The Red and White Building | Teen Ink

The Red and White Building

December 1, 2022
By Raindrop-12345678990 BRONZE, Peoria, Arizona
Raindrop-12345678990 BRONZE, Peoria, Arizona
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

     Looking out the window of my car I could see the river moving swiftly under the bridge. Waves crashing against the hard stone as if throwing a tantrum. Looking at the boats on the river I could see fishing poles with lines tugging. The fishermen looked full of frustration, but yet patience waiting for the fish to bite. I saw my destination almost a mile away. The red and white building, looking as dull as the plants surrounding it. I didn’t want to enter the building because when I did I knew I would have to face the reality of the situation. 

     Parking the car, I entered the building through the creaky doors. It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay, I kept thinking to myself. The women at the front desk told me I had to wear a mask before entering, and if I didn't have any then I could take one out of the box. Of course I didn’t have one when all I could think about was what I was going to face past those elevator doors. I grabbed a mask saying “thank you,” and walked to the elevator doors hitting floor three. Three the original prime number that nobody likes. It seems like time flew by when I was suddenly walking to the door that I dreaded opening. With shaky hands I opened the door, and saw most of my aunt and uncles there. My mom was standing in a corner trying not to cry, so I walked over to her and hugged her. Finally finding the courage I looked up to see my beloved grandmother on the white bed looking as pale as a ghost. My grandma opened her eyes and looked around the room with what seemed like hope in her eyes. She started counting the people in the room. I could tell that she wanted all of her children to be there for when she passed. A tear slips out of my eye as I look at the pain that my grandma is going through. Her sore old frail body looked as if it was struggling for dear life. I didn’t want to ask what was going to happen, but I just couldn’t help myself. I said “will she make it.” My mom's tone dropped as she replied “I don’t know.” I was getting upset because how could she not know? How could somebody take my grandma away from me when she has done nothing wrong. My grandma is a good person so why is she struggling? My tears started to flow harder the more I thought.

     The machine started to beep loudly as workers rushed in. I could not focus on anything but my grandma. I didn’t care what was going to happen as long as my grandma would be okay, or at peace. My mom told me “why don’t you and your other cousins go to the other room.” Feeling frustrated, I said, “I don’t want to leave grandma!” My mom gave me a look that said that she was serious, so I knew that I had to go with my cousins to the waiting room. Walking down the dull empty hallways felt like forever. I didn’t want to leave grandma, but I also didn’t want to upset my mother either. As me and my cousins finally made it to the waiting room, I started to break down in tears. Thinking about the time my grandma picked me up after school, when she would play board games with me, when we would both go out to eat just the two of us I could never have made those happy memories with anybody else like I did my grandma. Hearing raindrop sounds I looked out the window. I was amazed because it hasn’t rained in South Dakota for a long time. It was almost as if the earth was weeping with me. 

     Hearing the doorknob turn I looked up. My mom walked in the room with her head down. It was then that I knew my grandma had left us. Feeling guilty that I’d not spent as much time as I could have with her, for not helping her as much as I could have, for not making her laugh as much as I could have, I cried as hard as I have ever cried before. Looking at everybody weeping around me I realized that my grandma would want me to be happy. Realizing that if my grandma did leave us then it would be okay, she would be okay. She would finally be with the love of her life who left her 50 years ago. She would be at peace in heaven, and watch over me and my family more than how she could have now. Hearing the rain getting quieter, I looked towards the window. There I saw a double rainbow in the sky as if saying it was going to be okay.


The author's comments:

I wrote this because of my grandmas passing. I know it is hard sometimes after somebody you love passes, but we have to remember that it will be okay.


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