[September]
(Angel's POV)
I don't want to leave her.
"Mama. Mama no go. Pwease no go." Ellie says.
She's sitting on my bed next to my luggage.
I'm packing because in a few minutes I have to leave to attend Senior year.
"I don't want to baby girl. But, I have to." I say and feel tears gather up in my eyes.
I walk to the closet.
I don't want her to see me crying.
I grab the last of my clothes and turn around.
I find Ellie sitting in the cover of the luggage.
"Ewwie go with mama." She says.
This time I do cry.
"I wish you could, Ellie. I really do. But, you can't." I say, put the shirt I'm the luggage and carry her.
I hug her tightly and she hugs me very tight.
"I love you Ellie. Always know that. You do, right." I say.
"Yes." She says.
She's two and two months but still can't walk.
I asked the doctor he told it's OK. She just needs time.
I sigh and kiss her cheek.
"Mama." She says still hugging me as I sit down on the bed.
"Yes, baby girl." I say.
"Ewwie want mama sing." She says and lets go of me sitting on my lap.
I wipe my tears and nod.
"What do you want me to sing?" I ask.
She shrugs and lays her head on my chest.
I run my fingers through her soft black hair and start singing her current favorite song.
See you again by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth.
The song dedicated to Paul Walker's memorial.
( It's been a long day without you, my friend
And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again
We've come a long way from where we began
Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again
When I see you again
(Hey)
Damn, who knew?
All the planes we flew
Good things we've been through
That I'll be standing right here talking to you
'Bout another path
I know we loved to hit the road and laugh
But something told me that it wouldn't last
Had to switch up
Look at things different, see the bigger picture
Those were the days
Hard work forever pays
Now I see you in a better place (see you in a better place)
Uh
How can we not talk about family when family's all that we got?
Everything I went through you were standing there by my side
And now you gon' be with me for the last ride
It's been a long day without you, my friend
And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again (I see you again)
We've come a long way (yeah, we came a long way) from where we began (you know we started)
Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I'll see you again (let me tell you)
When I'll see you again
(Aah oh, aah oh
Wooooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Yeah
First you both go out your way
And the vibe is feeling strong
And what's small turn to a friendship
A friendship turn to a bond
And that bond will never be broken
The love will never get lost (and the love will never get lost)
And when brotherhood come first
Then the line will never be crossed
Established it on our own
When that line had to be drawn
And that line is what we reach
So remember me when I'm gone (remember me when I'm gone)
How can we not talk about family when family's all that we got?
Everything I went through you were standing there by my side
And now you gon' be with me for the last ride
So let the light guide your way, yeah
Hold every memory as you go
And every road you take, will always lead you home, home
It's been a long day without you, my friend
And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again
We've come a long way from where we began
Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again
When I see you again
(Aah oh)
(Uh)
(Aah oh)
(Yeah)
(Wooooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Ya, ya)
When I see you again
(Uh)
See you again
(Wooooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Yeah, yeah, uh-huh)
When I see you again)
When I'm done she's crying.
"Don't cry baby girl." I say and kiss the top of her head.
"Ewwie want mama stay." She sobs.
"We'll video chat every single day. I promise. OK, baby girl. Has mama every broken a promise?" I say and make her stand on my thighs so we're face to face.
"No." She says. I then wipe her tears with my thumb and hug her.
I glance at the clock.
I need to go.
Delilah then enters the room.
"I know." I say.
She then nods.
"Ellie, baby, mama needs to go now." I say rubbing her back.
She then shakes her head.
I start crying again.
"Come on. Go with Delilah. I'll see you and we'll chat tonight. Ok, baby girl. I promise you." I say and she nods.
Delilah takes her and I carry my luggage. I put it in the back of the car and close it.
I then go and carry Ellie one last time.
"I love you, baby girl." I say holding in the tears.
Delilah carries her and hugs me.
"Take care of yourself." She says.
I nod.
I kiss both of them on the cheek and get in the car.
The minute I close the door I hear Ellie cry.
"Mama!" She cries.
Stay in the car. Stay in the car.
I look at them through the window and Ellie's crying hysterically.
I begin to cry.
I shift the gear and start driving.
Stay calm.
Stay calm.
Stay calm.
Stay calm.
One hour and 50 minutes later I reach Campus.
I roll the window down and was about to show the guard my student ID.
"Angel? How are you?" The guard, Paul asks.
Still the same Paul I left two years ago.
"I'm fine, Paul, how are you?"
"Fine. Go on." He says.
I enter and park where it's written in my Student ID.
I get out of the car and smell the familiar smell of campus.
I close my eyes as memories come back one after one.
"Angel Simms?" I hear a voice.
I open my eyes and look towards it.
"Mary Jetson? Oh my god." I say and we both hug.
"Finally decided to graduate huh?" She asks pulling away.
