Another Beginning

• TWENTY TWO •

"Thank you."  I tel him, patting his cheek.

"Unca Sam, can I taste that?"  Katie asked, eyeing the fried dumpling on Sam's bento box.

"Of course you can baby girl. It's hot, I'll cut it for you okay?"

"Oh-kay! I wanna use the chomstick Unca Sam, can you teach me? She asked Sam lovingly.

"Uh-oh. That's going to be hard baby girl, your hands are still tiny. What if I just feed you using the chopsticks?"

"Oh-kay, but when my hands are bigger, will you teach me Unca Sam?"

"Yes baby girl, I promise."

"Pinky pwomise?" She smiles, holding out her pinky.

"Yes, pinky promise." Sam tells her, doing the pinky promise with her. "Oh God! You are so adorable baby girl! Why are you like that?"

"That's her charm." I tell them.

"Just like her mom." Richard chimed in, caressing my back.

"Guys, we better hurry, we don't want to be late." MamaTen tells us, looking at his watch.

"Oh yes! Eat up guys. We need to leave soon." Sam seconded.

We finished eating and head out the restaurant.  

~~~~~~~~~~>•<~~~~~~~~~~

I look out the window and gaze at the beauty of the world below me. All is peaceful and calm up here, I wonder what it's like down there. The last five days has been chaotic. I thank God for MamaTen and Sam for helping me, and Richard for taking care of Enzo and Katie, while I take care of things.

The plane is in its initial descent and the world below us is getting bigger and bigger. I am not going to lie but I am anxious and excited at the same time. Richard probably felt my uneasiness, he took my hand and placed it against his lips, giving it small kisses. That gesture made me relax. We sat in companionable silence, glancing at each other from time to time. Enzo and Katie asked if they can switched seats when we boarded our connecting flight from Japan, insisting that they wanted to sit with GrandmaTen and Uncle Sam. I look their way, Enzo's head on MamaTen's arms as he is playing a game on his iPad, while Katie is dozing off on Sam's chest. I love how the twins are adventurous, even trying some Japanese food.

I feel the aircraft's landing gear being opened as we prepare to land.

This is it.

This is finally it.

There is no turning back now. I decided and now I am here, taking this big change in my life, mustering all the courage I can take. The surprising thing is I feel calm and peaceful, yes I do feel anxious a little but I think it's normal to feel that way. But overall, I feel at peace with my decision.

"I love you." I heard Richard whisper in my ears as he lean against my shoulder. "Thank you for doing this. Thank you for coming with me."

"There's nowhere I'd rather be than to be wherever you are hon. You know that." I tell him, letting out a deep breath.

The plane landed and is now taxiing towards the gates. I look over to the twins again and I can see they are excited as they look out the window. Enzo saying something to MamaTen as he points out to the airplanes that are parked by the gates.