• I sat at home next to the phone, praying for it to ring. There must be some hope, I thought, then slowly drifted off to sleep. But not for long.

    A long, high pitched ring of the phone echoed throughout the house and I shot my head off the couch. My body was sweaty and I felt like I was in an oven. Before I answered, I looked up through our sky-window and said a prayer, then picked up the phone with a shaking voice.

    "Hello?" I whispered.
    "I'm very sorry to inform you of this, but your parents are gone." A strained voice said.

    I didn't even need to think about it. I knew who it was and why. It was the hospital. And my parents were gone. It felt like an anvil just dropped on me and there was nothing I could to to lift it. My throat started to clump up and I squeezed my eyes shut, but I still felt the hot tears pouring on my face. A sob escaped me as I set down the phone gently and sat alone in my cold house, sobbing myself to sleep.

    Earlier that morning my parents and I had gotten in a huge fight about my hair. My hair. I told them I hated them and wished they weren't my parents. I got my wish, but I wasn't happy. In fact, I wished I would just disappear right then and there, so I didn't have to deal with the pain. I had gotten the first call that said they were in an accident in the middle of the day. Then one that they were in the hospital. No one was around to take me there. So I just had to wait. And I got my answer.

    I snapped back into reality as the phone rang again, and I answered.

    "Hello," I whispered, even though there was no reason to be quiet.
    "Hello, this is Master Len from our Boarding School. Don't be alarmed. We heard your story, and we are offering you a scholarship to our boarding school for children with deceased parents. I know this is very sudden, but please think this over and call us back...."
    "Yes! I mean, yes, sure, ok, when, uhm," I interrupted.
    "Great," I heard him reply, and could almost feel his warm smile. "See you soon." Click.

    I looked up at the stars again where I had prayed to a few hours ago and almost though there was some hope. Hope.