May 8, 2010
I woke up and it was raining out. I had slept through my alarm AGAIN, but Thamraiwon was faithfully knocking on the door to wake me up. She started to fold up my bedding, as I ran to take a shower. We put everything together, next to the door and I made sure that I had everything. Passport, tickets, money etc. I hardly looked around the room because suddenly I was rushing across the balcony, down the stairs that I had raced up, walked up, limped up...millions of times. I passed the school where I had taught day after day. I passed miss Kristina's room, where we had laid on the bed together and giggled or cried for hours together. It was the same room that Theresa had been taken my first week there when she became demon possessed.
I kept rushing through the rain, coming to the steps where we had had worship together, played together, and celebrated Christmas together. In the entrance of both the girls and boys hostel, my children were waiting for me. Some of the girls were already crying. I saw Johnsuria and Songanum hiding behind the rest of the boys with tears of their own. They were to big to show how much this hurt them. I went to my boys first. As I looked into Suraj's eyes, I could tell that he was already becoming a young man. When I saw him next, he'd probably be done with school. I crushed Sushil to me...my little munchkin and ever constant companion. He didn't understand that I was leaving and tears began to run as I realized he probably wouldn't remember me. My precious boy would forget me because he was to little. Mathingmi shyly handed me a package. Ranjith made me hold out my hand and dropped a lizard in it, making me scream and all my boys laugh. I laughed with them, but it was only through a deep sob. I tried to swallow my tears for them, but I couldn't. I turned away for a moment and collected myself. On down the line, I hugged them, accepting their presents, shaking the hands of those who were to old for hugs, but then hugging them anyways. Again and again they said "miss, you won't forget us. Miss call us. Miss, don't forget me."
Johnsuria and Songanum wouldn't leave my side. They had always been my boys and now, they couldn't seem to accept that I had to go. Even when I walked over to the girl's side, they stood only an elbows width away from me, sometimes clinging to my salwar. The girls were all crying. Somehow, I forced a smile through my tears and began murmuring "I love you. Stay safe." I took the letters and gifts. After saying goodbye to the last child, I walked to the rickshaw awaiting me. Songanum and Johnsuria begged to come along but were told they could not. They sobbed at this and Johnsuria fell to the ground. I picked him up and hugged them both. My sobs echoed their own. Sir Major said, "miss we must go. We'll miss your train."
I squeezed them one last time and stepped into the rickshaw. This would be my last ride in the blue rickshaw. It wasn't something I looked forward too, as the wheels propelled us away from the kids who squinted through the rain. I shouted to them and they shouted back, but our voices were drowned out in the rain. Tears continued to stream down my face long after I lost sight of my beloved children.
May 8, 2013
Three years have passed. I awoke with that thought and promptly decided I must do everything in my power to forget it. I went shopping, sat in Barnes and Noble reading, worked, watched a movie with my friend, and didn't mention to almost anyone. Only a few knew that this day was hard for me. I didn't allow myself to think of their faces three years ago. I didn't allow myself to think about how much they must have grown. I spent the day in denial, but there is no denying it. Three years have passed.
My heart belongs to them forever. The years are an endless cannon between us. Will they remember their miss Gabrill?
