The lingering scent of chocolate called me with its heavenly smell. Delicious chocolates filled with jam. I bought them from Elizabeth, the owner of the chocolate shop, one of many in Paris.
"Thank you, Elizabeth." I grasped the bright red package of chocolates and smiled.
"Merci, Maria. Come again," Elizabeth called out.
Hours later, I was sitting with my friend, Rosaline, when my cell phone rang. I heard my mother's frantic voice on the line.
"Maria, your sister Jenny is in the hospital! She has been diagnosed with leukemia and is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant! You have the closest blood type!"
I left Rosaline and hailed a cab. I was scared. Could I really do this? When I reached the hospital, I ran to Jenny's room. My sweet little sister was bald. Her skin was an ashy-pale color. Dark circles surrounded her eyes. The doctor took me to a separate room where I underwent surgery, giving my little sister the bone marrow she needed.
Jenny's body reacted well to the transplant. Months later, Jenny was better. Before long I was walking out of the chocolate shop again, this time hand in hand with my little sister.
Maria M. [Pelham, AL] is a 12 year old 7th grader who enjoys writing immensely and has wanted to publish a book since third grade. She enjoys reading and finds time to also knit and crochet.
© 2009 Maria M. Original for CCF. Maria M. grants CCF first electronic rights for one month; CCF may archive the material indefinitely and include it in an eBook anthology).
* CCF does not publish students' last names on the work they submit for publication.
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