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Letting Go
I parked in my usual spot in the parking lot a little earlier than usual. The final bell of the year rang, followed by a wave of kaki and blue uniforms sprinting through the front door. I spotted her in the middle of her group of friends, her brunette hair separating her from her blonde peers. My mind raced to the day she was born, so tiny and fragile, but with lungs so loud they could wake up the whole neighborhood. Flashes of sleep deprived nights and diaper changes invaded my mind. In my young mom immaturity, I longed to see the light at the end of the dark tunnel…
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A Lesson in Love
I grew up surrounded by a large family in a time when life lacked the current technology but overflooded with imagination and simplicity. My childhood was easy and full of everything I needed and wanted. I graduated from high school and went away to college. My younger sister followed a year later and my youngest sister a year after that. My life continued to be carefree and relaxed. I traveled with friends to the beach on Spring Break, attended every concert in the state and shopped at the mall every weekend. Mom and Dad called every Sunday evening. I was quick to tell them every detail about my busy life,…
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Angel on the Sidewalk
The bright sun and blue skies screamed Spring that Saturday afternoon. “I’m so sorry I can’t help you,” my husband said as he hugged me tight,” but you know that medical residents are expected to work long shifts and get no free weekends during first year of training.” We were in a new country, a new city and had no friends, which forced me to navigate my way through our new reality on my own. I grabbed the Yellow Pages, the only resource before cell phones and GPS’ existed, searching for a park in the area. Venturing out was an attempt to calm my lonely heart as much as…
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The Red Door
I walked through the glass doors into the cosmetics department, where the elegant sales ladies holding perfume bottles lined the way. Closing time was twenty minutes away. I had no time to waste, so I walked hurriedly, avoiding any eye contact. “Would you like a sample?” A hand came out of nowhere and placed a piece of white paper in my hand. “Let me know what you think. It’s on sale this weekend.” I smiled at the sales lady, thanked her graciously, and looked around for a trash can. My nose caught a whiff of the fragrance as I was about to throw it away. Suddenly I was transported…
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A Difficult Secret to Keep
A laser like ray of sunshine pierced her eyes waking her up to pounding headache from only a few hours of sleep on the floor. The steely fingers of reality gripped her chest and flooded her mind with all the prayers mixed with lullabies that wrestled against her daughter’s moans until the medicine kicked in. The sweetness of frankinse and the licorice scent of myrrh she rubbed on the girl’s forehead still lingered in the air. She sighed as she examined the room through a kaleidoscope of tears. Everything looked tidy yet out of place- empty jugs of water and wet rags on the floor took the place…
