My Last Walk Home
Mom said I needed to toughen up, so she made me walk home alone.
"You're ten. Everyone else can do it. Why can't you? If you were even half as capable as your cousin, I wouldn't have to worry so much."
I shook my head and signed, [I can't hear. Crossing streets isn't safe.]
She gave me that look. Total disappointment.
Then she walked off with my cousin, Sadie.
What Mom didn't know was that before school let out, Sadie had stopped me.
Said she was helping Mom make me independent.
Then she snatched my hearing aid.
Now the whole world was silent.
I followed the crowd down the sidewalk.
At a small intersection, a car spun out, horn blaring.
Everyone scattered.
Everyone but me.
I couldn't hear it.
My spirit rose above the street. Below, my body lay in a pool of blood.
Mom...
Sorry.
I couldn't do this independence thing.