as a surgeon but also the love and care she showered all her patients with.
Lavinia's mother passed away at a ripe old age in the presence of her loved ones. She had led a long and happy life and fulfilled her with to have grandchildren. She left with these thoughts scribbled on a writing pad beside her bed "Each child will grow at his or her own pace. However, the important thing is that the child receives and recipocrates love. Love has the power to heal and the ability to change one's life.