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The Day my Heart Multiplied
“How am I going to do it?” I cried “I don’t think I can handle it!” It was the night before delivering my second child via C-section. Doubts and fears flooded my mind as I held my two-and-a-half-year-old girl. “What are you talking about?” asked my mom. “How will I be able to divide my heart in two now?” I responded. My mother smiled and placed her hand over mine. “Honey, the love in a mother’s heart doesn’t get divided, it multiplies!” Peace invaded my heart and calmed my restless mind. Early the next morning, I walked into the hospital with newfound confidence and calm. A few hours later, I…
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Are You a Back Seat Rider?
“Tell me another story Gigi!” the girls asked with praying hands. One of the things they enjoyed the most was getting tucked into bed by one of their grandmothers and hearing stories about their mom and dad as children. “Your mom always wanted to ride in the front seat,” my mother said as she settled in the sofa. “This was before seat belts or car seats.” The girls covered their open mouths with their little hands. “She urged your granddad to pass all the cars because she wanted to get to our destination quickly. And she never stopped asking “Are we there yet? How much longer?” My youngest one shook…
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The Day I Wanted to Disappear
I’d never seen such a thing. A thick white snowy blanket enveloped the city. The temperature was so low that Lake Michigan had frozen over and appeared to rise above the ground. “Please come with me,” he pleaded. “This is a decision we’re both making!” “But the news says people should not leave their homes unless it’s totally necessary and you know how much I hate the cold!” I responded. My husband had just graduated from medical school and training for a specialty was the next step, which also meant we had to move far away from our country and our families. The third of several interviews for medical residency…
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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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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…
