Over summer, my family and I had moved to another state.

Before leaving, I wanted to say bye to everyone, but it was too late.

My dad didn’t come along with us.

Being in a new home, it was difficult to adjust.

After a while, I got used to it.

In September, I went to Rice Lake High School.

But here I was, thinking about Nathan again like a fool.

A few months ago, I heard that he wasn’t with that girl.

His world must feel like it’s in a twirl.

When November came, he messaged me.

Talk to him, that is the key.

We started talking.

This was shocking.

Once again, everything was okay.

Until my life turned gray.

When my mom passed away.

It happened on a Tuesday.

I wished she could have stayed.

Speechless, not knowing what to say.

My older sister found her at three o’clock in the morning.

Someone should have given us a warning.

A warning of how to get through this.

She is someone I’ll forever miss.

We called our older brothers.

There is no love like a mother’s.

We finished packing and hit the road.

The whole ride there, our pain showed.

Our hearts haven’t healed.

My new school was Deerfield.

At least I’ve met a lot of nice people.

But a daughter without a mother is like a flower without a tepal.

I try to be strong for my sisters,

But my heart is drowning in blisters.

In school, it’s hard to focus on this fraction.

My mind has distraction.

There’s nothing anyone can do or say

To make this pain go away.

Over the weekend, I went to my friend’s house and he gave me his sweater.

Everything was getting better.

His house was a thirty minute drive.

He makes me feel alive.

We wouldn’t go a day without talking to each other.

I even introduced him to my brother.

And my other brother who is a plumber.

After two months of school, then came summer. (46)