by Landis Lain
EPILOGUE
June 29 –
God!
It’s my 21st birthday. Dr. Michelle told me that I can only count on perfect moments in life. In between, there will be a lot of challenges, so always enjoy the moment and count my blessings. I thought today would be a good time to do that because I don’t want to ask you for anything. Wow! I’ll bet you are sitting in heaven gasping in shock.
Ricky said his first word, which is some garbled version of Suleiman, of course. He calls him “OOman.” My mother has forgiven me. Gabby is still my ROD. She loves Suleiman. They talk on the phone and squabble like siblings. We are all going to take a road trip to see her at school and watch a soccer match.
I called Daddy and talked to him for the first time in years. He started crying. I’ve forgiven him for letting me go without a fight. I’m working on forgiving Althea. She sacrificed me to protect Teddy, but maybe that protected me, too. I don’t know. That’s a challenge for another day. Daddy and I, we’ve got some catching up to do.
I went back to the water fall. It flowed smooth and calm, like my life right now. I didn’t climb over the railing. I could hear the birds chirp and feel the blades of grass between my toes. I even saw a butterfly. The breeze whispered lavender across my
thoughts. The sun caressed my skin with warmth.
I’m glad I lived to see it. I count my happy
moments. Dr. Michelle says I can call her, but she
doesn’t need to see me as a patient anymore.
I’m a strong woman. I have character.
Mama loves me. Gabby loves me. Suleiman loves me. Ricky loves me. Most important, I’m learning to love and forgive myself. To forgive myself and others frees me from the past. Forgiveness is my gift TO myself, FOR me. I’m never alone. The angels know of me. I. Am. Alive. You are with me, where ever I am.
Thank you!
Sasha Tamar Anderson
THE END
