This is the day I thought, just after waking up from only a few hours of sleep. I had stayed up until 2am with my friends the night/morning before, even though my plane left at 5:10am. I was nervous and even though I had already packed, overpacked, my suitcase I was still running around grabbing last minute items; that shirt I forgot to grab, one more perfume, my electric toothbrush. I didn’t know how long I was going to be gone, so I couldn’t seem to get enough stuff. My bags were so stuffed that I actually had to tie my vans to my purse, which was well over packed, and I couldn’t add anything to my suitcase because it already weighted 46 pounds and the weight limit is 50 pounds. My aunt, whom was already awake in the living room drinking her coffee and talking on the phone, was going to drop me off at the airport. Who she was talking to at 4:15am is beyond me, but she quickly finished her conversation when she saw me standing in the hall. We grabbed my bags, loaded them into the car, and we were ready to go. My aunt was teary eyed the whole drive there, both of us thinking about my niece, Audrey. She wasn’t even two at the time, not for another month, and she had already been through so much. My aunt pulled into the drop off area and we said our goodbyes. I had only been on a plane once before, two weeks prior but this time was different because I was alone. Cautious of my surroundings, I walked through St. Louis Airport and made my way through all of the checks, finally finding the designated area for my flight to Denver, Colorado. I still had time to spare, but none of the stores were open yet. Actually, the whole airport seemed pretty dead besides a few other people walking around and some lady sleeping in a nearby chair.... ... middle of paper ... ... how I had to give up everything to come out here for her, how my mom had to do the same, how my sister could let her boyfriend do something like that, how she could lie for him so easily when he almost killed their daughter. My mind wouldn’t stop, not until I saw her. My baby girl, being rolled back in the room on her bed looked so pitiful. Her cheeks scabbed up so badly, from what they believe to be duck tape, her head shaved almost bald, not only from the surgery, but from her father. She was shaking, and she stuttered when she spoke with her sad voice. She had never had a stutter before, it sounded more like she was scared to say anything, everything was hard to come out. I wanted to do anything and everything I could for her to make her happy. I am her Aunt Bert and she is my Audrey and I will continue to show her love like she’s my own child until the day I die.
Trying to get my destination at the same time as all the other people at the airport. Then going through the check points. Next waiting on the plane to arrive so that we can board the plane. Then the four hour flight to Mexico. It turned out to be a great experience for me and I would love to go on another plane ride soon but this time I know what do and what to
Tears flooded my face as I let her hand go. I love my mother dearly, but without father I had to be the head of the house. The one to take charge in times like these. She was in not in a good place of mind to be rational. Why had father forsaken us like this, why couldn't we just go home and be with him. The thoughts swirled around my head but the next thing I knew was mother laying on the ground in pain. Her face crinkled and puffy as she clenched her stomach in the delicate hands.
When they got to the hospital we were moving, my mom to a different room until she could come home; her one wish was that she wouldn’t die in a hospital. That night my aunt, sisters, and I left to go home ,so we could clean and get the house ready for my
One Sunday morning, early, I’d say around 5:00am or so I was laying in my bed sound asleep in my nice, cold, dark room all snuggled up in my blankets and about 8 pillows surrounding me. I was woken up by my mom and with a voice so soft but with a hint of excitement she says, “Sarah time to wake up, we have to be at the airport in an hour”. I moaned and groaned because I stayed awake most of the night just so excited about what the day had in store for me replaying situations in my head over and over again! Soon enough me and my mom are in her car driving to Kansas City to get on a plane to West Palm Beach, Florida. Our car is packed to the celling of all our bags filled with clothes, shoes, blankets, some kitchen ware, bathroom stuff and other essentials and that’s when it hit me, wow I’m leaving Kansas City. Or more like I’m leaving all my friends, family, my dog, and the house I grew up in for most my life. I took my last looks of Missouri and with every emotion running threw me I didn’t know if I was exited or scared or both to be moving to a different state!
After he had sat with her, he got up and walked away to stand near the door. I sat in the chair next to her bed and the first thing I did was grab her hand, I dropped my head down because I knew our time was coming close to being done, what no one understands is how much of an impact she had on my life. There may have been an 83 year age difference between her and I, but she was my mentor, my story teller, my care provider, she gave me the best advice, she cooked the best food, she was the one I always aimed to make proud, but most of all she was my best friend. “It’s okay to cry, sweetie” said my dad. I didn’t want to cry though, that’s not what grandma would have wanted, but I couldn’t help it, I started to cry a little. How was my dad not crying yet? How could he stay so strong, he was much closer to her than I was, but somehow he managed to stay strong throughout all of it. I sat by her for probably 15 minutes holding her hand, I stood up, hugged her, whispered into her ear “I love you great grandma and I’ll see you when I get there”, I kissed her cheek and turned to leave the room. My dad was standing behind me and I walked into his arms and started crying, I couldn’t handle knowing that this could be the last time that I
I had never seen such affection and care as I did from my family. After all the goodbyes, we made our way into the airport. I held on tight to my rolling suitcase as I walked to my future and I will never forget the love and support that stood there weeping. After waiting in the airport for over two hours, the plane finally arrived. I was sitting in my airplane seat slowly anticipating to see my mom that I hadn’t seen for six years. I remember the first day that I came to America. Getting out of that airplane exhausted and not being able t o walk because I had been sitting in the plane for 24 hours. I was in the Phoenix airport, looking around nervously in a peculiar place filled with strange people. But, the moment I saw my Mom and my family, I was serene once again.
