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The Day That Changed My Life

by Regina Frazier

Some people think that August 1, 2000, wasn't all that long ago, but to me the events of that day will always be in my mind. So I figure it will always feel as if it happened yesterday. That morning I woke up to the sound of my brother Willie telling me to get up. When I rolled over I was about to give him the most evil look ever but when I saw the look in his eyes I knew that something was wrong. So I got up, threw on some clothes, and followed my brother into where I was about to get the most terrible news ever. As I went into the next room silence my sister and brother fell silent. I was told that the nurses had called us earlier that morning to tell us that they didn't think that my mom was going to make it through the day. When I heard that, all I could think was that I needed to see her. When we arrived, I started to realize why I had always hated Hospitals. I still remember when I was 8 and my dad died. Wishing and swearing that it wasn't my dad lying in that bed.

Knowing that my dad was supposed to be over the next day to take Michelle, Willie and me to Toys R Us which he did every Saturday. Upon entering the intensive care unit, last August, I glanced at the nurses. They had this look of apology in their eyes even though we didn't know why. That's when the whole world had fell apart. Doctor Katta (my mom's cancer specialist) put one hand on my brother Junior's shoulder and told him, in a strong yet sweet voice, that my mom was gone. I didn't quite understand what had happened until everybody had turned around and looked at me. I didn't know what to do so I just turned around and ran. Across the bridge, down the hallway, into the lobby. I collapsed beside a Coca-Cola soda machine. I tried to fight back the tears but they just kept coming.

Then I started hyperventilating and choking. A lady stopped and asked me was I all right. All I could think was how my mother had disappointed me. How she left me alone when I had needed her the most. Through all the pain inside me I had started to realize the real problem was that only my two older brothers, older sister and I knew about my mom dying. Someone had to tell this to my little sisters. From that point on I knew that I had to find a way to get out of there before they forced me to go home. So I called my mom's friend to come and talk to me in the hope that she would take me home with her. I would not know the rest of the events of that day at my house because I was at Sister brooks' house, crying inside because I wanted to be forgiven for all the problems that I had caused my mother in the past. Thinking that if I was repentant that would bring her back. It didn't. So now I live in New York, which is far different form Orlando where I had been raised. But I have to say that it isn't all that bad. I've run into some good and bad situations here. But altogether I think that with the help of friends and family I can survive. Regina Frazier X-factor