No matter the continent or the language or the culture. No matter the socioeconomic rank or education or religion. Life is a collection of situations that repeat themselves over and over and over: birth/death, winning/losing, celebrating/grieving, gaining/losing, welcoming/rejecting, coming together/going away…
Today we gathered again—because it was Sunday—at Mami and Papi’s. It was the last time the family would be together before Nano and her three kids move to Portugal on Thursday. The kids don’t know they are leaving. Nano says they don’t need to know. She will tell them on Thursday at 9 pm: “Take your showers! We’re going to the airport! We’re flying to Portugal to be with your father!”
I believe her.
Hearts were heavy today. For the adults, letting Nano go is like letting a bonfire burn to embers. The warmth lingers. They are all counting the days until Thursday. No one wants to believe it will really come.
I understand. It’s exactly what I was doing four weeks ago as I counted down the days before my departure for Senegal. And all is well.
No comments:
Post a Comment