My Daughter Wants You to Know About the Day a Piece of Her Heart Got Chipped Away
Written by my eleven-year-old daughter
This story was written by my youngest daughter. She is eleven and in her first year of middle school.
It’s been a rough road for her the last couple of years. Writing helps her figure things out, like most of us here.
I thought she was writing a fictional short story, but apparently, her heart needed to unload something deeper. ❤️💔
Last year, I woke up for the first day of school. I was starting 5th grade. I felt super excited but also extremely nervous. I had my outfit all laid out. Everything was ready to go, including my school supplies.
I felt off that morning, like something terrible had just happened. But everything was fine — the pets were okay, my sister, my mom, and my dad were okay, and I was okay.
I walked into the dining room wearing the outfit I was so proud of. My mom was making my breakfast at the same time she was making my lunch for later that day.
I sat down in my chair at the table, with my shoes in my hand. Then my mom walked over and set down the plate with my food on it. I set my shoes down and ate it up really quick.
My mom left the room. She came back with a pair of socks, like she knew that I had forgotten to get some.
I finished my food and then I was told to go wake up my sister for first-day pictures. High school starts a lot later than elementary school, so she would’ve gotten to sleep in longer, if not for the pictures. Mom makes us do that every year.
My sister and I went out the door and moved under the tree that we always took pictures under. My sister was half asleep. I was surprised she was even able to put her clothes on.
Mom stood in front of us, telling us to act like we love each other. She took like 879 pics.
She eventually was done, and me and Mom got in the car and my sister went back in the house.
In the car, I felt sad for a bit because I realized that the next year there would be no first day with her.
I looked out of my window, feeling out of sorts.
We arrived at the brand-new elementary school that I hadn’t gone to yet. I did school at home for fourth grade because of Covid. The school was huge, with an amazing playground.
My mom gave me a pep talk about school stuff while we were waiting in the drop-off line, trying to make me feel better, until I had to get out and go inside.
I opened the door and got out. I walked toward the school doors knowing that my mother was taking pictures of me on my way in.
I had to listen to my teacher talk about all kinds of stuff. She was really, really boring. Also, the weird thing was that our recess time was at 10:20 a.m. What kind of time is that? It used to be right before lunch.
Eventually, I was able to free myself from the teacher and breathe in some fresh air.
I was happy to be running around the playground. Then I saw a huge, twisty slide just waiting for me to slide down it.
I was surprised when I heard a faint voice calling my name. It was the gym teacher. By the time my feet touched the mulch at the end of the slide, I was freaking out. Was I in trouble?
I went over to the teacher, and he told me that my parents were checking me out.
I went inside to find my mom, dad, and sister standing outside. They couldn’t come in because of Covid.
My dad was standing the way he does when he has bad news. I ran up the steps as fast as I could so I could get my stuff and see what was wrong. I went in the office and told them my name.
They let me go out to my parents. I looked into my mother’s sad and weeping eyes as I asked them what was wrong.
My dad told me to wait until we got into the car, and then we could talk about it. I sat in the backseat with a million bad thoughts just popping into my head. Then I asked them again.
My mom seemed like she couldn’t talk.
I watched my dad’s mouth open as he was about to say something. The words that came out of his mouth struck my heart with pain. “Your uncle is dead.” I couldn’t speak or breathe.
My very sweet, adorable Uncle Jason was dead.
My worst memory.
That was the day a piece of my heart got chipped away.