~Jean~ -1-
Words Checked: 3602 Words in Oxford 3000: 92%
-2-
~Chapters~ 1. A Birth…………………................. 4 2. Home………………………………6 3. Felix’s Death………………………9 4. New Family………………………11 5. Rebellion…………………...........14 6. Do Drug………………………….19 7. Break down………………………23 8. Corrina’s Death…………………..28 9. Treatment………………………...31 10. Recover…………………………34 11. Look for herself…………………37
-3-
Chapter1 A Birth Located in a small town was a nameless obstetrics and gynecology hospital where there were only a few doctors and nurses save life for a difficult delivery. That expectant mother, Celia, had terrible pain, shouted dripping sweat from her face, and even almost passed out. Her anxious husband, Felix, was pacing back and forth outside the delivery room. He begged the kindhearted Buddha “Please save my wife and child, or I couldn’t live without them.” And then he prayed “Dear God! I need your power much and hope that my wife and child will be well, Amen.” After -4-
a nervous night, Felix couldn’t keep himself from eventually falling asleep. Till the sun rose from the East and shone slightly, a sound “Wow-wow!” awaked Felix who had a deeply asleep. He was overjoyed and kept thanking those doctors and nurses “Thank you for devoting one night to save them. You are the savior of their lives forever. “In his mind, he also thanked the epiphany of Buddha and God.
-5-
Chapter2 Home Felix and Celia’s only baby is Gloria. On the way from hospital to home, Gloria was held in Celia’s arms carefully with swaddling. Gloria learned how to sit, stand, crawl, walk and speak gradually. Celia had to watch for Gloria constantly when Gloria started to learn how to crawl. If Celia turned around for just a minute, she would hear someone who was wailing. It forced her to hire a servant to help her to do housework. Gloria’s house was located in the bright green suburbs. A small garden and farmland around the -6-
house became Susan’s heaven. Various flowers and plants were grown in the garden, such as lavenders, sunflowers Cactus and a lot of nameless kinds. This house had a long history and was also Felix’ heirloom. In the living room, it was full of photos of unfamiliar appearance and honored awards from Felix and Celia’s ancestors. When I mentioned the photos, Felix would speak with fervor and started to tell me the history. Gloria’s room was her favorite because it was designed completely for a little girl. Every night, Gloria always lay on a wooden bed, looked up at the sky and listened to the orchestra in the -7-
countryside.
-8-
Chapter 3
Felix’s Death
The business was depressed when Gloria was about five years old. Felix finally couldn’t afford to pay tuition and living expenses. Selling the farm and crowding into a narrow room were their only choice. Felix lost his job and drank all day. When Felix went home, he always shouted “Celia, give all money to me. Cook a meal for me and don’t bother me!” Sometimes, he would behave irrationally and hit Celia heavily. At one mid-night, the door bell rang and Celia worried because Felix hadn’t yet come home. Celia was nervous opening the door. It was not -9-
Felix but instead the police who said “Excuse me! Are you Celia? Your husband was intoxicated and had been hit by a truck. ”Celia pulled and dragged the policeman’s clothes and asked “Is it serious? Is my husband safe?” The police answered “It was really bad! I’m sorry to say this! Your husband was killed at the scene. Please come to the scene with me.” Celia cried loudly. “No! Why has this horrible thing happened to me? I don’t want to live anymore.” Felix’s death caused many debts and forced Celia to give Gloria to others.
- 10 -
Chapter 4 A New Family On a sunny morning, Gloria arrived at the National Canada Airport and heard a loud voice suddenly “Mom! Mom! ” Gloria felt sorrow and bumped into a friendly couple with two girls and one boy at that moment. She said hurriedly “I was sorry. I am not on purpose.” And then she left quickly. That couple pulled Gloria’s hand and said smilingly “Are you Gloria? We are your new family. What a coincidence!” Gloria headed for her new house with that family. Gloria only looked outside the window of the car along the road all the way and thought in her - 11 -
mind “How can I live on this strange and different land?” Her new family comforted Gloria and told her “Perk up! Be brave and embrace your future. We welcome you to be part in our family.” Gloria was relieved because of these words. Gloria’s foster parents, Steward and Corinna, treated her far better than her real parents, but the love between them still couldn’t connect. Sometimes, the face of Gloria’s mother would arise in her brain. Gloria’s two sisters, Beta and Elsa, were quiet and gentle. Her brother, Carl, always played, fought and had a similar - 12 -
personality as Gloria’s.
