Reunited at Last
Chimemerile Amechi
I had always listened to what Mama said, or else I would be out sleepin’ with the hounds at night. I guess Mama always did know best cus’ the one time I didn’t listen to her, the damage was irreversible.
I was a little over the age of thirteen, hard-headed, stubborn, but without a doubt a mama’s boy. After all, my dad died in a factory accident n’ all I had was an old guitar pick and some photos to remember him by. He didn’t even live to see the birth of my pride and joy, my little sister, sweet Lily Anne. Because of him not being here, I decided that I would protect her.
It was April 25, 1957, Lily Anne was crying and begging for me to play ball with her outside. Mama was already outside pullin’ weeds and me being the selfish teenager I was told her to ask Mama to play with her. Mama had told me I’d better go play with her, but I didn’t listen. So Lily Anne decided to go out on her own and the ball rolled into the street, Mama ran to push her out of the way of the moving traffic, but they both got hit. Seeing them in the hospital with all the tubes and wires hooked up broke me. My grandma gave the doctors the go ahead and we said our final goodbyes. I was Lily Anne’s big brother, her protector, I had sworn to keep her safe but I failed. My heart was shattered, but I didn’t get but a day to mourn before I was shipped off into the foster system cus’ Grandma couldn’t take care of me.
Everyone said their condolences and gave their best casseroles. I felt so empty. Why is there some sort of piece of me that I feel missin’? I stayed up at night yellin’ to God askin’ him why he did this.
Three months had went by and I hadn’t accepted the fact that it was an accident. I should’ve stopped it, I should have listened to Mama, I should have been the one dead instead of them.
Sometimes I would runaway from the orphanage and sit in the rain, under the trees, and dream that they were lying there with me. For some time, imagining them felt real. But I’d be drawn back to reality when the directors came lookin’ for me.
Around a year later, the Johnsons adopted me. They were a small family, just a lady, Betty Johnson, and a man, Ralph Johnson. In the beginning, it was good. I stayed by myself, and they stayed together. We would only talk at meals and going to and from school. I thought I was doing them a service by not being in their way , but one night I went down to the kitchen for a midnight snack and I heard them talking. Ralph had been questioning the purpose of me being there, he claimed that I was just a space filler, depletin’ them of their resources. Betty had tried to reason with him but he said he had enough and it was time to take me back. I ran as fast as I could, out the door, through the woods, over the bridge. At this point I didn’t know where I was going, my mind and body were disconnected. I can still remember the rain pouring into the soles of my shoes and the thunder whipping the clouds above me. I finally had enough and laid there. All I could do was cry, and that’s all I did do. That night, I spent in the forest.
On my way back to the Johnson’s house, I decided to go a different route and came across a small river with a rushing current. I tried to cross it but the storm caused the banks to be flooded. Finally I found a small uprooted tree going across the length of the river. I had figured that it was the only way across and decided to try my chances. I was almost to the middle of the branch when it started to crack. All of a sudden, it snapped in half. At first, I tried to fight the water’s current but eventually I gave in to the inevitable. When I stopped struggling, it was somewhat blissful, the water overtook me and I started to move down the stream. The current pushed me down a waterfall and I hit my head on a big rock. Everything turned black.
Through the darkness I saw two figures. Could it be? Mama and Lily Anne? Mama wept she was mad that I had left the world at such a young age, but happy to be reunited.
Finally, it was over. Home at last
My name is Chimemerile Amechi. I am fourteen years old and a freshman at NMMI. I plan to continue my education here for 4 years. My hobbies include longboarding, playing volleyball, and hanging out with my friends.