Thursday, May 26, 2011

I Never Left Her

I wrote this as a prompt from The Red Dress
Club
. Write a short piece 600 words or
less beginning with This was absolutely
the last time
and ending with She was



wrong
.






This was absolutely the last time I would pick her up. I tell myself this every time.  My stomach knotted up the instant I saw her name come across my phone.

She was stranded at a drugstore in Atlanta. I don’t usually drive in Atlanta because it makes me nervous, so many one way streets and people standing on the street corners. Could I call her back and tell her I was lost and just not go this time?

My old 2002 Taurus was on its last leg but it was my only mode of transportation. After getting in I realized there was very little gas. Pumping gas for 3.98 a gallon put a sour taste in my mouth
knowing I was about to waste it driving to Atlanta to pick her up again. I thought about telling her she’d have to pay me for the gas but I knew my sister had already spent her entire, measly little paycheck.

Lina was standing by the doorway of the Eckerd’s smoking a cigarette when I pulled up. I waited in the car and thought she’d come get in but she just stood there in a daze. Getting out of the car frightened me, especially in this part of town, but I did. She offered me a cigarette which I happily took. Somehow a cigarette comforts me, calms the nerves.

“You know you didn’t have to come.”

“Then why did you call?”

“There’s nobody else.”

“What happened to Jared? Isn’t he still living with you?”

“He left me Tuesday. Said he couldn’t stay with me like this anymore.”

We stood outside the Eckerd until they locked the doors a few minutes later.

“You ready to go now. I have to get home and get ready for work.”

“I can’t go home. I can't be alone. I don’t want to be like this anymore.” It sounded as if those words were choking her.



At that point Lina began sobbing. She sat down on the curb and put her face in her hands and cried like I’d never seen her cry. It was as if I was looking at a small, frail, lost child that didn’t know how to get home. Then she said something that broke my heart but gave me hope. “I need help with this. My life sucks. Everybody leaves me. Jared, Cindy, Mom, Dad, you.”

This was the first time she had admitted she needed help, that there was a problem. Until now.

She was so right, she desperately needed help. However I never left her, I was always, have always been there. Maybe not in a physical way because there came a time I had to give her tough love. But I have been with her every day, sometimes every minute, with my thoughts, my tears, my
love and my prayers. Waiting to hear those words. But to say I was one of those who had left her, well she was wrong.

This short story is fiction. I do not have a sister but if I did this would probably be the way I'd respond in this situation.

25 comments:

Kim said...

Wow, this was such a great scene you created. I liked the details (the one way streets, the store name). I could definitely read more of this. I had a bit of a hard time with how small the font was. Could be just me though. Excellent writing!

CM @ A Little Lilac said...

Oh my goodness, this is so powerful, so sad, yet so strong and real. Nice write. I hope your sister got the help she needed.

Valerie said...

This was so touching and poignant. I have two sisters and I could never abandon them either, no matter what. Nice writing!

juliemooreonlife said...

Thanks so much Kim. I had wondered about the font myself. I recently changed it.

juliemooreonlife said...

Oh this is fiction. I don't have a sister but thanks this let's me know its believable.

juliemooreonlife said...

Thanks so much. I don't have a sister but a brother. And I'd never let him go.

comingeast said...

Well done! This could be the opening scene of a much longer work.

juliemooreonlife said...

Thanks so much. I've not written much fiction but kind of liked this piece.

SoberJulie said...

Well written, I agree it could be part of a larger piece....I'd be interested in more ;)

NatureGirl said...

Well written. We want to know the rest of the story...

Stacey said...

Nicely done. I have a sister that I've had to bail out more times than I can count and you did a nice job showing what that would be like, even though you don't have a sister. Great description too.

Carrie said...

Great piece. It felt very realistic.

I think the font needs to be changed though. Much too small to read easily.

juliemooreonlife said...

Thanks so much. Yes someone else mentioned that and I'm going to work on that. I agree.

juliemooreonlife said...

Thank you Stacey. I've had family members with addiction problems and sometimes all you can do is love them through it.

juliemooreonlife said...

Lina will be popping up again soon. /thank you for your encouragement.

juliemooreonlife said...

Thanks so much Julie. Coming from you that really means a lot. You are a writer after my own heart.

juliemooreonlife said...

Thanks coming east! Your encouragement gives me hope that maybe I can try to write some fiction.

Mel said...

Really good story; it left me wondering what happened once she asked for help.

juliemooreonlife said...

Thanks for your comment. I may just have to write that next part.

Galit Breen said...

This is so powerful and emotional.

I also don't have a sister, but I kept thinking of my own daughters and how I hope they love each other this fiercely, but never have to hold each other up in this way.

juliemooreonlife said...

I appreciate your comment Galit. Thank God my brother and I have never had to deal with this with each other. However we did have a family member that we had to help through addiction and it did not end good.

marcialoyd said...

You are such an excellent writer. I love all the extra attention to every tiny detail. I agree with everyone else. Would love to see more!

juliemooreonlife said...

Thanks so much. I plan to add more to the story eventually. Maybe when another prompt calls for more of it.

Kristi said...

I agree with the other Bloggers you need to continue this story. You got us all hooked and you can't just pull the plug!

juliemooreonlife said...

There will be more. Poor Lina deserves a break and eventually she will get one.