Pretty in Blush

It’s her last day so she wants to make the most of it. “What else can I see? Where else can I go?” She could go anywhere and see anything she wanted, the sky was the limit. She looked at everything in curiosity, festivity, and silence so as not to disturb the beauty of it all. She dared not to touch anything as she feared how fragile everything was. She ate everything with her eyes and imagination. She closes her eyes and smiles. She takes a deep breath, breathing in all the excitement, scents, and all the wonders of the world that hid in this one place. This place that had now stolen her heart. She twirled around, dress flowing against the wind, hair wild and loose yet was still graceful. “This is it.” She whispered with calmness and admiration. She continues on walking taking everything in, still not believing she’s in this place, this one place she never thought she’d ever get to see. Everyone including her friends were always talking about it and how great it is and it made her curiosity emerge even more, so much more that she finally saved enough to go see it. “This place is just absolutely magical…” she thought to herself as she smelled the different types of flowers that weirdly but greatly went together, smelled the different types of food. Her mind was so overwhelmed by the amazing aroma of the foods she couldn’t tell what she smelt first, or anything at all at this point. Chicken? Pork? Sweet? Salty? She didn’t care though, all she cared about was looking at everything, trying everything and just being in the moment before it’s gone and too late.

All of the sudden she starts feeling sad, that her time is short, and she has no one here to spend it with before the day ends. She thought about her best friend, whom she loved dearly with all her heart. They’d known each other since what feels like forever. They’d done so much together: travel, sing, read to each other, challenge each other. They were always each other’s shoulder to cry on if needed, always gave advice when needed, and always got in trouble together because they basically were two peas in a pod, practically sisters. Her favorite memory was when they went camping for the first time together. They were just teenagers and traveled across to different spots they hadn’t yet been to. They had so much fun trying others foods, learning about different cultures in that area, meeting new people. She smiles at the fondness of the memory. She lifts her face to sky letting the breeze carry her hair with the wind as she starts thinking about her family. Her mom. Her dad. Her siblings. Oh how she loved her siblings no matter how badly they got under her skin. Out of nowhere she starts laughing, hysterically. She laughs so hard tears start streaming down her face. She started thinking about a time, it was the holidays. It was definitely one of those where “one thing after another” kept happening. Other might think that that holiday was disastrous, which it was, but, her and her family laugh about it mostly because they have a dark sense of humor, shh don’t tell anyone though. What was off first was that they had no proper flooring because they were remodeling the floor, their tree had nothing on it and was fake instead of the family’s traditional tree they usually got every year, mom thought somebody stole their food even though reality was she forgot to buy them, then right before dinner she asks if anybody called their dad yet because the first two eldest siblings have the same dad together, 3^rd and 4^th siblings have a same dad together, and she and her 5^th sibling shared a dad together. Everyone calls their dad but she her and brother can’t get ahold of their dad so they call their grandma who immediately after answering says she has cancer and has been hiding it from everyone until now and, “Oh by the way, your dad is in jail.” We all look at each other in disbelief while the mom shakes her head, feeling almost not surprised. The memory sounds worse than it was but when they look back on it, they laugh because who has a holiday like that, it’s like something you’d only see in a movie. She loved her dad, he was her best friend as well. Someone she could always confide in if she didn’t feel safe telling anyone else, he was her “human diary” as she says. For a moment she’s sad again because even though it’s been several years now, it still stings a little to think of her dad. He passed away when she was young. They always say, ”Accidents happen.” Well this was a big accident that took her best friend, this was an accident that no one could recover from, maybe mentally and emotionally but not physically, because this was an accident he wouldn’t be able to walk away from.

She takes a deep breath, lets it out and thinks about the time she and her dad were bringing grandma to an appointment. They stayed in the car and took goofy pictures while waiting. Not only is she glad she has memories of him but also pictures. One of her most treasured memories though was when her dad got her a puppy. A little yapper who just never seemed to want to shut up. She begged her mom for a dog but she said no but dad did what most dads do: go behind moms back and be the fun parent. Her dad picked her up from school saying he had a surprise for her. They reach this house and all she sees are these tiny, brown an black mixed puppies with big, chocolate eyes. She was so excited she couldn’t decide which one she wanted to hold first, however that decision was easily made for her when one of the puppies broke loose from the gate and ran up to her and jumped into her arms. She knew instantly that this was the one. They brought this little girl home and they became the best of friends, brought a whole new meaning to “mans best friends.” She laughs at this memory because she remembers her mom being so mad but how over the years her and the dog also became the best of friends and are now almost as inseparable as they were.. Oh how she loved her mom to pieces. Her mom was equally her best friend. Taught her so much but most of all, taught her how to independent, strong, but most importantly, herself. As weird as her mom thought she was, she always encouraged all of the siblings to be themselves because it’s okay to be that. She had so many memories that were her favorite with her mom but the one that comes to mind first was when she, mom, sister and brother went to a “Haunted Forest’ their local community was hosting. Rule was that you had to get through the gated maze first to get to the forest. They barely had entered the maze when, mom accidentally ran her into the fence! Oh man was that absolutely hilarious. She ran so hard into the gate that were marks on her face. Thankfully it was dark so no one saw her face and everyone laughed it off, because it truly was funny. In fact they still laugh about it today as one of their favorite holiday memories.

She looks deep into the distance, hair falling down her sides now that the cool but warm wind has died down, face stained with tears of sadness and happiness. She sees the beautiful sunset, mixed with maroon, sandy yellow, hint of orange and a tint of lavender purple. She knew it was time to go. She closes her eyes and smiles one more time.