Courage and Sacrifice

sat at the window sill, looking out into the horizon. A faint, dim, ephemeral tear ran down my cheek, and I lowered my head. Even Gleam, my golden retriever, seemed unusually dull. I tried to succor her by forcing on a smile, but I just couldn’t handle it; I burst out into tears.

Gleam was the only true friend—other than my parents—I ever had. She understood me more than anyone. She let out a soft whimper, and for the first time today I wore a faint smile. After all, that day was a day of pure misery.

It’s okay, Gleam,” I said, with more courage than I really had. I looked at the clock—had it only been an hour? It felt like a whole year of suffering.

“Breakfast is ready,” trailed my mother’s soft voice from the kitchen. “Lisserrel!”

“Coming,” I said, trying not to sound too weak. It took all my strength to force myself into the room calmly. I hoped that at least the others at school would understand me and leave me alone for once. I went to school with that new hope.

I was completely wrong. The first minute I stepped into the class, groups of girls and boys started laughing. Lamara stepped up and walked toward me. Who was she, you ask? Well, you could say she was my arch enemy. She screamed, “Haha, I thought only you were that pathetic, but your dad too…?” Most of the others started laughing; why wouldn’t they? Most of the school was Verosi. I was raged with anger, but I remembered the promise to my father that I would be humble. “Great,” I thought. “I have to go through another horrible day of school.”

After school, I walked home desperately. I simply lay on bed, thinking. Everything happened too quickly. I closed my eyes and was back in the past.

I was in bed, when I was awakened by my mothe...

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... I do if they find us ? How will we rescue them ? All sorts of questions rounded up in my head. After all, what was mentioned was not even a pinch of salt worth of it. All these doubts and “what if”s drained out my courage and hpe, the two things I needed most at the time, well, other than company. I still had Gleam running next to me, more tired than ever.

The truth is it was my fault. Although many times she wanted to, I never let Gleam run such a far distance. I was too worried about her health. “sorry Gleam, you know, for not letting you run. Well, this will atleast be exercise. And I promise I will let you run after we get back home…” I paused. I didn’t want to lie, but I ddin’t want to scare her more. This truly was the only time I saw strong, brave Gleam weak and scared. I decided to tell the truth. She needed to know what we were up againt.