Finding Happiness

A cold night was arising and Ann was sitting on her bed gazing through a foggy window. Just hours before, her younger brother had went missing. He just vanished. No trace was found of his existence. A tear slowly ran down Ann’s cheek. Was it possible that he ran away? Did he just want to leave this place called home? She repeated these thoughts over and over. After all, they were in a terrible home. An orphanage with a drunk as the authoritarian owner. You would think Ann would run away too, but she was too afraid to move from her bed. The world can be cruel and unknowing. This was not ever going to change for the better, so Ann just finally figured there was no reason to have a life outside of her mind. Crying was diurnal for Ann. She would just sit sadly on her old tattered bed in her microscopic room. Today Ann had a better reason to cry than usual. Her brother- the only piece of family she had left, was no where to be found. Ms. Few was the owner, she rarely came out of her room unless it was to abuse a child. Finally she had decided. Ann was going to leave at dawn.

The sun arose, and birds chirped gleefully. A strip of sunlight sparkled brightly through Ann’s window. She rubbed her eyes, yawned, then remembered her tacit objective. Ann sat up on her stained bedspread, thinking to herself, “what could have happened to him?” She started to hyperventilate because of the idea of leaving just hadn't sunken into her yet.

Getting on her old clothes she shook her head and paced. Now dashing down the frosted stairs, Ann slipped and slid to the door with her knapsack. Quietly opening the door, she heard a long annoying CRRREEEEEAAAAAAKKK!!!! Luckily, no one else heard the shrill sound. Ann had made it out of the orphanage. Reaching into her knapsack Ann pulled out an old, expired, breakfast bar. She took a bite, then studied her surroundings. A dank alley, a line of traffic, and hustling people. It was going to be a tiring day. Thus another yawn came from Ann. Ann continued into the street. A taxi slammed on it’s brakes. Ann had stopped all traffic from both lanes. She looked around to see what she had done, then ran as fast as she could to flee the scene.

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Cameron was lost. Clueless you might say. Silent sobs slowly developed, and Cameron soon felt tears slip down his cheek. Cameron just wanted someone to console, comfort, or just put band-aids on his injuries. He put on a old frayed coat that Ann made him just a year before out of her old clothing.

Cameron looked for a kid-friendly place. He spotted Toys R Us around the corner. Raising his eyebrows, he smirked slyly. Running to his dream, he looked at the surreal bevy of citizens. One of them could have been a family member of his. Nodding his head, he went inside the gargantuan toy store. Finally, he could have fun.

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The streets were packed with unidentified faces. Some seemed harsh and some gaunt. Ann gradually made her way to Times Square.

“Cameron!” She yelled at the top of her lungs. Citizens glared at her intermittently while they walked. You could barely hear timid Ann through all the city clamor.
“Sorry.” Ann timidly added. Looking around her, she mumbled, “Think like Cameron..” A sigh. “If only I could drive.”

Ann knew she couldn't’t give up, but she just couldn't take it. She was thwarted by all of the noise and rudeness of people. When Cameron and herself were abandoned on the cold, harsh, stoop of Ms. Few’s Orphanage, she had never thought of being in this position. Once again she called for her brother, though it was useless, it felt efficient.

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Of course he had picked the wrong time to run away. Christmas time in NYC. Mine as well jump off a bridge. This city was anything but placid. He was still walking a bit overwhelmed. Caroling was in the background of the surreal city. Horns and beeps overpowered the tranquil vocals.

A wail of a young child was heard. Sounded around 3. Maybe 4.. the age was vague Instantly, Cameron tried to find the source. The it was. Cameron’s eyes bulged as he darted out to the busy street to grab the kid. Unfortunately, it was by far to late. Cameron had gotten hit by a crazy cab driver. The child in which he tried to save sadly lurking over him.

