Aalia

Let me tell you a story that's dear to my heart and will forever be.

There was a little girl who lived in the small town of Caledon. It was a quiet town where everyone knew everyone. She had her mother, father and brother to take care of her. There was a little boy next door who was 2 years older than her but that didn't stop her from growing to be best friends with. She had the quiet and cozy life that all little girls from little towns enjoyed. However, all of that changed on the evening of her 12th birthday. She came home from school expecting her mom, her dad and her 17-year-old brother to surprise her with a birthday party. But what did she find? Police officers at her doorstep telling her, "Ms. Sharren we are devastated to inform you that your mother, father and brother passed away this afternoon in a car accident. We found this smushed cake in your mother's hands." The little girl threw cake away as she felt her heart shatter. Her family was gone. But her best friend, the boy from next door comforted her and stayed with her through thick and thin. His family welcomed her like their own daughter. They were so kind to her. They wouldn't let her feel the loss that she faced. She found a new mother, father and well brother. But what happened next?

As the years went by and both best friends entered their high school years, she started to fall for him. He was no longer a brother but a boy that she knew from birth that now became her crush. She had no courage however to confess how she felt. But she stayed with him as best friends. He was overprotective of her just as any brother would be for a sister.

She found a sister too. Another best friend that never left her side. Christina Diaagen was her name. They were the same age and when her new brother wasn't there for her in her high school classes, this girl was her go-to. They were inseparable by senior year. But of course, she had more of a deeper bond with the boy who lived next door who she had now totally fallen for.

The years went by, she watched as this boy became successful with his businesses and money. She saw his family push him away after he was successful and she was there for him just as he was there for her when she lost her family. She ultimately decided to work for him in his businesses, to be his assistant. She also saw how her best friend Christina became successful with her poetry and writing. And she supported them both endlessly. The boy and Christina also became very close. The three of them together, unstoppable.

Then one day, the girl was working at her office and the boy called and asked for them to meet up as he had something very important to discuss. She thought that it was something about his businesses so she agreed. They met at his new mansion that he bought after being successful, she still lived at the house that belonged to her parents. He said, "I think I've fallen in love with someone and I need your help." The girl thought that maybe this boy had finally caught up to her feelings and perhaps loved her back. But what did he say next?

"The girl I have fallen for is beautiful'. Her heart flurried. "She has a kind heart and she's everything I would look for in someone". Now she was just waiting for him to tell her that it was she who he was talking about. "Who is it? Can you hurry up and tell me so I can actually help".

The boy looked hesitant and replied, "It's... It's Christina. I know you and Christina are super close so I thought I should tell you first."

The girl wanted to cry so badly. She felt her heart shatter. But she decided in the end that she wouldn't be in the way of her best friend's happiness. She told him to go and approach her to do the thing that she would never be able to do. Her two best friends got engaged a year after that night. She watched both of them fall in love. Feeling sorry for herself yet happy that the boy from next door that she fell in love with was happy. She had dreamed of getting married to the man she loved but in the end, she decided that she would never get married or have kids of her own. Afterall she would never be able to move on from the love she obsessed over now.

After her best friends got married, the boy asked her if she planned on getting married. She had a chance then to confess everything but instead she found herself saying, "No families are easily broken. I lost mine at the age of 12. I don't want children who might possibly face the same thing." She was too cowardly, to tell the truth. The boy respected her decision and told her that he would support her until the end. He then went on thanking her for being there for him and uniting him with the women he loved.

A year later, her best friends had a daughter. When this girl saw the daughter for the first time, she loved her immediately. Her little hands, adorable face, blue eyes, and gorgeous brown hair. She was perfect. She promised to always care for his girl. She quit her job and asked her best friend if she could have the job of being a nanny for his newborn daughter. The boy thought it was a wonderful idea. He even suggested that she move into his mansion with his wife for more convenience. So the girl sold her house and moved in with both her best friends.

Time passed by and before the girl knew it, the angel of her eyes was 5 years old. She had cared for this little princess in every single way she could. But as her little angel grew to be 5, her best friend Christina, her little angel's mom, her best friend's wife was diagnosed with blood cancer. They said she only had 2 months to live. Those 2 months went by like 2 minutes.

A day before Christina passed away she called the girl to her and told her, "I know my time will be up soon but please take care of my daughter. I know how much you care for her. Be the mother she deserves. I know my death will devastate her but when she grows old enough give her this poem." Christina pressed a paper into her hands. "Tell my daughter that she must find the meaning of this poem by herself". The girl nodded and got up to leave the room. Before she could set foot outside the room, Christina called back to her, "Oh yea I forgot to mention one thing. I know you love my husband as much as I do." The girl was taken aback. "I also know how blind he is and I apologize for your pain. When I pass away please do make sure he doesn't forget his responsibilities and who he is." The girl promised Christina that she would take care of her family.

She watched her angel and the man who she loved cry endlessly at the funeral. She faced the pain of her own watching the only sister she had die. But more, she saw the pain of her little angel who had lost her mom. She promised herself that she would fill in that empty place in her life. But most of all, she saw the man she loved become the living dead at the loss of his wife.

After many of the girl's inspirational words, the man snapped out of it for his daughter. To make sure she would be ok. He called the girl and told her, "I know how much you care for my daughter. If anything happens to me, please make sure that she doesn't lose herself to the world. I know your perspective on life of never settling down as you've watched your own family die. So I entrust you with my daughter. Take care of her as your own." The girl promised she would do this at the cost of her life.

11 years later, the boy who lived next door, the man who she loved and the father of her little angel died.

I was the little girl in this story. The man was Sam and Christina, his wife. I lost my parents and my brother, I knew what Lori was feeling better than anyone else. I let her skip school and stay cooped up in her room so she could get over it. Just as Sam was there for me when I lost my family, I would be there for her as she had lost hers. Like Lori, after Sam's funeral, I too stayed lost in my thoughts as I grieved over my love but I snapped out of it. For Lori. I promised that I wouldn't let her die from the inside. I would do it for the promise I gave to Christina. I would do it for the feelings I had for Sam. I would do it because I love Lori more than anything else now.

I sacrificed all my dreams for Sam and I'll do the same for Lori. Call me mental for being a slave to my own love. But after all who can deny? Love is a powerful thing.