My Mother's Necklace - March 17, 2010

           “Amber,” my mother said, looking right into my eyes, “I need to give you something.”

            “Sure, mom. One second,” I replied, as I started to text back my friend.

            “Amber, this is important.”

            “Yeah, I know. I just need one more second.” I pressed the green send button on my red cellphone and looked up.

            “You can’t tell anyone about this,” my mom commanded, as she put a little burgandy sack in my hand, “I want you to open this tomorrow morning; no sooner. Now go to bed.” She went into her room and shut the door.

            I tried to comprehend what she had just said and what was in my hand. My mom had never acted like this before. Usually her speech was steady and smooth, her voice seemed so rushed. Little did I know the impact this moment would have on my life.

            It was Saturday morning. I raised my head slowly to look at the clock and then quickly remembered what my mom had said yesterday. I grabbed the little soft sack, that I had placed under my bed. I opened it slowly to reveal an old necklace. The silver chain was rusty and a sphere-shaped stone was hanging on it. I had never seen this kind of stone before. It was a shiny deep red, but when I looked at it, the smooth surface seemed to be glass and the cloudy inside appeared to be moving.

            I held it in my hand as I went downstairs to my mom’s room. Our house was always silent on a Saturday morning. My family consisted of just my mom and I, and my mom always slept in on Saturday mornings. I knocked on my mom’s door and when no one answered I opened it. Expecting to see my mom fast asleep still, I was surprised to see the bed empty. I quickly ran around through the rest of our house to find that I was alone.

            I’ll just give her a call, I thought. I went into my room, got my cell phone and called my mom’s number. She didn’t answer. Worried, I called again nervously pacing in the hallways, but this time I heard buzzing coming from my mom’s room. I went in to find her phone vibrating wildly on her wooden nightstand. Mom, never leaves without her phone…

            I clutched the necklace that was still in my left hand and began to cry. I looked in the mirror. I saw big brown eyes soaked in tears and cried harder knowing my eyes were almost identical to my mom’s.

            By night time I still had not seen my mom. I went to sleep crying.  

            The next morning, I decided to go on a walk. Trying to convince myself that I just needed to go on a walk to settle down, deep down, I knew that I was looking for my mom. Looking in the mirror I put the red-stoned necklace on with my trembling hands. My dark brunette hair was sloppily put into a bun. I was in a white basketball T-shirt with gray sweats, and not the cutesy sweats you get from Hollister or Aeropostale, real sweats. I usually made sure I had make-up on before I was ever seen in public, but not this time. I tied my shoes and went out the door.

            As I walked I felt my phone swing in the right pocket of my baggy pants. I never really decided in my head where I was going, but my legs were already walking towards the lake. That’s where I always went when I had a problem, and I was so lost at the moment.

            The lake was nearby, and after arriving by slipping through the brush I walked onto the old wooden dock and sat down by the edge. I had never learned how to swim. My mom and I just liked to immerse our feet in water.There was no one around, but at the other end of the lake where the main entrance and parking was I could see large groups of people boating and hanging out at the fancy new docks, but they were much to far to hear anything other than the soft roar of distant motor boats.

            I took off my tennis shoes and socks and dipped my feet into the cool water. I bent over and looked at my reflection trying not to cry again. Everyone always told me I looked like my mom. I stared, trying to keep my eyes wide open as I stared at my reflection. I sat there for a while just thinking about all that had happened; trying to make sense of what had happened in the last week. Suddenly my reflection had tear filled eyes. I felt my own eyes and they were dry. I looked closer into the water and flinched the moment I knew I had leaned to far. I fell in.

            So many thoughts were going through my mind as I felt the cold water surround me and I started to sink down like a rock. I struggled for breath, a terrible feeling. I had never had to hold my breath for long, but at the moment, I wanted air more than anything I had ever wanted in my life.           

            I felt like was going to pass out; I couldn’t hold my breath any longer. I took in a huge breath and… I could breath. My mother’s necklace started to glow brightly around my neck. Everything looked so clear. My feet touched the bottom of the lake which should have been mud, but turned to glass as I stepped. Everything was so overwhelming. This muddy lake I had for so long loved looked like an oasis. Where did my mom get this necklace? I thought, wondering if she knew the powers it held. Then I began to wonder where my mom was. Then I remembered how I had treated her the last time I saw her and I cried; my tears combining with the salty water around me. I was doomed to live in this watery paradise…alone.

By Marie