From Sorrows Deep, Part 1
by Dee
It was a night I knew I would remember for the rest of my life. I, eighteen-year-old Naomi Grace Wist, was an orphan.
Let me explain. My mother died several years ago, giving birth to my youngest sister, Sara. And just now, as I watched with my seven siblings, our beloved father had drawn his last breath before our very eyes. He had been ailing for some time now, cancer slowly draining the life out of him.
The sobbing of my siblings drew me out of my thoughts. I was the oldest, and though I had taken over my mother’s job, I had still had my father to turn to. Now, I had no one. I was expected to mother my seven siblings nearly all on my own.
I reached out to Sara and drew her close, wrapping my other arm around Amos, my youngest brother. I gazed at my siblings with tears in my eyes. There was a lump in my throat, but I felt I should comfort them.
“It’ll be okay. Daddy’s with Mommy now.” Those were the only words I could think of at that moment. Jeremiah, the next oldest after myself, smiled sadly at me.
We all took one last look at our father and then filed out of the hospital room, out of the hospital itself, and out to the parking lot where our fifteen passenger van waited. It was a good thing I had my driver’s license.
***
Somehow, we all got through the preparations and the funeral itself. The week after the funeral was another story. Guardianship of my siblings was transferred to my maternal grandparents, and we had to clean out Dad’s room for them. It was hard for all of us, especially Jeremiah, who had been the closest to our father.
Each of us, myself, Jeremiah, Lydia, Hannah, Daniel, Peter, Amos, and Sara, had different trials we were facing at this unexpected blow.
***
I suppose I should begin with my part of the story. For seven years of my life, I have been caring for my siblings, just as my mother would have. Every day, I depended on my father for help and guidance. But now, he’s gone and I have no one to turn to. Yes, my grandparents are here to care for the children; however, I’ve been their substitute mother for a good part of their lives. I feel I must continue with the job I’ve been given by the Lord.
Trusting Him everyday has been an immense struggle. Take yesterday, for an example.
“Naomi, Daniel and Peter are ganging up on me!” Hannah burst into the small room that was my own.
I sighed. Ever since the funeral, Daniel, Peter, and Hannah had been at each other’s throats, a new thing, since the three were triplets and almost always inseparable. Now, they fought constantly.
“Hannah, come here,” I patted my bed. “Sit down and talk to me. What’s bothering you?”
Hannah stared at the wall across from my bed. She didn’t make a peep, but when I glanced over at her, tears were streaming down her face.
“Oh, Hannah,” I said gently. I put my arms around her like I had many times before. She snuggled up close and I stroked her hair, calming her silently. I said nothing and when she had finished crying, I gave her the gift my sweet mother had given me years earlier. I gave her the gift of a story.
“When you were born, you and Daniel and Peter, I was there.” I gazed wistfully out the window, remembering. As I gazed out the window, I could only think of the words my dear mama had said to me so many years ago.
“I had just walked into the hospital room where Mama was holding Daniel, and Daddy was holding Peter. You were lying in an incubator beside the bed. It hurts me to say it, but at that time, mind you, I’m saying at that time, not now, I didn’t want any more siblings.
“There were three of us already, Jeremiah, Lydia, and I. Jeremiah was my best friend and Lydia was just the baby. I didn’t like the idea of more siblings, and especially not three more.
“I refused to hold you or the boys at all. I wouldn’t even look at you. After a week passed,
Mama was back at home even though you three were still at the hospital.
“One night, I just couldn’t hold it in. I raged at Mama and Daddy.
“ ‘I don’t want more siblings!’ I yelled. 'We already have enough kids in this family and you had to go and add more!’
“That made everyone quiet. No one made a sound. I was sure I’d never heard a silence so silent before. Everything, everyone, even Lydia was absolutely still. I stood there motionless, tears rolling down my cheeks. No one moved. It was absolutely, completely still.
“Then Mama took me to her room. While she sat on the bed, I stared sullenly at the wall. Then she spoke the words that changed my life.
“ ‘Naomi, I see so much of myself in you,’ she said quietly. And she uttered words I’d never expected her to say. ‘It frightens me.’
You can find Part 2 here.
