It was another boring evening of July. 15-year-old Oliver was sitting on the couch watching TV and waiting for his parents to return home. They were working together in a bank and always returned around 7 o’ clock but this time they were a little late. Oliver, however, did not pay too much attention to this and thought they may have stuck in the traffic.

About an hour later, Oliver heard the phone ringing and went to answer. “This must be them.” he whispered to himself but surprisingly enough they weren’t. The phone call was from a hospital.

“Hello?” said the boy worried.

“Is it the Browns?” asked a woman’s voice.

“I’m their son.” replied Oliver. “What’s the matter?”

“I’m afraid your parents have had an accident. They are currently in a coma and in urgent need of blood.” continued the woman.

Oliver lost it. He immediately dropped the phone from his hand and it fell on the floor. As he calmed down a bit, he hang up and decided to go to the hospital. He stepped out of his house and took the bus that went straight to the hospital. When he arrived, he picked up all of his courage and got in. He saw a sign saying: ‘Intensive Care Unit’,followed it and asked the first doctor he found about his parents.

“I’m sorry but they didn’t make it. They passed away like a quarter ago. We are now cleaning up their rooms. I’m really sorry kid.” said the doctor.

The boy just stood there for a few seconds not knowing what to do. His parents were the only ones left and now they were gone too. He was devastated. The doctor looked at him concerned and asked him if he was alright. Oliver didn’t say anything.

“Can I do something to help you?” asked the man. Oliver replied with a single “no” and turned around to take the next bus home. As soon as he opened his house’s front door, it felt nothing like home. There was something very strange and unapproachable about it as if something has changed because it had. He was now an orphan and he had no other relatives close. His grandparents were all dead and he didn’t have any uncles or aunts able to take proper care of him. He spent all night crying.

As the days passed, the boy became worse and worse until he eventually couldn’t do absolutely anything. He was staying home alone, he wasn’t eating enough nor getting enough sleep. A strange morning, however, someone all of a sudden knocked on his door.

“I have nothing to lose.” he thought and opened the door. To his surprise he saw a girl standing in front of him. She was no older than twenty years old and she had a very sweet and warm face. “Hi!” she said to him softly. When Oliver asked her who she was she replied: “I’m Hannah. I just moved here and I’m living next door.”

“That’s weird. I thought someone was already living there. But I’m not sure though. I’ve been staying at home for the last week.” He said.

“Why?” asked Hannah worried. “Did something happen?”

“Yeah, a lot happened. But I can’t tell you now. Would you like to come in? I need to talk to someone.” said the boy and she agreed. “How old are you Hannah?” he continued.

“Eighteen” she said. “I’m having classes at the university here in a few months so I rented this apartment. But what happened to you? I’m not used to seeing fifteen-year-olds living by themselves. Where are your parents?”

“They’re dead. They passed away a few days ago, in a car crash. That’s why I was staying at home. I feel like I can do nothing. I have even considered giving up. But wait a minute. How do you know I’m fifteen? I didn’t mention that.” Oliver replied.

Hannah seemed to panic for a bit. “What? I didn’t. I… I just… guessed.” she responded. “Anyway. I hope you don’t mean that. You can’t just simply give up. What about the people that love you? Why hurt them like that?”

That’s the point.” answered the boy. “There’s nobody left. I have nothing to live for anymore and I won’t hurt anyone by going.”

“Don’t say that. Things will get better in time. Just think about your parents. They definitely wouldn’t want you to do this to yourself. That’s terrible.” She insisted in an attempt to change his mind.

“How can you be so sure about that?” muttered Oliver with a broken voice. “They’re not here. We don’t know what they want.”

“Trust me, I do” she comforted him.

A few weeks passed, and Oliver started feeling better day by day thanks to Hannah. The two of them had now become very good friends. She was sure to check on him daily to make sure he didn’t need any help and the more she helped him, the better the boy felt. By the end of the summer Hannah told Oliver: “In a few days I’m starting with my classes. I won’t be able to be with you as much as I did but I hope you’ll be okay. I have also left something for you at the kitchen table. It’s nothing special actually. It’s just… well… you’ll see.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I’m starting school too so I will be busy as well.” He replied and then added: “I’m so glad I found you! You literally saved my life, I wouldn’t be here, if it wasn’t for you. You remind me of my mom.”

The girl did not answer, just smiled subtly and then left. Oliver decided to go and see what had Hannah left for him. On the kitchen table there was lying a closed envelope with a letter inside. He opened it and started reading:

Dear Oliver,

You know I care a lot about you and I try to remind you often. I know I saved you but I don’t want anything in return. The only reason I came here was to show you the way to the light. That was my intention from the beginning. I’m happy you are well now and you do not feel so much despair.

I am not going to come back. I had a mission here and I have completed it. I don’t want you to forget me though. You don’t have to tell anyone about me, I don’t crave it, honestly. If you remember me, I don’t care if everyone else forgets. And if you do remember me, we are going to meet each other again sooner or later.

Love you,Your mother.