A Place of Hope by: Marissa Earley<3

There was a beautiful girl, once upon a time ago, in a far away land. On the day of her birth, her mother looked into her aqua-blue eyes and told her this, "My lovely daughter, I love you with all my heart and soul. But I am dying now, slowly. Go off and live with your father and always know that I loved you. . ."

Her mother slowly past away within the next hour. The women at the hospital had no idea what to name to baby, for it was too late for her mother. Luckily, found in the mother's hand was a locket. On the locket, written in perfect gold letters said the name, Sydney. The women took the locket and placed it upon the baby's neck. They named her Sydney in honor of her mother, whom she never knew.

Seventeen long years later, Sydney lay awake on her queen size bed in what she called her father's lair. Her father was bitter and cold hearted. He had shunned Sydney out ever since her mother died. Sydney, not being close to her father, wished with all her heart to become 18 so she could travel on the distant lands.

She knew exactly where she wanted to go, a place far away. She didn't even know the name of her destination but she was determined to get there. Why you may ask? It was the picture she had inside of her locket taht she was given as a baby. She thought her mother must have been there because she gave her the necklace.

Sydney packed slowly, a little more each day to be prepared to leave. The day came when she had nothing let to pack. She knew exactly what this meant, her 18th birthday was tomrrow.

THe next day Sydney set off to the beautiful lit picture in her locket. She gave all of the money to the man at the airport and showed him her picture. He looked stunned at first that she had no idea where she was going. Then he saw the serious look on her face. He quickly gave her 1 ticker to Sydney, Australia.

For the first time in her life she felt ever so happy to finally get to this place. The place her mother must have named her after. A place of hope.