Kira's Love Story

Kira woke from noise at the door. It was early in the morning and Kira wasn’t quite ready to be woken. She crawled out of bed and towards the door, wondering who could be here at this hour. Opening the door she saw nothing but a small parcel wrapped in a brightly coloured ribbon. She picked it up, inspecting it in the sunlight. The card said:

           I know this is strange and you may have no idea who I am, but Merry Christmas Kira.

It didn’t say who it was from or how to contact them. Kira looked u and down the street trying to spot someone who could have left the parcel, but the streets were empty and quiet. She took the parcel inside and waited for more noise. But nothing came and she gave up, leaving the parcel under the Christmas tree for later.

The next morning nothing exciting happened and Kira thought that the parcel was simply a dream. Then she saw it under the tree and curiosity met her again. Kira decided that it might be a good idea to ask who gave it to her.

Kira arrived at her neighbor’s house last, having no luck with the other residents on the street. She knocked on the door hoping this would get her the answers she needed.

           “Kira! So nice to see you. How are you?” Susan ushered Kira in.

Kira stepped inside, her nose filling with the smell of Christmas treats and cinnamon. Susan was always baking, she owned a shop down in the main street before she retired. Now she bakes goods for everyone in the street, almost weekly!

           “Oh, I’m good. I was coming over to ask you if you saw a strange person, yesterday, arrive at my house and leave something there?” Kira said, sitting on the couch opposite to Susan.

           “No, I’m sorry. I haven’t seen anyone.” Susan said, trying to remember.

Kira knew, at that moment, that it was best to give up. She obviously wasn’t going to find an answer, and even if this annoyed her, she couldn’t see the point in trying.

Susan and Kira talked for a while longer. Kira walked home, half annoyed that she couldn’t find the answers. When she got home, her phone started ringing. She quickly answered it, hoping that maybe she’d get an answer. But it was her father calling.

           “Kira, it’s your mother.” He said in a hoarse voice.

Kira looked alarmed. The last time she saw her mum, Stella, was when they had a family picnic and her mum collapsed and had to get taken to the hospital. The reasons still remained unknown.

           “What happened?” She said, trying to stay calm.

           “She’s had a heart attack and has been taken into hospital.”

Kira gasped. It was worse this time. She knew her mother’s health condition weren’t great, but she would have never known that they were this bad. She quickly told her dad that she would be as quick as she can to get there, and rushed off to her car, driving away quickly.

She got to her parents house soon, as they thankfully didn’t live too far away. She had made sure to live close to them because of her mother’s health. Kira ran up to the front door and let herself in, her brother was already there trying to comfort their dad. They both look around when she walks in.

           “Kira! You’re here!” Her brother, Andy, said, running up to her and throwing his arms around her.

He was younger than her by a bit. He lived on his University campus with his friends. Thankfully he could drive, so he could get here easier. Kira hugged him back and walked over to her father.

           “It will be ok. She’ll be fine, and if she doesn’t make it she will be in peace where no more harm and pain can reach her.” She said to the boys.

           “She will make it.” Andy said, determined.

Kira nodded, knowing that wasn’t likely. She also meant what she said, and believed it wholeheartedly, that if her mother died, no more harm would come to her. But all she wanted was for her father and brother to be happy, she couldn’t stand watching them upset. Kira stayed calm for the rest of the night, doing the chores and cooking dinner. Andy fell asleep on the couch and Kira helped him into his old bedroom. Her father stayed awake later and it took Kira quite some convincing to make him go to sleep. Although she didn’t listen to the reasons herself, as she didn’t fall asleep until late into the night when it was almost morning.

Kira woke up suddenly, remembering where she was and what had happened the day before. She was sore and tired when she stood, after sleeping on the armchair for a few hours and being wide awake before that.

Kira, Andy, and their father traveled to the hospital that day to see her mother who was said to be awake. When they arrived, the found her sleeping in the hospital bed. The quietly went into the room, not wanting to wake her, but to desperately give her a hug. Kira stood beside her bed and held her hand. It was cold and pale like her face at the time. She had looked like this for a while so it was normal. But Kira still felt sadness bubbling up from inside.

