Author: Lauren

Part Two. My alarm clock went off singing “Girl’s Just Wanna Have Fun” on Magic 106.7. I squinted at the numbers, 6:00, mad that Cindy Lauper interrupted my dream. I had been dreaming of the prom, red dress sparkling in the sunshine, Jack as handsome as ever, royal princesses going off in carriages lead by white stallions. I reached my arms high above my head and took in the scent of breakfast cooking. My hands found my glasses next to the picture of Jack and me on the beach last summer. I was on his shoulders, arms outstretched like a bird. Breathing in a breath of fresh air, I smiled. I peeked at the calendar counting down the days until prom; a number one was written on today’s date. Suddenly, I began to cough and jerked upright. My chest heaved, my eyes squinted, my face grimaced, the taste of blood sprung onto my tongue. I raced to the bathroom and spit this foreign substance of life into the sink. My heart began to race. I tried to remain calm when I tapped my sleeping mother, still in her nurse scrubs from the night shift, on the shoulder and whispered her name. Upon hearing what was going on, Mom’s eyes widened. She rubbed my back while I spit more blood into a basin. She watched the basin fill with blood...

For the next few days, I will be posting pieces of my short story “Her 7th Chromosome.” The majority of the events are drawn from real life experiences, I hope you enjoy it! Part One. “ ‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers– That perches in the soul– And sings the tune without the words– And never stops–at all”-Emily Dickenson “Let’s see it honey! Come on out!” Mom said. “How’s it look?” I asked, stepping out of the dressing room. “Red looks good on you, babe.” Jack said, “I’ll get you red roses to match.” “Does is it look too long though?” “Maybe we could pull this up here a little bit, pull this down, and we’ll need to hem this with your little legs…” “Mom, knock it off! I like it like that.” “Fine, fine. Oh! And we can get… Hope, are you ok?” “Yes. I coughed, Mom.” “It didn’t sound good.” “It was a cough! I cough all the time!” “All the time is right. I heard you coughing all night last night. Maybe we should see the doctor soon.” “No, its O.K., I feel better this morning.” “Hope, baby, you know I want you to take care of yourself. Maybe you should listen to your mom?” Jack interjected. “You guys worry too much. I’m sure I’m fine!” That night, I went to bed and wrote in my...