this song is a version of Celion Dion's The Prayer... I believe this version was on the Disney movie Mulan.

I sat there crying for what seemed like hours even though I knew I had probably only been there for about twenty minutes.

Heather stood in the doorway and said softly," I'm sorry about your dinner."

I said," I should have expected it. She never has time for me anymore there is always something that comes up that's more important than me."

Heather sat down beside me and said," You know that you are the most important thing in the world to her. You know that."

I asked as I got up and walked out of the room," How could I? She's never around."

I walked out to her car and sat down in the passenger seat.

She got in and turned to look at me before she started the car.

She said," I know that you know that she loves you. What I want to know is why you refuse to let yourself love her."

I said," I do love her…"

She asked," But?"

I said," I hate her too. No matter how much she says that she loves me, she is never around to show me. And even when she tries to do things with me her work always gets in the way and for some reason it comes before me… Can we just go please, I don't want to talk anymore."

She drove to her parent's house and said," I had my dad make you a hamburger."

I said as we walked in," I'm not hungry."

I could hear her family talking, but once we walked through the door there was a sitting room with a piano. I sat down in the recliner and didn't move.

Heather went in to help with dinner and give me a little time alone. She came back when dinner was ready and asked," Are you going to come and eat with us?"

I shook my head no and said," I'm not hungry."

She said," Well, you are a guest, so you are going to come and sit at the table with the rest of us while we eat."

I said," It's okay. I'll just sit here."

She said," It wasn't a question. Get up and come sit at the table with the rest of us."

I asked," Can't you just take me back to our apartment and leave me there. Then you can have time with your family without the inconvenience of me."

She said," You are not an inconvenience to me or my family. My parents have been dying to meet you ever since I started staying with you. So get up and let's go eat dinner, please."

I did and after dinner we all played games and even went fishing.

I hadn't had this much fun since before my mom died.

I felt alive again.

When we got back to the house after we were done fishing I did something that I hadn't done since my mom had died.

I went back into the sitting room and sat down at the piano.

I sat there staring at the keys as my mind flashed back.

Flashback

I had just turned five and it was my first real piano recital. My mom was so proud of me. I played an easy version of the song A Mother's Prayer. I loved the feeling of accomplishment as I sat on that bench.

End of flashback

I had worked so hard over the years. I loved to play, and I loved even more how much my mom loved to hear me play.

I wiggled my fingers a little and settled them down on the keys. I heard a knock on the door and Heather answered it. I heard her and Olivia talking.

I closed me eyes and the music began to pour out of my fingers.

Tears slid down my face as I began to sing,"

I pray you'll be my eyes,

And watch her where she goes.

Help her to be wise,

In times when she won't know.

Every mother's prayer,

Every child knows.

Lead her to a place,

Guide her with your grace.

To a place where she'll be safe…"

I kept playing but I was crying too hard to sing.

Heather sat down on the stool beside me and slowly rubbed my back.

I fell into her arms crying when I was done.

She held me close and Olivia came up behind me and picked me up.

I held onto her tight.

She said," I love you Sarah. Next Monday we're going to go find you a keyboard you need to keep playing. Come on, let's go home."

Heather kissed my forehead and said," I'll see you tomorrow."

I thought for a minute, I really wanted some time alone, without Heather. I loved having her around and all, but the last few days it seems like I've been torturing her by having her stay with me.

I lied and said," I have a study session with my math group tomorrow after school Olivia can just pick me up when she gets off. We should be done by then."

Heather looked at me for a minute and said," Okay, I'll come by in the morning though to drive you to school."

I said," My friend's mom is going to pick me up and we're going to have breakfast together. Sleep in and have a good day and I'll see you the day after tomorrow."

She was suspicious but said," Okay, I'll see you later."

Olivia took me home and I crawled in bed before she had a chance to say anything.

I heard Olivia leave the next morning. I rolled over and went back to sleep.

I heard pounding on the door a few hours later and then I heard it open.

Heather yelled as the door opened," Get out here now!"

I slammed my door shut and locked it.

She pounded on my door and said," Sarah open the door now!"

When I didn't she got the key and a screwdriver and hammer.

After she had unlocked the door she took it off the hinges and carried it into Olivia's room and stood it against the wall.

I asked," How did you know?"

She said," Your school called. And I called Olivia."

The door to the apartment flew open and Olivia yelled," Sarah, NOW!"

I knew what she meant.

I slowly came out of my room.

I walked up in front of her.

Heather walked up behind me.

Olivia said," No door, two weeks. And I haven't even decided what to do about your skipping school."

I asked," What about my lying?"

Olivia said," Now that is Heather's decision. You lied to her more than me."