Story Contest 2016 #2 - Outstanding Stories » The Lost Gift

“The Lost Gift” is one of the outstanding stories of the second biannual Short Story Contest 2016 written by Rheana Chandru, Singapore.

The Lost Gift

Memories just keep flooding my mind. I would like to share them with you.

God has given me my lovely mum and dad.

5 years ago in the year 2011, when I was just 3 years old, my family and I went to Phuket to spend my school holidays. My mother was pregnant with my little brother.

My mother never failed to impress with her care and love. Just before my trip, I was down with flu and she stayed up all night to watch over me. My whole body was aching, and she rubbed me to sleep. When I woke up the next day, I was perfectly fine and we were all ready to go to the airport.

I loved Phuket. The clear blue skies, the green rainforest trees and the magnificent colours of the flowering tropical shrubs made me feel like I was in heaven. We played in the brown fine sand together and even though my mum was tired, she never failed to be with me. She kept on hydrating me with so much of water as it was a sunny day and to my surprise, I drank up all that was left. My mum sacrificed all for me.

She even reminded me every single time in how beautiful I looked, as I always felt inferior when I saw other children who looked better than I did. She kept on affirming me that one day I would be a Miss Singapore. "Hurray mummy, I love you and thank you so much for your compliment," I hugged her tightly at the beachfront.

“Mummy I love you. I want you back. You taught me so much. You told me how to love, you cared for my well-being, you sacrificed for me, you bought for me gifts, you spent quality time with me, and you encouraged me.”

4 years ago in the year 2012, my mum gave birth to my baby brother and she died right after her delivery.

Gifts are meant to be cherished. My mother was a gift for me who taught me how to be the person I am now. I have lost that gift now.

To my lost gift, my mummy. Each day now I look up to the heaven, with my tears rolling down my cheeks and with memories of Phuket in my mind, I whisper to myself, "Mummy, wherever you are now, I love you and please come back to me."