The Tipping Point- Chapter One

"No, please Sophie, please come back! Please don't leave! I didn't mean it!" I shout as I begin to chase after my sister. But it seemed the closer I got, the farther away she seemed to move away. And then she began to disappear, fade away into the darkness. "Please don't go! Can't you see that I need you? No!" I shout just as she disappears into the darkness for good. Then with a gasp and a jolt, I sit up in bed. It was just a dream. I think, trying to reassure myself. But only if it was a dream.

I have been having the same ones since the day my sister left. I look at my clock next to my bed, it said 2:00 in big bold red numbers. I sigh and lay back down. I lay there trying to go back to sleep, but the vivid images of the dream kept haunting my mind. Of course they disturbed me, but there was nothing I could do. Then I sink into a dark blur. I awake a little while later with a gasp. Looking over at the clock, it said 7: 00 AM. Sighing, I get out of bed, deciding that I probably wouldn't sleep any longer. Before going into the bathroom, of my apartment, the bold red circle on the calendar catches my attention. I look at the date and sigh. That's right. Today's the day, our anniversary. I think as I go into the bathroom. Today was May 17, the day my sister and I stopped talking.

I grab a bagel out of the toaster and go into the living room. Of course I was just doing my normal routine, like always. I turn on the T.V. and begin to watch the morning news. Then my phone rings, muting the T.V. I pick it up. "Hello?"

"Leslie, I know what today is. Are you sure you want to work?" My boss asks.

"Yes, I'll be fine." I say.

"Are you sure? Last year you seemed to take it pretty hard."

"Yes, Roger. I'm going to counseling for that, so I've got it managed."

"If you're sure, you don't have to come into today."

"You say that every year, I'm coming in early."
"Well, only if you are sure. Okay then, see you at work. Bye." He says.

"Bye." I say and hang up the phone.

Roger was a good man and also a nice boss. For the pass five years on this same date, he would call to see if I was coming in. Of course I would say I was, only to get my mind off of it. As I got ready for work, I noticed the mail sticking out of the mail slot. It was a green envelope with cursive hand writing on it. I open it, to see who it was from. It was two letters, one from my father and the other one from my mother. I quickly skimmed over my father's long letter. He wrote that my mother had passed away from her fight with cancer. And that one of her last requests was to mail out her letter. With tears in my eyes, I slowly and carefully unfold my mother's last and final letter:

Dearest Leslie,
I know I do not have much time left. But my final dream and request was to hopefully to see my two daughters one last time, together again, like old times. But I figured that may never happen. So in this letter is my final and most precious request of all. Even though you may not fulfill it, it was worth a shot to say. My final and most precious request is that after or before I am gone from this world, please find your sister and make amends. Become a family again. Your father will need both of you after I am gone. So please take this into consideration and think it over. It would make me smile, even from heaven.
Love(Hugs and Kisses too),
Mom

Wiping tears away, I quickly put the letter in my bad and go out the door. The entire time I was at work, my mother's words floated in and out of my mind. Maybe I should do it, it would have made her happy, not to mention make dad happy. I think. But I wouldn't even know where to finder her. I add to my thoughts as I let out a sigh and continue to type. Who knows where she could be. She could have moved out of the country for all I know, it's been six years after all. I think still adding to my thoughts.

I just let my thoughts bounce around inside my head, like a small rubber bouncy ball and continued to do my job. Roget then comes up to me. "I can see that you're not on your game today, maybe you should go home. You're usually faster than this." he says.

"Huh? Oh Sorry! My thoughts were distracting me. I just learned that my mother died and I was thinking of that." I say.

"And no, I'm staying here. I'll speed up." I add.

Trying not to let my thought distract me, I continue on working. Before I knew it, it was time to go home. As I walked toward the front entrance of my apartment building, I noticed someone sitting on the stoop. As I got closet, they got more clear in my vision. No, it can be! But it looks- not it's not her. What if it is? I think. "Sophie?" I say.

The figure then turns around and looks at me. I was right, it was my sister. After all these years, she finally came back- hopefully. "Sophie, what are you doing here?" I asked surprised, but also in a cold tone.

"I-I'm in some trouble...I didn't know what else to do! Who else to turn to...to come to! I...I...need your help!" She says sounding frantic as she begins to cry.