The 6th HUPE in Storyland competition Ranking

Most parents would agree that their child's smile is one of the most precious things in the whole universe. Evelyn is no exception. Since she became a mother, her whole life wildly turned around, catching her completely off guard. Parenting isn't easy, raising a child requires a lot of effort, time, understanding and patience. After all, you're raising a future member of adult society, someone who will need to manage and live on their own. Being a parent is a huge responsibility, it's a fact everyone should be well aware of. Being a good mother who's eager to form a healthy relationship with her child can be overwhelming at times, especially if she's all alone in this world. This is exactly how Evelyn felt during her daughter's first months in this world. She's a first time mother and a widow with no close family, with no one to lend her a shoulder to lean on. What happened to her husband left a painful wound, changing the way she perceives life forever. Her mornings were filled with longing, desperation shaped her evenings. Warmth simply had no space in her sorrowfully filled schedule. The woman often found herself staring into nothingness wanting to make a change with all her might but never being able to. How am I supposed to take care of a newborn if I don't know how to handle my own emotions? Her mind was slowly filling up with uncertainty, there is no end to this misery, she thought. Despite all the pressure, what truly left an irreversible impact on Evelyn and finally let the sun's shine reflect into her life was something far more powerful than grief - her daughter Grace's smile. The mother had struggled a lot to compose herself the moment her little girl smiled for the first time ever. She had never seen a smile so wonderful. Every now and then, Evelyn replays that moment in her mind... She struggled to hold in her tears, her vision was beginning to blur. The effort was futile, though. Her eyes soon began to water, a seemingly never-ending flood of tears pouring out rapidly. Those tears, however, were the result of pure happiness. The haunting hopelessness, the unbearable doubts seemed to shrink in front of the image of her daughter transforming into a new, beautiful hope for the future. I will treasure you forever, my daughter, the teary-eyed mother whispered that night, equally to her daughter and her own heart. Grace was an infant back then, her mother's words were nothing but a distant murmur she couldn't understand or feel. What she could feel was her mother's embrace and the wetness of the woman's cheeks. Since that fateful night, Evelyn's heart felt different... softer, almost vulnerable. She wanted to freeze that exact moment of Grace's first smile. To frame it as if it was a picture, keeping it safe from all harm that would dare to erase it, to mess with her memory. But life had to go on, staying trapped in one moment wouldn't do a person any good. Time is an unstoppable force, unable to be slowed down or stopped. No matter how enjoyable the current days are, they will pass. They will hide for a certain period until they decide to show up again... similar to the seasons of the year. . Just because it's winter at the moment doesn't mean it will remain that way; spring will come, one way or another. The cycle will repeat as long as life exists. It is a lesson Evelyn had spent too long trying to understand. As time kept flying, Grace continued to grow. Evelyn sincerely tried her best to paint her daughter's life with smiles and joy. The girl was a whimsy toddler, a real chatterbox. Mommy, look! I drew a house, Grace often shouted, proudly holding up the drawing she had been working very hard on. In response, Evelyn made sure to carefully pin all of her mess but lovely kindergarten masterpieces on the fridge. Her tiny brain was always full of questions, excited to learn more about the world. Mommy, why is that fish so big? How does it swim so fast? Why can't I live under water as well? The fish makes it look so easy! Almost every sentence included a mandatory "why" and Evelyn couldn't help but find her silly questions amusing, her own mood started to brighten. Eventually, her daughter's liveliness faded away to some extent. As a teen, music began to intrigue her. Grace begged her mother to buy her a specific instrument for Christmas, claiming she wanted to build a career with music. Isn't that a wonderful idea, mom? Just imagine your daughter appearing in the newspaper headlines for her music! Soon enough, a brand-new violin found its place beneath the Christmas tree, carefully wrapped up in colorful paper. The gift was paired with organised violin lessons. The process of achieving everything was tough, Evelyn had to work extra hours to afford such a present. She did all those things to see her daughter smile once again, to share the happiness with her child. One of the biggest goals in this mother's life was to help her little girl make her dreams come true, continuously offering support during difficult times. Many hours of practice later, the investment proved to be worth it; her daughter turned into a real star. Grace performed her own music, attended various interviews in which she encouraged countless people to follow their dreams, just as she did. She often preached about the uniqueness of music and its ability to bring people together. Grace had always been a star, she just had to wait for the right time to shine. She was the reason her mother woke up every morning with hope in her heart, a hope that was fluid and had the tendency to change forms, sometimes huge while at other times almost nonexistent. Most important was the fact that it never disappeared or fully faded away. As long as her daughter keeps smiling, Evelyn won't run out of hope. All those beautiful moments, even the small ones that felt ephemeral, shall keep on living for a long time... Grace's childhood seemed to have passed in minutes. Similar to most youngsters, she fell in love. The love bloomed like a flower, eventually turning into engagement and ending up in marriage. Today is the day of the wedding ceremony, a sacred day by definition. Yet Evelyn has found herself sitting in a large, dark room. Despite the sheer size of the place, the tall walls feel almost suffocating. Worry is eating her completely from the inside. Evelyn is well aware of the day that's being celebrated today and