My short story

Vanessa
By Made ayu Winda Maharani

On a sunny morning, Vanessa woke up at 06.30 am, then she prepared everything as soon as possible. She stayed at home with Auntie, the servant that worked for her family over fifteen years. Her parents have worked in London since ten years ago and came home every two weeks.

“Good morning, Auntie. Is this my breakfast?” Vanessa said hastily.
“Good morning, Nessa. Yes, and this is your lunch, hope you like it,” Auntie said with gave her a box.
“Thank you, this breakfast is very delicious. I must going to school right now…, see you!” She waving her hand and ride her motorcycle.
“Be careful, Nessa!” Auntie said.

Vanessa was a beautiful girl, seventeen years old, very popular in SMA 3 Jakarta. She was very smart, especially in English Lesson. She followed and won some English Competitions. She has a best friend, Zahra that one class with her. Zahra was a kind girl and faithful to accompany Vanessa in joy and sorrow.

In that morning, Vanessa came fifteen minutes before the lessons begin.
“Hey…Do you oversleep?” Zahra asked. “How about your homework?”
“Oh My God…I really forget it. Which homework?” Vanessa panic.
“Make conversation in English. Calm down! You have ten minutes to do that, you are a smart student,” Zahra tranquilized.
“Don’t say like that, you are smart, too,” Vanessa said.
Finally she completed her assignment and the lesson began. She was very
excited following it.

The bell in the school was ringing, time to take a rest. Vanessa and Zahra went to cafeteria. Vanessa ate her lunch and so did Zahra. Suddenly, Rio came and sit beside Vanessa.
“Hi guys! Is that delicious?” Rio asked with appointed their lunch.
“Hi Rio, it is very delicious, my Mom’s cuisine,” Zahra said.
“Hi honey, do you want to try my lunch?” Vanessa offered her meal.
“No, thanks… I have ordered a bowl of soto,” Rio said.
“Ok… Bon appétit, guys!” Vanessa said.
Rio was Vanessa’s boyfriend a handsome and a kind boy in third grade of her school. He was very cared to Vanessa.

One day, there was a national level championship of English language that held in Bandung, ten days later. At that time, Vanessa asked to meet the headmaster in the office.
“Good morning, Sir, do you want to meet me?” She confused.
“Yes, sit down, please!” He said. “This is about the national level championship of English language. You selected to represent our school in that competition.” Vanessa looked at her headmaster wide eyed. “Would you accept this assignment?”
“Yes, of course, Sir. I’m so proud and glad to do that,” She shocked.
“Ok… I wish you could be a winner. Do the best for our school. Good luck!” He said.
“Thank you very much, Sir…,” She said with shined eye.

After that, she studied hard and also prayed everyday. She didn’t want to disappoint the people around her. One day before the competition, many people gave spirit to her. Her families, Zahra and Rio assembled at Vanessa's home.
“Let’s pray together! We wish Vanessa could be the winner,” Dad said.
“Amen!” Dad, Mom and Auntie said.
“Good luck for Vanessa…!” Zahra and Rio said with clapped their hands.
“Thank you all…,” She touched and felt confidence for tomorrow.

The competition's day has arrived, everything was ready. Vanessa was accompanied by her English teacher and the driver heading to Bandung. They arrived in there about one hour before the competition began. She was looks nervous, her teacher tried to calm her down.
“Just calm down and be your self. Everything will be ok! Good luck! You can do this!” The teacher supported.
“Thank you for your support, Madam…,” She said and smiled.
After that she went to some room and the competition began. While she followed the competition, her teacher was waiting in the waiting room.

Finally, Vanessa won a national championship and entitled to the cash money and college scholarships in America. That was awesome, her teacher very proud to her. A lot of people in there congratulated to her.
“Congratulation, Nessa!” The teacher hugged.
“Thank you, it is because of your support,” She smiled.
She was very happy and couldn’t wait returned to Jakarta, told this good news. She could look of happiness from her teacher face.

On the trip, Vanessa felt asleep because of fatigue. Suddenly, she was very shocked by the sound of a very loud, followed by shouts from the teacher. Apparently their car collided with the truck. The teacher and the driver were unconscious.
“Help… Help us, please!” She shouted and felt pain in her legs.

Vanessa had unconscious, then at the several times, she was conscious in the hospital. Dad, Mom, Auntie, Zahra and Rio accompanied her in there. She was very shocked know that her legs had paralyzed.
“No…My legs…!” She shouted and cried.
“Lighten up, my darling…You must be strong!” Mom hugged.
“Yes, don’t you cry, we always by your side,” Rio tranquilized.

She was very down, but somehow she remains grateful has to survived from the crash. Dad, Mom, Auntie, Zahra and Rio were always take care and also gave the spirit for her.
“Thank you very much. I’m promise will keep spirit to be a better person. I'm very lucky to have you all, thanks God...,” She smiled.
“That’s my girl! You are an awesome girl. Don’t be give up!” Dad hugged and smiled.

Because of them, she was spirited to regain her ideals, for the sake of future. In the end, she graduated from SMA 3 Jakarta with the best score and several years later, she got a baccalaureate degree from a university in the United States although she has physical defect.

Semarang, 7 October 2010