- 13 -
Chapter 5
Rebellion
While Gloria studied in junior high school, she made some fair-weather friends and learned something bad from them. Everyday, she got home till midnight and ignored her family. Corinna started to be anxious for Gloria’s schoolwork .Corinna told her “From Monday to Friday, I pick you up at the school in person. On the weekend, you can return home at 10 pm. It should be reasonable. Do you agree with what I say?” Gloria was ruffled and said provocatively “It’s not your business. Furthermore, you are not my mother. You don’t have any right to control - 14 -
my acts.” Two months later, Gloria always went out with friends after school and didn’t even come home anymore. One day, Steward couldn’t put up with anymore and warned Gloria, “From now on, I won’t allow you to go out anytime except going to school.” Gloria talked back “Damn it!” and grimaced at her foster parents. Corrina lost her temper and slapped Gloria’s face heavily. Gloria stared at them and said “You will regret what you have just done. I detest someone slapping my face.” Gloria ran back to her room angrily. The Next day, Gloria denounced her foster - 15 -
parents to hit her and the guidance counselor asked them to come at once. They sat and talked in a small room. Gloria complained “They abused me.” Steward and Corrina sat there grievously and retorted “What did you say? All are nonsense.” Gloria closed her lips and looked at the foster parents with scorn. Gloria said, “You slapped me, wicked person. Don’t lie anymore!” The guidance counselor decided and told them “You gave Gloria a big attack. Gloria had better leaving you for a while.” Gloria showed a victorious smile and whispered “Look! Do something wrong! I won’t go home today, - 16 -
good-bye.” One day after school, Gloria saw Corrina walking out from school. Gloria pressed on with her pace and didn’t see Corrina on purpose. Corrina held Gloria up and asked, “Why did you do that to us? Didn’t we treat you well enough?” Gloria looked at Corrina and responded, “You are not my real parents. Don’t pay attention to me and look for me anymore! I want my freedom.” Gloria turned around and ran away. Although it wasn’t comfortable, Gloria felt free when she stayed at another’s house. Instead, she felt alone and helpless. During that time, Gloria - 17 -
didn’t like to answer the calls from Corrina every day. Corrina could only leave massages which always said, “How are you there? We all hope you come back and miss you forever. Please come back soon.” Gloria hadn’t called back and even attempted to cut off the relationship with them.
- 18 -
Chapter 6
Drug taking
A year later, Gloria moved back to live with her original family. She saw her friends doing drugs or smoking around her all day. Her friends always said “Gloria, want to try some drugs and cigarettes for fun? You’ll like it, believe me.” Gloria tried it eventually and got rid of her nickname, “Chicken”. Gloria became addicted to it and soaked herself in the Internet Café every morning. At night, they went to pubs or raced motorcycles in a group. Once, Corrina bumped into Gloria on the street and asked, “Why aren’t you at school? Did you - 19 -
drop classes again? Why do you look so pale and much thinner? You have no money to have a meal, right? Here you are, this is 1000 dollars.” Corrina took the 1000 dollars out from her purse. Gloria said happily, “Thanks! I can’t buy drugs because of my lack of money.” Corrina jerked Gloria into the car and considered Gloria a criminal. She also asked her along the road “Why do you do drugs? When did you start to do that?” The Next day, Corrina quietly walked into Gloria’s room. Gloria screeched “Foster Mom, don’t come here. Go out!” Corrina smelled something peculiar and asked surprised, “Where - 20 -
does that flavor come from? It smells like nail polish. What a crazy thing you did!” Gloria looked hysterical and sobbed uncontrollably, “I am insane and don’t know what I did. Help me! This is the only way to relieve the pain in my heart.” At that moment, Beca, Elsa and Carl stood at the door agitatedly and said “Gloria, don’t be like that. If there is something that has happened to you, what should we do?” Due to this event, Corrina often observed, like a patient who got paranoia, if there were anything suspicious in Gloria’s room. As long as Corrina saw Gloria running at the nose, she started to - 21 -
question Gloria. Gloria would shout impatiently, “Who do you think who you are? It’s unnecessary to report what I have done every minute to you.” Corrina advised earnestly and kindly, “Gloria, I’m your foster mother and promised your real mother that I will bring you up well.” Gloria collapsed again when she called her real Mom to mind. She cried sorrowfully “Why doesn’t my mother come back to my side? I missed her so much.”