the thought is making her feel uneasy. After tonight, the young married couple will be starting to live together in a small but cozy apartment. The two are preparing themselves for a new life filled with love and harmony, while Evelyn will be forced to experience her old life once again, returning to an empty house after all these years. She feels ashamed for thinking in such a self-centered way but she can't shake off the feeling that she's simply not ready for the uneasy quietness that is going to accompany her at home. The woman feels disturbed by silence. Her mind refuses to forget the deafening silence she experienced all around her after the news of her husband's passing. There is this feeling of returning alone to a familiar place known as home Evelyn is becoming aware of since today - she will be the one and only, the lone resident inside. The two situations, a spouse passing and a daughter marrying, are not the same. But both of them carry that unbearable silence Evelyn can't handle. Quietness allows thoughts roam freely, a benefit she isn't very fond of. A voice takes the mother out of her trance, along with a hand waving in front of her eyes. Hello, anyone here? Evelyn takes it as an opportunity to look around and scan her surroundings. The dimly lit room is nothing but a projection of her imagination. She's in the wedding hall on her daughter's special day and was awkwardly staring at the table just moments ago. The white room filled with deliciously smelling food and warm lights is creating a sharp contrast to her gloomy mood. Evelyn lets out a hum in acknowledgement to a man who responds with a relieved sigh, You scared me for a moment! You seemed quite deep in thoughts over there. Is everything alright? His name is Carlos, he was one of Evelyn's husband's best friends. The two haven't spoken much until recently but Grace agreed to invite him anyway. I'm alright, Evelyn finally speaks up, I was just lost in my thoughts. thinking. The man, despite seeming reluctant, decides not to push any further. If you say so...Come on, the cake will be served soon. Your daughter is waiting for a picture with you. So she stands up, momentarily forgetting about her previous worries. The night is passing by smoothly for the guests. Meanwhile, Evelyn can't stop the same familiar question from circling in her mind. Why? My daughter is happy, why does this night feel so bittersweet? Her hesitation softens as she is glancing at the now officially married couple. Despite Grace growing into a woman, her smile remains as pure as ever. The sweet scent of chocolate cake she is being served is the epitome of her joy in this moment. She will forever remain her mother's dear daughter, no matter what life is going to throw at them. The scene in front of Evelyn feels too familiar, the image of her own wedding day is flashing before her eyes. Grace will experience the same happiness Evelyn felt with her own husband. Perhaps that is the joy of motherhood: seeing your beloved child enjoying herself with a bright future ahead. The physically empty house will forever hold the warmth of all the smiles that shaped Grace into the person she is today. Each of those smiles made a difference in her mother's life.

Most parents would agree that their child's smile is one of the most precious things in the whole universe. Evelyn is no exception. Since she became a mother, her whole life wildly turned around, catching her completely off guard. Parenting isn't easy, raising a child requires a lot of effort, time, understanding and patience. After all, you're raising a future member of adult society, someone who will need to manage and live on their own. Being a parent is a huge responsibility, it's a fact everyone should be well aware of. Being a good mother who's eager to form a healthy relationship with her child can be overwhelming at times, especially if she's all alone in this world. This is exactly how Evelyn felt during her daughter's first months in this world. She's a first time mother and a widow with no close family, with no one to lend her a shoulder to lean on. What happened to her husband left a painful wound, changing the way she perceives life forever. Her mornings were filled with longing, desperation shaped her evenings. Warmth simply had no space in her sorrowfully filled schedule. The woman often found herself staring into nothingness wanting to make a change with all her might but never being able to. How am I supposed to take care of a newborn if I don't know how to handle my own emotions? Her mind was slowly filling up with uncertainty, there is no end to this misery, she thought. Despite all the pressure, what truly left an irreversible impact on Evelyn and finally let the sun's shine reflect into her life was something far more powerful than grief - her daughter Grace's smile. The mother had struggled a lot to compose herself the moment her little girl smiled for the first time ever. She had never seen a smile so wonderful. Every now and then, Evelyn replays that moment in her mind... She struggled to hold in her tears, her vision was beginning to blur. The effort was futile, though. Her eyes soon began to water, a seemingly never-ending flood of tears pouring out rapidly. Those tears, however, were the result of pure happiness. The haunting hopelessness, the unbearable doubts seemed to shrink in front of the image of her daughter transforming into a new, beautiful hope for the future. I will treasure you forever, my daughter, the teary-eyed mother whispered that night, equally to her daughter and her own heart. Grace was an infant back then, her mother's words were nothing but a distant murmur she couldn't understand or feel. What she could feel was her mother's embrace and the wetness of the woman's cheeks. Since that fateful night, Evelyn's heart felt different... softer, almost vulnerable. She wanted to freeze that exact moment of Grace's first smile. To frame it as if it was a picture, keeping it safe from all harm that would dare to erase it, to mess with her memory. But life had to go on, staying trapped in one moment wouldn't do a person any good. Time is an unstoppable force, unable to be slowed down or stopped. No matter how enjoyable the current days are, they will pass. They will hide for a certain period until they decide to show up again... similar to the seasons of the year. . Just because it's winter at the moment