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Ann walked along the crowded sidewalks peering in shop windows, trying to get her mind off her situation. The television flicked on in front of an electronics store to reveal a ambulance bleeping in Times Square. The voice of the newscaster spoke abruptly. “A benevolent boy had tried to save a young child, but was hit by a taxi. The child is fine, only minor injuries, but the hero here is unconscious.” A pause to show the scene. “That’s all for now. Back to you Sharon.”

Immediately Ann was in tears. That boy, with his outstanding humility was her lost brother. Was he okay? What happened? Where is he? she questioned in her mind.

Ann’s thoughts were quickly interrupted by the woman on the scene. “This boy’s name is yet to be released.” Ambulance sirens screeched. The lady added, “He is now being transported to Shrieners Hospital. We wish him the best of luck. Just then, at this exact word, Ann started bawling.

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The waiting room was dull and smelled like old cheese. She’d often see a door open, and close. Each time she hopped from her seat with anxiety- or was it excitement? She couldn’t tell the difference. For if a surgeon were to emerge smiling, good, or if the opposite, a frown, bad. Easy to understand, but not easy to sit and wait for the true answer.

It had been 4 hours of sweating, crying and tending to the kid that Cameron saved. She had found that his name was Cole. When a doctor came from the hall. He wasn’t grimacing nor grinning. A straight seemingly content face. “You may see Cameron now.”

These words brought great joy. She picked up Cole. Off they went into the gloomy corridor to find Cameron. They went along 15 rooms until they found him. Ann knocked timidly at the metal door. A scratchy voice coughed, “come in.”

He looked uncomfortable, but he tried to smile. “Hey guys.” Beeps and blinking lights made the room eerie as he spoke. You can see the acute pain he felt. It felt like they were in a horror movie. Cameron knew that they were a little freaked out by the needles in his arm, the casts he wore and the cuts and bruises on his face. So, he urged them in cordially..

“I’m just glad you’re okay.” Ann sobbed holding his hand.

“I’m great.” Cameron closed his eyes.

The room was peaceful, and soon visiting hours would be over. The stars twinkled in the sky outside the window pane. A yawn traveled around the room. Cole was still homeless. Ann and Cameron looked at one another silently shouting “what should we do?” by a single twitch. They could easily read each other. A soft sound of snoring was heard from Cole sleeping on the spare cot. Cameron was in pain. And he hid it so well. Ann approached him with sympathy. “don’t worry Cam."

But really, they should worry. Ann knew it. Once Cameron was healed, where would they go? To the orphanage where they would be stuck in until they were 18- at least? That same orphanage they emancipated themselves from? Never. That just couldn't be a choice. Ann looked at Cameron and sighed. She had to be strong for him.

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Ann had awoken at 5 am to Cameron in a coma. A tear dropped on the blanket draped over him.. The I-vs in his arm were eerie and a little frightening, but some how, she withstood. She turned to look out the window. She sobbed silently. Ann didn’t want to be pessimistic but she had came to the consensus that her younger sibling was in critical condition. Mourning in quiet, motionless wallow, Ann drifted into a deep sleep. Though as she closed her eyes, she knew deep down that this sadness could not ever be alleviated.

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Beep.Beep.. BEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPP. The dreaded noise floated throughout the air. Ann awoke abruptly. Was she having a nightmare? The line on the screen was pin straight. Ann bawled and sobbed, hoping, praying, this was a dreadful nightmare that couldn’t be true. But it was. He was gone.

3 months later........

Ann sat on the grass outside her new home. She had moved into a rural town, with no commotion. Her life has drastically changed with the loss of her brother, but she finally has a decent life with a family. Cole and Ann now lived together with a nice couple. Mr. and Mrs. Johnsten. But Ann could only wonder, what would she be doing now, if Cameron was still alive? She still shed tears everyday, thinking of his smiling face. If only she could have done something to help him. Cole still vividly remembers his life flashing before his eyes. Its going to stay with him for his lifetime. One can only hope that he can still picture the brave boy that darted in front of him.

Wind blows in Anns face, causing her hair to blow back. She looks up to the sky and smirks. "I know you are watching over us." she whispers softly. With that, she goes inside to her newly found parents.