NOW I LOVE LOLLIPOPS, JUST LIKE I LOVE MAMA
“You won’t...Regret it?”
“The only thing I regret is that that creature came out of my body.”
I woke up with a small cry. It had been three months since Mama had forgotten me. Papa told me that she can finally smile again, a real smile. I’m happy for mama, and for papa, too. But the words she said before she forgot still ring in my ears...That creature Mama had called me a creature, a thing. How could I forget that?
Slowly, I stepped out of bed and onto the cold, wooden floor. I carefully slipped on my bunny slippers as I searched for my little red flashlight. I was feeling around for it in the darkness. When my tiny hand had finally felt the small flashlight, I smiled. I turned it on quietly, so no one would hear me, and turned it on. “It’s bright.” I said aloud.
I slipped out of my bedroom quietly and made my way down the main hallway, making sure that none of the maids caught me. I didn’t want to go to bed. Mama would still be in my dreams.
The floor underneath me creaked.
“Who’s there?” A female voice rang out. The door directly in front of me swung open, smashing me in the face. I let out a cry of pain as I fell to the floor, holding my nose. It hurts...!!
The shadow of a woman moved towards me, holding my little red flashlight, which was still on, away from her face. “You dropped this.” She said sweetly, holding out the flashlight to me.
I quickly grabbed it and shined the light in her face.
Mama.
My mind raced. No...no!! She’s going to hit me...!! I quivered in fear, one of my arms shielding my body while the other one covered my nose.
Mama stroked my hair. “Such a cute boy.” She said, smiling. “Why haven’t I ever seen you before? Do your parents keep you locked in your room because you’re so cute?” her voice joked. I had never heard mama talk like that before. “What’s your name?”
That’s right. Mama forgot about me.
My hand cupped my nose, over-brimming with blood. “M-Momiji.” I replied, stuttering. I tried to stand up, to get away, do anything, but my small, six year old body couldn’t handle the pain. Soon, I let the darkness consume me as I hit the cold, hard wooden floor.
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That creature...
I woke up with a gasp, tears streaming down my cheeks. I looked around me. It was daylight out, so I didn’t need my flashlight.
I wasn’t in my room anymore. The room I was in now seemed bare, with only a few drawers, a mirror, and the bed I was sitting on. I couldn’t remember what I had been doing.
Then I remembered: Mama.
“Ah! Are you up?” Mama’s voice rang out. I scurried up.
Mama entered the room. She looked even more beautiful then when I last saw her. Her eyes were happy now. “It’s seems you’re doing better now, Momiji-chan.” She said, smiling at me. She handed me a big, swirling lollipop. “I’m so sorry I accidentally slammed the door into your face. I got scared. Are you okay?”
I nodded, running towards the door. “I-I have to go...My mama must be worried about me.” I ran out of that room, hearing mama call me by my name again to visit her soon.
By the time I reached my room, I was crying. Mama’s words—all of them—rang through my head, again and again. That creature...cute...creature...such a cute......
Soon I had my tears under control. I looked at the lollipop mama had given me. It was blue, with purple swirls. Mama had never given me anything but rejection before.
Slowly, I unwrapped the lollipop and popped it into my mouth. The sweet taste countered the sadness and melancholy I was feeling. I had to smile. “Yum...”
Now, lollipops always remind me of Mama, and the sweet smile I only got to see once. I guess you could say that loving lollipops is kind of a way of loving Mama from far away.
Now I love lollipops, just like I love Mama.
