had to do, but for a moment, all he could do was cry.
***
Rosario Mariposa sat at her kitchen table with a pen and paper, trying to put her thoughts into words. She struggled to focus her tear-filled eyes on the paper. Unable to write, she sat the pen on the table and dropped her head into her hands. How do you say goodbye? She whimpered as she entertained the painful thoughts, and suppressed a sob with her fist to avoid waking Mia, who slept soundly in the little room down the hall.
“ Oh, Mia,” she whispered, through her tears.
Rosario wiped her eyes on her sleeve and stared at the paper in front of her. Carefully, and with expert handwriting, she began the letters. The first was to Colin.
Dear Colin;
There are no words to tell you how grateful I am that you are willing to care for my child after I am gone. The love you have shown us as patients speaks volumes of the love you will show Mia as her father. I could not have chosen a finer man for the job, and I entrust to you my greatest gift. Love each other, and have a wonderful life. It's all a mother could ask. However, there is one more favor I must ask of you. Enclosed you will find a second letter I have lovingly written to my child. When you feel Mia is old enough to understand, I would like you to read it to her.
Rosario paused for a moment to steady her hand, then continued writing.
My dearest Mia;
When you hear this, I will be gone, and while I know you will be sad, I want you to remember to be happy. Remember how much Mama loved you, and while I wish I was still with you, I know I will be okay in heaven with God. Colin will take wonderful care of you, I know he will. I know how much you love him, and I know he loves you. He will be more than just your doctor or your friend. He will be your father. Love him, darling, and respect him, and while at times you may be angry with him, or disagree with what he tells you, know he only wants what is best for you, and even when you think he is wrong, he probably isn't. He is a good man, Mia, and I know he will love you like his own daughter, just as I do, and as Papa did, too. I am so sorry we had to leave you, and I hope you will have a wonderful life. Mama and Papa will be watching over you from heaven, and although you can't see us, we will always be with you. I want you to do something for me, mija. I want you to enjoy your life. I want you to truly live, and not be afraid. I have spent so much time afraid, and it is such a waste, and you miss so much when you're afraid. Smile, my love, and be happy.
Sing and dance and embrace all the gifts life sends you. You have been the greatest gift I could ever imagine. Please know I love you more than life itself, and I know in my heart one day we'll be together again.
All my love;
Mama
“ Mama?” a sleepy voice called from down the hall. “I'm scared.”
Rosario got up from the table, and walked slowly to her daughter's room.
“ What's wrong, sweetheart?” she asked.
“ I had a dream you were gone,” Mia whispered, and Rosario felt her heart break.
“ Oh, my sweet baby, it's okay. Mama's here.”
“ Are you dying, Mama?” the child asked, and for a moment, Rosario couldn't speak. It was a moment, that even if she lived forever, she knew she would never forget. She had never lied to the child, and it wasn't the way she wanted her daughter to remember her. Rosario thought of Colin and his offer to tell Mia when they were together, but suddenly she knew it was something she needed to do herself.
“ Yes, sweetie, Mama's dying,” Rosario whispered. She couldn't lie, although she desperately wanted to.
Mia began to whimper and Rosario pulled her daughter to her chest. For several minutes their tears mixed together as they sat weeping in the dark.
“ What will happen to me, Mama?” Mia finally asked, and only then did Rosario release her daughter from her embrace.
“ You're going to be okay, Mia,” Rosario promised.
“ Who will take
***
Rosario Mariposa sat at her kitchen table with a pen and paper, trying to put her thoughts into words. She struggled to focus her tear-filled eyes on the paper. Unable to write, she sat the pen on the table and dropped her head into her hands. How do you say goodbye? She whimpered as she entertained the painful thoughts, and suppressed a sob with her fist to avoid waking Mia, who slept soundly in the little room down the hall.
“ Oh, Mia,” she whispered, through her tears.
Rosario wiped her eyes on her sleeve and stared at the paper in front of her. Carefully, and with expert handwriting, she began the letters. The first was to Colin.
Dear Colin;
There are no words to tell you how grateful I am that you are willing to care for my child after I am gone. The love you have shown us as patients speaks volumes of the love you will show Mia as her father. I could not have chosen a finer man for the job, and I entrust to you my greatest gift. Love each other, and have a wonderful life. It's all a mother could ask. However, there is one more favor I must ask of you. Enclosed you will find a second letter I have lovingly written to my child. When you feel Mia is old enough to understand, I would like you to read it to her.
Rosario paused for a moment to steady her hand, then continued writing.
My dearest Mia;
When you hear this, I will be gone, and while I know you will be sad, I want you to remember to be happy. Remember how much Mama loved you, and while I wish I was still with you, I know I will be okay in heaven with God. Colin will take wonderful care of you, I know he will. I know how much you love him, and I know he loves you. He will be more than just your doctor or your friend. He will be your father. Love him, darling, and respect him, and while at times you may be angry with him, or disagree with what he tells you, know he only wants what is best for you, and even when you think he is wrong, he probably isn't. He is a good man, Mia, and I know he will love you like his own daughter, just as I do, and as Papa did, too. I am so sorry we had to leave you, and I hope you will have a wonderful life. Mama and Papa will be watching over you from heaven, and although you can't see us, we will always be with you. I want you to do something for me, mija. I want you to enjoy your life. I want you to truly live, and not be afraid. I have spent so much time afraid, and it is such a waste, and you miss so much when you're afraid. Smile, my love, and be happy.
Sing and dance and embrace all the gifts life sends you. You have been the greatest gift I could ever imagine. Please know I love you more than life itself, and I know in my heart one day we'll be together again.
All my love;
Mama
“ Mama?” a sleepy voice called from down the hall. “I'm scared.”
Rosario got up from the table, and walked slowly to her daughter's room.
“ What's wrong, sweetheart?” she asked.
“ I had a dream you were gone,” Mia whispered, and Rosario felt her heart break.
“ Oh, my sweet baby, it's okay. Mama's here.”
“ Are you dying, Mama?” the child asked, and for a moment, Rosario couldn't speak. It was a moment, that even if she lived forever, she knew she would never forget. She had never lied to the child, and it wasn't the way she wanted her daughter to remember her. Rosario thought of Colin and his offer to tell Mia when they were together, but suddenly she knew it was something she needed to do herself.
“ Yes, sweetie, Mama's dying,” Rosario whispered. She couldn't lie, although she desperately wanted to.
Mia began to whimper and Rosario pulled her daughter to her chest. For several minutes their tears mixed together as they sat weeping in the dark.
“ What will happen to me, Mama?” Mia finally asked, and only then did Rosario release her daughter from her embrace.
“ You're going to be okay, Mia,” Rosario promised.
“ Who will take
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