"Yeah. What are you doing here?" I ask.
Mary was in my class. I thought she graduated.
"Well, I failed one year. The other,I, well..." She says then I spot it.
"You got engaged! Oh my god, congrats!"
She nods eagerly and hugs me.
"Who's the lucky man?" I ask.
"Oh, you guys don't know him. I met him in the summer vacation 3 years ago. We kept it online, then things lead to things. And, poof, he proposes."
"Wow, congrats." I say.
"So, where's your dorm?"
"728." I say.
"A private dorm. Like me. I'm 730."
"We're so close. Who's 729."
"I don't know. Some guy. He looks like a bad guy though. Up to no good."
"How come?" I say and take out my luggage.
"Wears nothing but black. A leather jacket. Y'know, basic bad boy look." She says as I close and lock the car. We then start walking towards the dorm.
"Maybe he's not so bad. Never judge a book by its cover."
"I don't know. What I couldn't help but notice, though, are his amazing piercing icy blue eyes."
What!
Act normal.
Act normal.
"Really?"
"Yeah." She says and presses number 7 in the elevator.
We walk out of the elevator and turn a right.
725.
726.
727.
728.
"There's mine." I say.
"Yep. How do you have the key?" She asks when I get the key out.
"I came a week ago and set everything up. Today is just move in day."
"Oh."
I open and enter.
Mary follows.
"You decorated well." She says.
"Thanks." I say and put the luggage on the bed.
"Well, I'll go and leave you to unpack. See you tomorrow?"
I just nod.
"Bye." I say.
She leaves and I start unpacking.
~*~
I glance at the clock.
8pm.
I sit on my desk's chair and open my laptop.
I open Skype and log in.
I then dial Delilah's contact.
It rings a few rings then Delilah's face pops.
"Hey Angel." She says.
"Hey Delilah." I say.
"So, how's college?"
"Fine. Guess who I saw?"
"Who?"
"Mary Jetson."
"Mary? Really?"
"Yeah. She failed a year and the other skipped it because she was getting engaged."
"Oh my god. She got engaged?"
I nod.
"Send her my regards."
"I will. So, where's Ellie?"
"She's right here. But, I have the Bluetooth ear on. So, she can't hear you. Wait." She says and takes out the Bluetooth ear and switches it off.
She then turns the laptop around and I can see Ellie playing with her blocks and a pacifier in her mouth.
"Ellie!" I squeal.
She looks at me and the pacifier drops.
"Mama!" She says and crawls to the table.
"Hey, baby girl."
"Mama, when can Ewwie see Mama?"
"Well, you can see me now, right?"
"Yes, but, Ewwie want to see Mama hewe."
I tear up as I see her almost cry.
"Well, baby girl, I'll come in my first vacation. Which is in..." I say and grab the college calendar.
I check.
Christmas.
"Christmas." I say.
"When cwismas?"
I chuckle at the way she says Christmas.
"December. Soon, sweetie. I promise."
She then nods.
"OK, Ellie, tell Mommy good night. You need to sleep." Delilah says when Ellie yawns.
"Mama hewp Ewwie sweep."
I smile.
"Take the laptop with you, Delilah. I'll sing her the lullaby." I say.
The camera then reveals Delilah's face as she takes the laptop in one hand and Ellie in the other.
She puts her in the crib and sits on the chair with me on her lap.
"Lay down, baby girl." I tell Ellie.
She lays down and I begin singing.
After singing it in both Spanish and English, Ellie goes to sleep.
"So, what'd she do?" I ask Delilah after she leaves the room.
"She cried for a while then slept.
She woke up before you called with about half a hour or so.She was a bit fine."
"I hate doing this. Maybe I should come back."
"Angel. Don't!" She says.
"I'm a music and arts major. I can start a career on YouTube or anything. There are so-"
"Angel! You are not dropping out! So suck it up for the next 8 months." She says.
"Fine." I huff.
The door then knocks.
"One second." I say and get up to open it.
It's Mary.
She had texted me earlier. We're having dinner together to catch up.
"Hey." She says.
"Hey Mary. Come in." I say.
"Who are you skyping?" She asks.
"Is that Mary?" Delilah asks.
"Yep, it's me. Delilah! How are you?" Mary says and crouches down next to the laptop.
"I'm fine, Mary. How are you?" She replies.
"I'm fine."
"Well, Delilah see you tomorrow. Mary and I are going to have dinner to catch up." I say.
"Oh OK. Good night." She says and hangs up.
"Come on." Mary says and we get out.
"That's the bad boy I told you about." She whispers in my ear. I look beside me and a guy is coming out of the room.
It's him.
It's Ellie's father.
Ellie's father and I are dorm neighbors.
He looks at me then at Mary and leaves.
Stay calm.
I'll just ignore him all year.