Later that day, Kira was alone in her mother’s hospital room. Stella had woken up a little while after the boys had gone out to get lunch. Kira was happy that they seemed in better spirits than before.

           “Kira, thank you for coming.” Stella said after Kira explained everything, including what had happened with the heart attack.

           “I so happy you’re awake.” Kira smiled.

           “I can’t last much longer like this, Kira. You know I can’t, but I know that the boys can’t deal with that.” Stella, smiling back. She looked worn and tired.

           “I know, but can’t you hold on long enough for the boys to say goodbye?” Kira asked, desperate. It would kill her brother and father if they couldn’t say goodbye.

           “It will still hurt them either way.”

Kira considered this, then said, “No, you need to hold on. You just need to. Please!”

Kira stayed beside her mother in silence until the boys came back, arms full of food.

           “We aren’t staying her that long!” Stella said, looking at the amount of food.

At that, Andy dropped his bags and rushed over, “Mum! You’re awake!”

           “Of course!” Stella laughed.

They all sat around the bed, eating and laughing. Stella insisted that they go home after that and they all knew they should listen. Kira gave her mum the biggest hug and so did the boys. After saying their goodbyes they quietly left. Kira looked back and saw her mum smiling at her.

They were walking down the hallway, towards the entrance when Kira heard someone say her name. She turned to face the voice and saw a man, about her age, with dark hair and blue eyes.

           “Me?” Kira said pointing to herself.

The man nodded, “I’m Eli, I left the parcel.”

Kira looked at him, stunned. How did he know how to find her? Who is he? She was sure she’d never seen him before.

           “I’m sorry I left it there like that. I was going to give it to you in person. We went to high school together.” Eli explained.

Kira stood there, glued to the spot. She still had no idea who he was.

           “It’s ok. Don’t apologise.” She smiled.

           “Have you opened it?” Eli said, walking closer.

Kira shook her head and looked towards Andy and her father. They had stopped to and were now walking back towards her.

           “Is everything ok, Kira?” Andy asks.

Kira nods, “Yeah, this is Eli. He’s an old friend.”

Eli waves and smiles at them, “Hey. May I ask why you’re all at a hospital?”

           Andy speaks first, after they all hesitate, “Mum’s here. She had a heart attack.”

Eli looks back at Kira with an apologetic face, “I’m so sorry.”

           “Why are you here?” Andy asks.

“My brother works here, it was his lunch break.” Eli says, still looking at Kira.

They walk together towards the entrance. Eli next to Kira, and Andy watching him closely. Kiva looked back towards her mother’s room, doctors and nurses were rushing in and out.

Kira invited Eli over, and when they arrived home all together, her father got a phone call from the hospital. The room was silent when he got off the phone. Finally Andy spoke up.

           “Is she…” He started.

Her father only nodded and sat on the couch, holding his head in his hands. Kira sat next to him, and Andy sat on the other side. Eli sat on the armchair and Kira grasped his hand. For some unknown reason she did feel comfortable with him and like she had known him forever. That night, Eli cooked dinner with Kira occasionally coming in and helping. Kira’s father fell asleep quickly, and Andy fell asleep soon after. Kira found it hard to sleep again, and after much convincing Eli to stay up with her, Eli and her stayed up all night talking.

In the morning, Kira found herself tangled in Eli’s arms on the couch. Kira had no idea when she fell asleep, but she must have been very comfortable because she felt like she had slept all night.

Kira went home a day later, Eli came with her as they had become good friends over their time together. Eli helped with Stella’s funeral, which Kira was so thankful for because it meant she could grieve properly. Eli took care of all the details and more, and then also comforted Kira when she broke down. Eli stayed by Kira’s side every day after that and Kira found herself falling in love with him.

A year later, a big event happened. It had a ceremony, flowers, and even people crying. But this time, it wasn’t a funeral. It was Kira’s wedding. Eli had proposed months earlier and then got married. Kira wanted her mum there so much, but she knew that she was watching over her.

I know this is a cheesy ending, but they truly did live happily ever after.