A Hundred and One Reasons to Live

 Lucy hadn’t been the same since the incident. 

Her shoes tapped softly against the chlorine – cleaned hospital floor as she made her way to Room 314. She let out her breath and opened the door. There on the hospital bed laid her only daughter, Elizabeth – Marie, all bandaged up her face serene. 

Lucy slowly walked towards her. 

     ‘My sweet baby…’ her voice cracked. Tears started welling up her eyes as she slowly ran her fingers through Elizabeth’s hair. 

It’s been a month since Lucy found Elizabeth, terribly bruised, covered in blood and unconscious, behind her school. She was a terrible victim of bullying and it seemed on that day, the bullied really wanted her dead. 

She sat on the seat next to Elizabeth’s bed and took from her coat pocket a few slightly wrinkled, creased papers. 

     ‘A few of your friends came by to visit, love! They left by presents! And so did that boy you like. He got you a sweet bouquet of flowers’ Lucy signalled to the table filled with cards, books and things Elizabeth likes and to the bouquet of lavenders, her favourite. 

Lucy unfolded the creased papers and re-arranged them, with shaky hands. She cleared her throat, collected herself and began to read.

‘To my dearest Elizabeth,

The doctors are uncertain whether you’ll ever wake up due to those severe injuries. But I’m not giving up on you yet, Lizzy.’

She sniffled and continued,

‘I will never forgive those monsters who hurt you. How could anyone do such a thing to a sweet, polite and smart young girl like you. I will never forget the day I came searching for you, only to find you in such a…’

Her voice trailed off as the image of Elizabeth’s unconscious, injured body flashed by her eyes again. She broke down and started to sob bitterly. But then, she wiped her tears and continued, 

‘Why did you never tell me, honey? Why did you never tell me about all those horrible things they did to you? But my, you are so strong and brave. But even strong and brave ones can ask for help, little one.’ 

‘And so, I wrote one hundred and one reasons for why you should live and I hope maybe… just maybe, you’re still in there and you can hear me.’

With that, Lucy began reading the reasons

‘Reason 1: To travel and explore every corner of this world. You loved travelling and I want you to keep loving it.’ 

‘Reason 2: Movie Marathon Saturdays! You can invite all your friends over and watch movies together!’

Lucy looked up hopingly, but Elizabeth didn’t move a muscle. She sighed and continued reading the list. 

‘Reason 34: For sunsets. You loved dancing under the sunset, wearing that beautiful white dress when we visit the beach house.’ 

Lucy, despite the tears, teasingly giggled before she read the next one. 

      ‘Hey...’ she cooed, teasingly, ‘Reason 35: The Spring Homecoming dance! You can ask your special guy to come with you. But no funny business, young lady! And I expect you to be back home before 9pm!’

Lucy looked up again. Still no movement. 

She read this letter to Elizabeth every single day hoping, just hoping it would give her the strength and will to wake up. But she didn’t move a bit. Lucy didn’t give up.

     ‘Reason ninety eigh-’ she was interrupted by the heart monitor. It started to beep quickly and loudly and Elizabeth’s body began to jerk violently. 

Lucy ran outside, panicked. 

     ‘DOCTOR! DOCTOR! PLEASE, IS THERE A DOCTOR AROUND!?’

Within seconds, doctors and nurses swarmed the room. 

     ‘Ma’am, you need to stay back’, a nurse said, pushing Lucy out near the door. 

     ‘No!’ yelled back Lucy and pushed the nurse aside. 

She continued to read out the list. 

‘Reason 98: To graduate high school and get into your dream college.’

‘Reason 99: To swim with dolphins.’

     ‘Reason one hundre-’

There was a long, continuous beep. A flatline. Elizabeth’s body laid there, lifeless. 

    ‘I’m sorry ma’am.’ A doctor said mournfully. 

     ‘N-no. No, no, NO! ELIZABETH – MARIE, YOU WILL NOT DIE, YOU HEAR ME!?’ she walked towards the bed while reciting the rest of the reasons, loudly. 

‘Reason 100: To become a doctor and save lives.’

She went to Elizabeth’s body and shook it forcefully, and yelled,

‘REASON 101: TO LIVE ON BOLDY AND TO MAKE SURE NO ONE ELSE SUFFERS THE SAME FATE YOU DID.’ 

Elizabeth’s eyes opened wide as she gasped for air. The comforting beeps proving life echoed through the room. 

The nurse finally pushed Lucy outside as the other doctors and nurses tended to Elizabeth. 

Lucy sat on the floor her back to the wall. 

After hours, which felt like an eternity, a doctor stepped out the room with a smile on his face. 

     ‘Mrs. Norman, your daughter is a tough girl. She’ll make it and we are certain that she’ll recover really soon. It’s a true miracle how she came back to life, you and her are truly blessed.’

And for the first time in a while, Lucy broke out a weak smile as she collapsed on the floor. She could her distant cries of ‘Ma’am! Ma’am, are you alright?’ but it didn’t bother her a bit. 

But before she lost her consciousness, she managed to utter one last thing.

‘And now my love, you’ll live up to those reasons.’ 

- Starlette

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