- 22 -
Chapter 7
Breakdown
Corrina cut off the line of the domestic phone, due to the expensive bill of telephone. Gloria used it over three hours everyday and infuriated Corrina. One day, Corrina walked with a tiring body and slow steps to her room. “Gloria, hang the phone up and go to bed!” Corrina shouted. Gloria ignored what Corrina had said and kept talking on the phone. Corrina cried irately, “Hang up that phone right away.” Gloria insulted Corrina and threw a frame at her. Pain was manifest on Corrina’s face at that moment. After a while, her knees gave way and she fell to the ground. Gloria - 23 -
cried loudly and nervously “The foster mother passed out. Help!” Everybody came quickly. Carl yelled at Gloria, “Call for an ambulance, hurry!” Gloria soliloquized in the meantime “The foster mother is in danger. Please, come here soon, the doctors.” Beta and Elsa kneeled beside Gloria’s foster mother and held her hands. “Mom, get up! Take in breath, please. We need you.” Their eyes were full of tears. The ambulance arrived and Gloria’s foster mother was carried in the ambulance by the stretcher. After Gloria’s foster father got the phone from Gloria, he came back and took children to hospital hastily. - 24 -
Gloria blamed herself for this event and didn’t say any word all day. When she met her family member, she lowered her head and fled from them. She felt sorry and even didn’t want to walk out from her room. Lying on the bed lazily and eating nothing all day , made her thinner day by day. One day, an idea sprang up in her brain and she packed up to leave. She thought she shouldn’t stay in this house anymore. She sought help from her best friend, Jinny, who was also friendly and understand her much. During this month, she couldn’t stop herself from injecting heroin. She crawled into the house - 25 -
to take money quietly and left a letter for her foster mother. Dear Mom, I don’t know how to write this letter and I know that I’m not a nice daughter as you have expected. When you fainted at that moment, I blamed myself very much. I’m very sorry that I didn’t repent and start anew when you devoted so much time on me. I don’t consider that everybody has already forgiven me for my behavior. I don’t expect you’ll give me a chance, but please don’t forget me forever. Doing dugs is the only way which can take my trouble go away. Don’t spend - 26 -
time to seek me, and it will just waste your energy. Your love, Gloria
- 27 -
Chapter 8
Corrina’s Death
When Gloria was on her way to café in the morning, she caught sight of a familiar person who was walking with heavy steps, a serious look and full of tears in eyes. Gloria wanted to get away originally, but she was called by that person. There was a voice in Gloria’s ears. “Go back immediately. Mom is going to die.” When Gloria heard these words, she disregarded life and rushed around a host of cars. Gloria just hoped that she could share her experience with her Mom. When Gloria dashed in the house, she shouted loudly “Mom, I will love you forever.” Then a - 28 -
plaintive cry came from upstairs. It’s too late at all and she only wished Mom hear what she said. Gloria rushed up to her foster parents’ room and she knew that everybody still hated her. She called up all her courage and crawled near her Mom’s body. “Mom, I’m sorry. It’s my fault.” Gloria’s feeling was out of control and her line of vision became dull. She passed out suddenly later. When Gloria woke up, she was on the bed in her warm room and found her dinner her father has prepared was put on her desk. During that time, Gloria couldn’t swallow any food and cried all day. When she was cleaning her drawers, she was - 29 -
surprised to see a letter left from her Mom. Dear Gloria, I know I am going to die, and I will perhaps be not around you when you read this letter. In any case, I hope you could come back, live happily with your family and quit doing drugs. I haven’t hated you because of your behaviors to me. We all support you forever. I feel sorry that I can’t be with you to grow up.
Your Mom
- 30 -
Chapter 9 Treatment Gloria’s repentance was raised by her Mom’s last words, but Gloria was addicted to heroin and unable to get out of it. Gloria became thinner and her buttocks swelled up. Walking became a difficult task for her. Her foster father had not the heart to see Gloria live painfully. Steward searched for a halfway house, but many halfway houses didn’t desire to accept her because of her age. Eventually, was a new established one for teenagers which could accept Gloria. Steward took her there at once. Gloria suffered pain and threw up often in the car. She also sensed that - 31 -
someone was gradually seizing her life. When they arrived at the destination, a young man told us politely “I’m sorry that there was not any place available. Come by in two days, please.” Felix cursed crazily in rage “My daughter is going to die, can’t you have tolerance?” I cried “Foster Father, what do I do? I am overwhelmed with sorrow.” Because of my request, that man accepted me finally. Gloria wasn’t happy there, because she was scared to be with an alcohol addicted man alone in the same ward. Gloria called asking her foster father to take her home, but Felix always told her, - 32 -
“I’ll request the halfway house to change other ward for you.” Next day, Gloria was changed to a peaceful and quiet room. Day by day, Gloria felt better and recovered her health and also met many friends.
