Long

in #fiction7 years ago


She sat at the edge of her bed, biting her fingernails, awaiting the test results. Finally after what seemed to be a long five minutes, she peeked over at the nightstand and read the results. “Positive.” She whispered, and then sighed, “This is going to be a long nine months.”
Nine months came and went as did her never ending labor pains. “It’s a girl!” exclaimed the doctor as he placed the baby in her arms.
“She’s beautiful.” She cried as she held her daughter close.
“Yes she is.” Said the doctor then he turned to her and smiled, “You have a long road ahead of you with that one.”
“I don’t wanna go to school!” exclaimed the five year old as she stood at the end of the driveway with her arms folded.
“It’s not up to me.” She exclaimed then added “it’s the law.”
“FINE!” her daughter screamed as she stomped onto the school bus.
She waved at the driver and watched the little girl make her way to her seat. She shook her head and whispered, “It’s going to be a long 12 years.”
She paced the floor of the emergency room waiting for someone, anyone with information to appear.
“Ma’am” said the nurse.
She turned to see her little girl, but didn’t. “Yes?”
“Follow me, please.”
Her anxiety level had hit maximum altitude, but followed the nurse down the hall, without another word spoken.
She entered the room where her daughter and the doctor were and took a seat by her baby’s side.
“Her injuries could have been a lot worse.” Said the doctor, then he continued “She broke her leg and her arm, but they should heal within 6-8 weeks. Teenagers are resilient. Until then, she will need to be in the wheelchair.”
“And waited on hand and foot.” Interrupted the teenager with a smirk.
She sighed with relief then chuckled. “This is going to be a long 6 weeks.”
“I can’t believe the girl who refused to go to kindergarten is going off to college.” She cried, literally.
“I’ll be okay, mom. It’s right down the road.” The 18 year old replied.
“Then why do you have to move out? Dorms are no good!” she tried to plead her case but to no avail.
“I’ll be okay.” Her daughter repeated, and then whispered in her mom’s ear as she hugged her. “You raised a strong, independent woman.”
“I know.” She smiled and wiped a few tears away from her eyes as she watched her daughter drive away. “It’s going to be a long 4 years.”
“I’m pregnant!” exclaimed the girl at the other end of the phone as she waited for a response. “Mom? Are you there?”
She remembered when she first saw her test results, the girl who refused to go to school, the illnesses, the injuries, the tears, the smiles, and the laughter. “Yea. I’m here.” She said through the sobs she was holding back.
“Don’t cry, Mom. I want you to be there with me every step of the way.” Her daughter reassured her.
She flashed at the “and waited on hand and foot.” Comment from not too long ago. “Okay, sweetie.” She said then thought “It’s going to be a long nine months.”
“Grandma!” she heard from the front of her porch.
“Hey there, sweet potato!” she yelled as her granddaughter ran up the driveway.
“Santa came!” exclaimed the five year old with excitement.
“Sorry, Mom. She has had 2 chocolate chip cookies and a candy cane this morning.” Her daughter said as she followed sluggishly behind.
“It’s okay. It’s Christmas.” She told her daughter as she hugged her close.
Her daughter watched as her little girl tore into presents and treats lying about the kitchen. “It’s going to be a long day, Mom.”
She looked at her grandchild, then at her daughter and thought, “Not long enough.”