Morning Star and Lonely Heart

It was three days before Christmas when Helena experienced the worst day of her young life. Her boyfriend of two years dumped her for a much younger woman.  The same woman who had beaten her in the search for Queen of Heart.  Helena cannot stand being second rate and she promised she will get back the most popular guy in the campus at all cost. That night, she went home fuming mad. She saw her mother with her "where have you been?" look in her eye sitting on the sofa. Helena did not expect her mom to come home early. She is used to her mom staying up late in the office. For Helena, her mom is the perfect workaholic mom and family time for her is the least of her priority. Helena thought of her as a "selfish vile" woman who would do anything for herself. Helena constantly blame her for the death of her dad who died in a car crash.  Her mother drove that car when it happened.

Helena went inside her room. Helena gawk at how everything in her room seemed to be in order. She threw her things on the floor. For a while she shouted at the door. "I did not ask you to arrange my room! I want it disorderly!" She pulled back the neatly arranged book in the table and threw them on the floor. She felt so miserable that night that she wanted to end her life. She texted her friend but no one bothered to reply to her. She dialed some number but it was all busy. She opened her computer  and went online. She entered a familiar chat room and entered her username -lonely heart. There were plenty of users in the chatroom  talking on all sort of topic. A window opened in her computer. Somebody want to chat with her with the username-morning star.

At last Helena found somebody who is lonely too. Helena told  about  her boyfriend who dissed her to a slut, her relation to her mom, and the death of her dad.  She said if only she can turn back time and make it the way she wanted things. Morning star shared her thoughts in the course of their conversation . She too was in a dilemma because she is dying of a breast cancer that already spread all over her body. She had few days to live and she wanted to tell her family but don't know how. Helena realized her problem were superficial compared to Morning star. Helena asked how she can help. Morning star told Helena they could see each other in a prominent coffee shop downtown on Christmas Day. She need not worry that it's a hoax. She can always turn her back at any time. Helena said she believed her. Morning star told Helena she would bring her family with her and Helena can help break the bad news. Helena felt so happy she can be of help to someone on Christmas Day. Morning star told Helena she would bring her heart shaped pillow so Helena can recognize her among the crowd.

When Christmas Day arrived Helena left her room early and passed by her Mom's room. She tried to give her a Christmas greeting in her room but when she was about to knock she decided not to. She went to the kitchen and found a small gift with a greeting card inside. She read it. It expressed so much love but Helena can't stand any word from it. She went out of the house to go to the mall. It was a bright Christmas Day. There were plenty of families walking inside.  Helena missed the day when they were still a family. Helena stepped inside the coffee shop and waited for Morning star to arrive. She went to the comfort room thrice because of butterfly in her stomach.  She promised herself she is going to be happy that day.

It was around noon when she heard someone walk inside the coffee shop. Helena pretended she was reading a book. She felt a mad rush of adrenaline. A chill ran down her spine. She felt her body trembled. She cannot move her face or body from extreme anticipation. A woman stood before her and said "I am morning star and you must be Lonely heart?"

It was a calm and soothing voice she heard. Helena felt her spirit being lifted from up above. Helena slowly raise her head and saw the woman standing before her. For a minute she was frozen. Unable to speak. The heart shaped pillow the woman held in her arms were undeniable. For a moment she cannot believe what she saw. Morning star was on the verge of tears but she stood firm. Helena broke down in tears as she walked to embrace the stranger. Helena held her like a fragile stone that she's going to lose her any minute. "Mom?"  Helena cried. It was her mom standing before her. Then he saw her younger brother and sister come out from hiding. Helena cried so hard.

It was the last Christmas Helena and her Mom spent together. Helena treasured the heart shaped pillow close to her heart and up to this day, she care for it still, as if it was the same heart that beat inside her. Only, her heart was much bigger and kinder now.