- 33 -
Chapter 10
Recover
One afternoon, Gloria screamed out, almost every patient was frightened and covered their ears promptly. “Great! I am coming, free and home.� Gloria caught sight of a familiar car, her foster father’s car, from a long distance. She waved her hands to the car carelessly, but the car drove away slowly. At that time, Gloria felt embarrassed before her foster father stopped his car in front of her. They put all her baggage in the trunk and kept silent. Before they arrived at home, she had seen her siblings standing and welcoming her at - 34 -
the door. She shouted happily again “Wow! I missed you so much. Thank you for forgiving me.” As Gloria went into the house, delicious flavor came into her nose. “What does it smell like? It smells like my favorite food,” she said. Gloria couldn’t wait to sit down and devour it at once. One night, Steward received a fax from a government organization and handed it to me. Mrs. Corrina, Good news! We have investigated and found Gloria’s real mother, her name is Celia. Through dozens of documents, we found an address and had - 35 -
visited her. She lived there happily and also looks forward to meeting Gloria. After reading the letter, Gloria was overjoyed and cried. A while later, she whispered to herself, “Should I meet her? Will she forget who I am? When I see her, will I want to go back to her side or get away from her?� She started to think. Steward approached Gloria and embraced her tightly at that moment. Gloria felt received and warm in her heart. At that night, Gloria called her friends and told them this good news. She also tossed about in bed and dreamed of her real Mom, but she kept waking to tell herself that is not a - 36 -
dream.
Chapter 11 Look for herself A few weeks later, Gloria decided to head for Australia to look for her Mom who she hadn’t seen for eighteen years. On the one hand, Gloria believed that she could see her Mom, but on the other hand, she thought that it was impossible. Whenever Gloria wanted to give up, her family encouraged her constantly and believed that possibility of success still existed. Gloria became more confident and continued the original plan through her family’s encouragement. - 37 -
After preparing well, Gloria and Steward started their mother-finding tour. Before the plane landed, Steward told Gloria affectionately, “Don’t worry! Do something what you want to do. I would support you forever and accept whoever you choose to live with happily.” Arriving in front of Celia’s house, Gloria was astonished to see an elegant woman standing there. She couldn’t recognize and believe that woman there was her Mom. Celia welcomed them in the house. The most inconceivable thing for Gloria was that Celia married with a rich man and had two young cute children. Celia - 38 -
introduced them to Gloria and Steward, “This is my new and happy family.” Gloria said “Hello! Nice to meet you! I believe that Mom has told you who I am. “Of course! She often mentioned you and told us what a filial girl you are,” Steward said. Gloria was guilt-ridden and answered, “Thanks. Excuse me.” Celia said, “Gloria, come with me. Let me take you to visit my house.” Gloria looked upset and disappointed. Gloria and Celia kept silent at first. A few minutes later, Celia broke silence and asked, “How have you been these years, dear? - 39 -
I’m sorry that I didn’t keep in touch with you after you left” Gloria responded angrily “You don’t care about me at all and you promised that you would contact with me. That is nonsense!” Celia said sadly, “Calm down, please! I am not on purpose. Listen to me.” Gloria cried “Since I left you, I have lived a miserable life without love and missed you all day. Have you ever thought about me ?” “Of course! I have tried to look for you, but I had no money and worked hard to work all day. I have worked as a street cleaner in the morning and a waitress at night,” Celia said excitedly. “You are a liar. I don’t want to listen to your - 40 -
excuse.” Gloria ran out of the room, but she was stopped by Celia. “If you don’t believe me, you can ask your foster mother. I have called her two times, but I didn’t want to bother your new life and hoped you will have a happy and healthy family. I have never thought that you were not satisfied with you life because of me. I promise I will make up for what you have suffered. Please forgive me and come back to live with me.” “Don’t mention my foster mother. I felt guilty for her death. She has made so much effort for me, but my behaviors made her disappointed. In fact, I was not supposed to live now,” Gloria recalled - 41 -
her foster mother saying sadly. “What? What happened to her? Why didn’t I know this new? When did it happen?” Celia asked surprised. “All the events have passed, and I hate to talk about this.” “It’s all my fault. I’m sorry, Gloria.” Celia said. “Mom, I can’t come back and live with you because I love my foster father and siblings very much. I also don’t want to get between your family,” Gloria said calmly. “I understand your thought, and I won’t force you to come back. However, I hope I could meet with you at least three times a week and make up for what you have suffered.” Celia told - 42 -
Gloria. “Ok! I’m sorry.” Celia and Gloria hugged each other and proved that they had already reconciled. Although Gloria didn’t live with Celia, she still regarded Celia as her mother because her foster Mom was dead. Gloria visited Celia with her siblings often. After this event was solved, Gloria didn’t do drug anymore and became studious. She finally found the life which she wished for.
- 43 -