Short Story by Bandana Karki Aged 13
Ealing NumberWorks’nWords

I remember… I remember just as if it was two hours ago. It was actually ten years ago. Yes, I was care free like a bird in the sky. I didn’t know where I was going, didn’t actually care where my destination would be, just the journey. The road was scarily dark, not even one light bulb was lit. Only a roaring Nissan engine made a sound.
It had parked outside the house. I remember it vividly in my head: the worn, old, grey-slated roof; the sandy walls and, last of all, the brown oak door. Okay, the whole house looked like it was falling apart … but in my mind it was paradise. It was where I’d spent my teenage years.
Do you know somewhere you will always treasure for the rest of your life? It could be where you grew up; the venue of your wedding or the birth of your first child. Well this is the place that I will remember for the rest of my life. A middle-aged woman stepped out of the Nissan Micra, she gazed at the house, 64 Magnolia Lane. She gave a huge sigh and tuned around to see her thirteen year old daughter (me) playing with a Rubik cube. I was a quiet child; I always liked being on my own – you could even call me a loner.
My mother always left me on my own. I guess … I got the habit of it really. I walked out of the car carrying my teddies, book and shoes in one cardboard box. My scruffy trainers were untied. I wish I could stop myself, I really do but that would be messing with my future. Anyway I wasn’t aware that my shoes were untied; I fell over with a loud thump. All of the things in the box came tumbling out. I thought I had broken an ankle but some kind of miracle happened. There wasn’t a scratch on me. In the sky a magpie flew away. I have always loved birds; I was curious about how they flew. But then again, I was curious about anything. For example, if my mum asked me to get water I would always ask why!

Anyway, the next moment my mother turned around and said, “Noor, you useless child! Can’t you do anything right!” She gave me a poisonous look. ‘Useless!’ echoed in my head. I didn’t care about my stuff scattered on the pavement. I ran for the open door and went straight upstairs. It didn’t smell like home. It smelled like it belonged to someone else.

The walls were yellow and the wallpaper was peeling off; the carpet was dark blue with a horrible pattern. I ran to the bathroom. The bathroom was an inviting colour of light peach to light yellow. I looked around the inviting room and I came across a magnificent portrait. It was the sort of portrait you had to give a second glance to. There was a beautiful blonde haired woman kneeling beside a small pond. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. My fingers traced the lines of the blonde haired woman; her hair was wavy and thick.
I heard mum’s footsteps coming in and out of the house downstairs. I panicked. It is so weird. I stayed still for a minute and a half, not even taking a breath, thinking it would save my life. I waited and then, when I knew it was safe, I walked swiftly passed the corridor to my room. I saw my reflection. I had always thought I looked ugly but my friends always said how they liked my dark brown hair, my wide eyes, my small nose, thick lips and my silky skin.
My family said I looked like my dad. I had one tear in my eye. My dad is gone. What I mean is … he is dead. I found it hard to understand death – it had confused me to the point of crying. It puzzled my mind. Where do we go? How does it happen? Do we see a light? My dad had cancer … he was suffering but he had put on a brave face for me. Suddenly, a whooshing sound, like a gale force wind, came into my room. The blonde haired woman I had seen in the portrait had come to life.
“Hello! I am your guardian angel. You have seen me a few times before.” She spoke slowly like she knew that I would freak out.
My mouth wasn’t moving. I stayed still. Maybe it was an hallucination. Yeah, that was it – my imagination getting the better of me.
“And, guess what? I am not an hallucination. I can read your mind. I am your guardian angel. I look after you even if you don’t know it. You always see a magpie. Well, I’m the magpie. I know you have been feeling upset ever since your dad died. But don’t kill yourself to be with him. You have a wonderful life ahead!”
I simply answered, “Nothing will be the same.” If my own guardian angel didn’t understand that, no one will.
Rage came over me like wild fire. I stormed outside not knowing where I was going. Immediately the cold stung my face; my hair was everywhere. The wind was whipping it like a whip taming a lion. I ran and ran. You could hear my footsteps echoing in the tense atmosphere.
I ended up near a cliff. I read the sign. It said ‘Greendore Cliff’.
“Don’t! I can’t save you if you do this intentionally … please.” She looked so sweet as she spoke. It was almost a beg.
But I jumped. I died.