Character biography

It was December when Mary was born. Her parents were hoping for a son to be d Joseph, but when the doctor announced a girl, they d her Mary. She resembled her parents equally. Mary was the only child of an associate editor in a local newspaper and a housewife. Mary’s family looked perfect. During the day, her father would go to work and she and her mother will be left to tend to the house. Most afternoons they would be found in the garden removing grasses and insects. Mary’s favorite flower is the sunflower, which she takes care of on her own. She thinks that she is like the sunflower, which is always sunny and optimistic. During Mary’s first day at school, she missed her mother so much that she decided to ditch, but her teacher found her along the way and took her back to the school. She cried when she was not allowed to go home, and Mary seldom cried. To pique her interest, the teacher gave her a painting book, which she loved dearest. Mary had her friends at school. There were three of them who were close. Jack, Mary, and Karlo were inseparable. Jack and Karlo would always fetch her from home and they would go to the movies together. Mary and Jack had a knack for romantic comedies, and Karlo would tag along and critique everything. One day, their friend Karlo did not go to school. During recess, they were called by the principal to tell them that their friend had been through an accident. He needed new organs, and there were no donors yet. After three days, the two wept together when they found out that their friend had not survived. This was the second time that Mary had been broken. She was so sad that she did not eat most of the time. They would always visit Karlo’s grave and talk to him when they were sad. She was already in high school when her father was promoted as the editor-in-chief. They moved to a bigger house, one with a bigger garden. She loved their first home so much that she decided that if it were available when she got married, she would move back in there with her family. She thought it was romantic. And she hoped that her soon-to-be husband thought so too. And that’s exactly what happened. Right after she left school, she married Jack. A year after they got married, Mary gave birth to a boy resembling her husband. In memory of their lost friend, Karlo, they named their son Karl. Mary began to hope again, that this time everyone she loved would stay with her. She was happy. They were a picture of a happy family—Jack going to work every day while Mary contented with taking care of the house and of their son. Jack had been accepted as a manager in the local supermarket, leaving her and her child alone during the day. Like any mother, she would always be sad when her son is, and when Karl is sick, Mary would be restless during the night. Until Karl grew up, she was the only one that he ran to whenever he was hurt. Mary was his hero. But that did not stop the inevitable: Karl being involved in an accident when he was fifteen. And this time, he cannot run towards his mother for help. It was just about 10AM, and Jack has left for work two hours before. She called him on her way and they met at the hospital, where they were told by the doctor that Karl had joined the Donate Life California Registry, which means that his organs and tissues would be donated, but their decision was needed. The couple was torn. They did not know what to do. They thought that the donation would ruin Karl’s body, that he would feel abused because his organs were missing. As a mother, Mary did not agree to anything that included removing any part of his son. She told Karl that she knew most mothers would agree to her. They had a row about it because Jack wanted to go through with the donation. Their row turned into fighting, with Mary just crying in a corner and Jack pacing back and forth. This was the lowest, saddest time for Mary. The sunflower has wilted, and what was left was a shell without any optimism. During all the confusion, they remembered their friend Karlo, who could have been saved if there were donors during his time. And that has made their mind. With a deep breath, the two of them decided that since Karl would not be saved anymore, the least that they could do is remember him and honor him by donating his organs and tissues to those who needs them. At least, even when he is not alive anymore, he could help others to live. They knew that Karl wanted this, and so they donated. Karl was buried a week after, and the couple mourned for months. Then, as if a new hope has been given to them, Mary found out that she was pregnant a year after Karl’s funeral. The sunflower has once again found the sun, and this time, she intended to stay with it.