doesn't mean it will remain that way; spring will come, one way or another. The cycle will repeat as long as life exists. It is a lesson Evelyn had spent too long trying to understand. As time kept flying, Grace continued to grow. Evelyn sincerely tried her best to paint her daughter's life with smiles and joy. The girl was a whimsy toddler, a real chatterbox. Mommy, look! I drew a house, Grace often shouted, proudly holding up the drawing she had been working very hard on. In response, Evelyn made sure to carefully pin all of her mess but lovely kindergarten masterpieces on the fridge. Her tiny brain was always full of questions, excited to learn more about the world. Mommy, why is that fish so big? How does it swim so fast? Why can't I live under water as well? The fish makes it look so easy! Almost every sentence included a mandatory "why" and Evelyn couldn't help but find her silly questions amusing, her own mood started to brighten. Eventually, her daughter's liveliness faded away to some extent. As a teen, music began to intrigue her. Grace begged her mother to buy her a specific instrument for Christmas, claiming she wanted to build a career with music. Isn't that a wonderful idea, mom? Just imagine your daughter appearing in the newspaper headlines for her music! Soon enough, a brand-new violin found its place beneath the Christmas tree, carefully wrapped up in colorful paper. The gift was paired with organised violin lessons. The process of achieving everything was tough, Evelyn had to work extra hours to afford such a present. She did all those things to see her daughter smile once again, to share the happiness with her child. One of the biggest goals in this mother's life was to help her little girl make her dreams come true, continuously offering support during difficult times. Many hours of practice later, the investment proved to be worth it; her daughter turned into a real star. Grace performed her own music, attended various interviews in which she encouraged countless people to follow their dreams, just as she did. She often preached about the uniqueness of music and its ability to bring people together. Grace had always been a star, she just had to wait for the right time to shine. She was the reason her mother woke up every morning with hope in her heart, a hope that was fluid and had the tendency to change forms, sometimes huge while at other times almost nonexistent. Most important was the fact that it never disappeared or fully faded away. As long as her daughter keeps smiling, Evelyn won't run out of hope. All those beautiful moments, even the small ones that felt ephemeral, shall keep on living for a long time... Grace's childhood seemed to have passed in minutes. Similar to most youngsters, she fell in love. The love bloomed like a flower, eventually turning into engagement and ending up in marriage. Today is the day of the wedding ceremony, a sacred day by definition. Yet Evelyn has found herself sitting in a large, dark room. Despite the sheer size of the place, the tall walls feel almost suffocating. Worry is eating her completely from the inside. Evelyn is well aware of the day that's being celebrated today and the thought is making her feel uneasy. After tonight, the young married couple will be starting to live together in a small but cozy apartment. The two are preparing themselves for a new life filled with love and harmony, while Evelyn will be forced to experience her old life once again, returning to an empty house after all these years. She feels ashamed for thinking in such a self-centered way but she can't shake off the feeling that she's simply not ready for the uneasy quietness that is going to accompany her at home. The woman feels disturbed by silence. Her mind refuses to forget the deafening silence she experienced all around her after the news of her husband's passing. There is this feeling of returning alone to a familiar place known as home Evelyn is becoming aware of since today - she will be the one and only, the lone resident inside. The two situations, a spouse passing and a daughter marrying, are not the same. But both of them carry that unbearable silence Evelyn can't handle. Quietness allows thoughts roam freely, a benefit she isn't very fond of. A voice takes the mother out of her trance, along with a hand waving in front of her eyes. Hello, anyone here? Evelyn takes it as an opportunity to look around and scan her surroundings. The dimly lit room is nothing but a projection of her imagination. She's in the wedding hall on her daughter's special day and was awkwardly staring at the table just moments ago. The white room filled with deliciously smelling food and warm lights is creating a sharp contrast to her gloomy mood. Evelyn lets out a hum in acknowledgement to a man who responds with a relieved sigh, You scared me for a moment! You seemed quite deep in thoughts over there. Is everything alright? His name is Carlos, he was one of Evelyn's husband's best friends. The two haven't spoken much until recently but Grace agreed to invite him anyway. I'm alright, Evelyn finally speaks up, I was just lost in my thoughts. thinking. The man, despite seeming reluctant, decides not to push any further. If you say so...Come on, the cake will be served soon. Your daughter is waiting for a picture with you. So she stands up, momentarily forgetting about her previous worries. The night is passing by smoothly for the guests. Meanwhile, Evelyn can't stop the same familiar question from circling in her mind. Why? My daughter is happy, why does this night feel so bittersweet? Her hesitation softens as she is glancing at the now officially married couple. Despite Grace growing into a woman, her smile remains as pure as ever. The sweet scent of chocolate cake she is being served is the epitome of her joy in this moment. She will forever remain her mother's dear daughter, no matter what life is going to throw at them. The scene in front of Evelyn feels too familiar, the image of her own wedding day is flashing before her eyes. Grace will experience the same happiness Evelyn felt with her own husband. Perhaps that is the joy of motherhood: seeing your beloved child enjoying herself with a bright future ahead. The physically empty house will forever hold the warmth of all the smiles that shaped Grace into the person she is today. Each of those smiles made a difference in her mother's life.