Her claw like fingernails pierced into my delicate skin. Miss. Lawson was my abusive nanny who acted as my mother when she wasn’t around, which happened to be very often. Miss. Lawson had a very perplexing past that included being in the foster system for all eighteen years of her life childhood, having a miscarriage at the fresh age of twenty-five and finally, what wounded her the most, her husband, the love of her life left her. I knew that Miss. Lawson was more than just a broken hearted nanny whose mission was to make me a prisoner in my own home . She had a heart full of lost love and all she needed was someone to help her acquire it. That was going to have to be me.
Have you ever wondered sitting on a chair at the height of 45,000 feet is safest way to travel? Yes, travelling through airplane is seven times safer than travelling through car and even walking on roads. But, though it is safest way, but it doesn’t mean that it is most comfortable and friendly way.
I sat in her room at her house with my Mom, Dad and Sister. She was asleep, curled up in a ball, rejecting any medicine we tried giving her. We knew her time with us was almost up but we didn’t want to admit it just yet. It was hard to look at her in the condition she was in: cold, skinny, and pale. My heart was aching and my mind was racing. I knew it wasn’t long before I had to say my goodbyes, but I didn’t want to face reality. Before leaving, I leaned over her hospital bed, hugged her tight, kissed her on her cheek, and said, “I love you.” She opened her eyes and said “I love you” back, with the strength she didn’t seem to have the entire day. That night, my heart was at
I can still remember that small enclosed, claustrophobic room containing two armed chairs and an old, brown, paisley print couch my dad and I were sitting on when he told me. “The doctors said there was little to no chance that your mother is going to make it through this surgery.” Distressed, I didn’t know what to think; I could hardly comprehend those words. And now I was supposed to just say goodbye? As I exited that small room, my father directed me down the hospital hallway where I saw my mother in the hospital bed. She was unconscious with tubes entering her throat and nose keeping her alive. I embraced her immobile body for what felt like forever and told her “I love you” for what I believed was the last time. I thought of how horrific it was seeing my mother that way, how close we were, how my life was going to be without her, and how my little sisters were clueless about what was going on. After saying my farewells, I was brought downstairs to the hospital’s coffee shop where a million things were running
When I entered her room, I was surprised to discover she appeared to be a dying senior citizen, rather than a woman in her twenties, only a few years older than me. Her depression filled the room with a heaviness that was immediately felt. She knew she wouldn't live much longer. And the thought of leaving her young toddler children, both under the age of five and her husband was excruciatingly painful. I was overwhelmed.
Our eyes locked, as tears streamed down her sullen face. She was a petite woman with heavy dark eyes, revealing her struggle, her pain, and a hope for a better life. She cradled her infant gently, yet firmly as if it was her last breath. With every sway, she kissed her child’s head as a promissory note that she would take care of her and provide for her the world.
She left her house with a radiant smile and that same smile continued as I watched her open the door to the car with my father firmly entrenched in the driver's seat. They were on their way to buy a tire for her car which so happened to be three miles from our home. Time crawled along at snails pace and eventually my brothers and myself wondered where my father and godmother were. Within an instant my mother screamed for me and I ran to her as if my life depended on it. Instead my life was not in the balance it was my godmother who had lost hers. Instantly shattered and numb I was afraid to ask the next question but my mother eased my ...
“Dear passengers, our plane has landed in the John F. Kennedy airport” - announced pilot. Finally, after 17 hours of sitting on a plane, I could walk. While I was waiting for passport control I thought about my future plans, like getting my diploma and going to top college. And everything seemed to be easily achievable. I know, that I was quite
The stewardess then directed me towards the back, away from the cockpit. I looked at my ticket and at what seat I'd be sitting in. I had to duck in and around people putting their luggage into the upper compartments and look for my number on the back of my seat that matched my ticket stamp. As I walked past one of the windows, I glanced out and saw the right wing. It somehow gave me reassurance that I'd be fine and I'd soon be having the time of my life. "I'll soon be in the air."