All Alone...
It's Tuesday in July. 1981
Ani has been doing well in her new job at the rest home.
It's 1 am and the phone rings.
It's her Mother Elena.
Ani is from a small town outside of Bucharest Romania. Romania held their first democratic elections in May of 1990. Soon after her parents spent all their savings to send Ani to school in the states.
Ani's Father has become very ill. Elena cannot take care of him as she is in a wheelchair having lost her legs to diabetes. They live on a meager fixed income.
Elena is in dire straits and does not know what to do. Without hesitation Ani assures Her mother that she will return home.
"Be calm Mama." Ani tells her mother, “It will be ok, I love you give Papa a hug and kiss, tell him I'll be there soon"
Wednesday, she calls the rest home and explains the situation. They are understanding and agree to have her remaining pay ready for her. They will miss Ani.
The last 2 days have been chaotic. Airline tickets in hand,
she walks out the front door of the apartment, looks back for a moment and gets in her cab.
On the drive to the airport Ani stares out the window numb with the uncertainty that lies ahead.
A sense of calm takes over for just a moment when sand dunes come into view. The beach is scattered with people walking, playing and basking in the glow of summer.
Her eyes search the silhouettes on the beach incessantly, till hope fades into the grey abyss of abandon as sand soon disappears under bleak, black pavement.
With a deep breath, she slowly closes her eyes.
Now aboard her flight and settled in her seat.
The plane lifts off the ground with destined purpose. Looking out the window, she watches green fade into an endless blue, speckled with white caps and the eerie mist of looming clouds.
Time seems to stand still as silence surrounds her. A man is talking with his son, but no words seem spoken, the on flight movie plays muted. The engines just a quiet hum.
Thoughts race thru her mind,
"Is this the end of my dreams, is my father going to be ok, I need to find a job, we don't have a car. Will I ever see that boy again."
Then as if to interrupt her, the stewardess looks down and said, "Don't fret my dear, just sit back and enjoy the ride. Your destination lies ahead."
Time as fluid as the sea
Will ebb and flow
To what will be
Our future, our past
The light we see
When darkness falls
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