I stood in disbelief, studying the familiar features on the stranger before me, her eyes were breathtaking, just like her mothers. She had her smile too, and as tears filled my eyes i choked up the words that i rehearsed in my mind earlier in the morning.. "My flight, i slept the whole way here, I'm not used to traveling alone, but how are you it's been a while since we've last talked. I'm so excited to finally meet with you again!"
She reached for my hand and smiled "Lets take a walk eh?" We walked from the airport to the sunny streets of New York, people scattered through the sidewalks rushing through the last hours of their day, I've always enjoyed the city, and what i loved most was never seeing the same face twice, knowing the impression i left on the people had to be the THE impression, who knows if they'd remember that brunette woman from times square , with the high brows and the ripped jeans. All the more this made me feel even better, I've never been so thankful to see such a familiar face in NYC.
"I want you to know this isn't easy for me either, and i appreciate you being here today." She said while smiling.
"Of course," i responded, "you know I've been waiting for this day, since i was seven-teen, it's crazy to think how much time has passed since then, i still feel like it was just yesterday when i seen you for the first time, you were so small and fragile. I didn't even want to hold you, i was scared I'd hurt you, but your mom insisted." I laughed, "you know what she said to me? She said you better hold her, this is a moment we never thought we'd be living in, me in your room that's still messy a hell, holding my very own baby girl, what the hell did we do to end up here? I remember we sat there all three of us together, Me and your Mom sat there laughing, you were in my lap playing with her hair. Feels like yesterday."
"Really, god i wish i could have meant her, she sounds great. I wish i could remember i was still so young." I turned to her and put my arm around her shoulder as we past through the crowded crosswalk reaching the other side of the street. lights flashed, it was breezy, but there spots of direct sunlight casting over abandoned ally ways. As we made our way to the corner, it seemed as though every single person broke their neck to get a quick glimpse of the young woman walking beside me. I took a second to focus on the long glowing waves that fell from her head all the way to the small of her back. She pulled me along walking in front, rushing to a cab. She threw her arm above her head, and waved her hand in the air. The sun reflected of her flawless skin, almost making her glow. Her skin was slightly tan, but had a hint of olive tone that lay underneath.
As the cab pulled up she shoved her way through pocketbook shopping tables and hollered as she opened the back door"142 Maple Street, Please!" The cab driver nodded, i moved closer to the window fastening my seat belt. I gazed out the window watching people try to "fit in" picking apart the people who obviously weren't from the city. The older Chinese woman on her cellphone, with a camera hanging from around her neck, carrying a few shopping bags from her visit to "The Big Apple" I wonder who she'd share her photos with, her children, her sister, her mother? I looked over the see that Naveah passed out, her face was smudged up against the window, her breathing was heavier than normal. She flinched with almost every other exhale, it was never the same part of her body and there was no pattern to it. First was her arm, she exhaled and through her wrist up her elbow, to her bicep were chills that grew on her skin. I shook my head with confusion, i was never really good at minding my own business and it always worried me growing up, trying to understand people, trying to relate. I looked in the rear-view mirror to see the cab driver nodding his head to the soft music that whispered through the speakers, i could barely hear it from the back seat.
What was at 142 Maple Street? Who lived there, does she have a dog? I sat and pondered for a while thinking of small details i could remember from our emails the first few times we spoke. She wasn't in a relationship, she was a busy college student she said, she always spoke very highly of school and her apartment. I waited anxiously, wondering if she'd wake before we reached her place, I'd feel kind of awkward tapping her to wake her up. I guess it was about time to break from the shell I've lived in since 9/11/08, since i lost my best friend. I kept everyone out, I never tried to get close to anyone, but i knew now as i looked at her beautiful face, theres always a time for change.
She had a butterfly bracelet on her wrist.
