As I was riding the subway train, I was so excited that even my hairs were having a party on my head. I couldn't believe that this day finally arrived. Years after years, I counted, but yes at last this day! Yesterday I remember counting the minutes left for the day to be over. My husband, Jesse was annoyed that I stayed all night awake. But on the other hand, my children were so delighted to meet their unknown oldest sister. My children's eyes were bright like a decorated Christmas tree.
At the subway train, I felt like the train was going awfully slow. It felt like if the train was trying to talk me out of going to see Aly. I am sure that she is as thrilled as I am to see her. As I am holding my charm on my necklace, I close my eyes and imagine embracing Aly. Seeing her smile in front of a beautiful horizon while wind blows and pushes her hair back makes me smile more than ever. The charm that I am holding is a half heart which the half is owned by Aly. Her half heart has a quote stating " To be or not to be; that is the question" William Shakespeare.
The last time I heard of Aly was five months after my wedding with Jesse, when she send me a postcard from Florida. Where she wrote and told that the weeks were getting closer to her recovery and arrival to California. I remember that day sitting for a while and glazing at the sunset, while tears run down my cheeks, passing the corner of my mouth, tasting like salt. That was the time when tree's leaves fell like raindrops, and the smell of oak trees were as fresh as scented pines. Today is the day I get to see my baby girl, it's been twenty years after she was sent to a cancer treatment program at Florida. I couldn't attend with her because at that time she was already adopted by another family, I had to give her up to adoption because I was young at that moment and till now I couldn't see her till she turns twenty-one, which she is in November.
Walking out of the subway train, on to the hallway I see a boy, around the age of ten or less, laying down in a corner with his head down, no hair and closed eyes. With a plastic cup, next to a piece of cardboard, written on, it seems to say “I Have Cancer." I trembled, while I slowly landed my hand on to his leg, no movement at all. He was cold as ice and solid as brick, at that point, I stand and started walking to the exit. Two blocks from the subway where I recognized a police officer, which I declared to tell him what I saw, after that he rush right over.
Devastated as I walk, I remember about Aly. I ran to the Central Park, where I first took Aly three days after I was release from the central hospital and three days before I put her for adoption. I remember strolling through the park while she slept so silently, and when she would cry, I would just lift her up and sit her down on my lap lying on the sand, she would fall asleep so quickly. Next to the sand bank I saw no shadows, alone I sat on a swing. While I closed my eyes, I remember about the letter I gave to the Aly's adopted parents when they took Aly. Which had I wrote, "Aly I would like to see you when you turn twenty-one or may be even before, here's a place I'll like to meet Central Park, Campbell, CA 94536. " Suddenly I hear a young male voice, “Alyssa Marie Bell” I rapidly stood up and replied, "Yes?" He continued, “My name is Anthony Robert Gray, I assisted in the same program as your daughter, practically we dated each other through the whole way" I sighed “Oh how nice, I am glad to know you could make it, But where is Aly?" I noticed that his face went from gloomy to upset, “I am sorry to say that after her recovery for less than a month, she was diagnosed of a tumor in both of her lungs, dying immediately." Speechless I sat back down on the swing, as he proceeds "She left this note for you." Seconds after he hand me the note it stated, “Mother, I know you could not be there for me, these years, but I am sorry for not making it before, for now on I am in your heart and I will be watching you, take care of Father and my little sisters, I love you"
