2 Six Years Later, I'm Finally Back

The moment the plane landed at the Atlanta airport, my throat tightened and my eyes filled with tears.

Six years later, I was finally back.

Millie looked at me strangely while touching my face with her small hand.

"Mommy, why are you crying? Do you miss Grandma too much?"

"Yes, Mom misses home and Grandma."

"Mom, don't cry. We'll see Grandma soon."

"Mom, what if Grandma doesn't like me? What if she doesn't let us stay in her house?"

Millie asked me worriedly.

"What? Baby, what makes you think that? Of course Grandma will like you. She'll be so happy to see you that she'll kiss you again and again until you can't take it anymore and make her stop. I'm sure you'll sleep with her more often. Baby, she loves you so much. She can't wait to hug you." I kissed her little hand and head as I promised her.

Although I knew that I had to go home, I had been hesitating until I received an email from FB.

Dear Melanda,

We are delighted to inform you that you have been hired as our senior designer. If it is convenient for you, we would like you to join us before next Monday.

Welcome to FB.

Oh my God, my God, I got FBI's offer. This has been my wish since I was a child! I finally did it! God didn't forget me, and he didn't abandon me. Thank God!

But wait a minute. The position is in… Atlanta… which means I'm going back to Atlanta.

Was I really prepared?

When I told Mom the news, she said excitedly,

"Don't hesitate, baby. I'm so happy for you. I know you can do this. It's God's will, isn't it? God wants you to be brave and face what you should have faced long before. Millie is five years old. She needs a stable environment before she goes to school. She has the right to see her father."

"I know, Mom. I know. Then, okay, I'll go back."

I took a deep breath. Maybe this was really God's will. He saw my struggles and decided to help me.

"That's great, baby. I'll always love you. I'll pick you and Millie up at the airport."

"Thank you, Mom. We love you, too."

So, I quit my job in Manhattan and took Millie to say goodbye to the kindergarten teachers and friends. I cancelled the apartment lease and stepped onto the plane to Atlanta.

As soon as we passed the airport gate, we heard Mom's voice.

"Melanda, Millie, I'm here!"

My nose immediately turned sour when I saw my mother. I immediately rushed over and hugged my mother tightly. My mother looked a little older. It must be because she was too worried about me. I really wasn't a good daughter. My mother, like me, looked at her darling daughter, who she hadn't seen in six years, with tears in her eyes.

Millie pulled on my shirt beside me.

"Mommy, are you crying?"

"Oh, darling, I'm just so happy to see Grandma. Come and greet Grandma." Mom and I separated and quickly squatted down to look at Millie, the little cutie who we had neglected for a while.

"Hello, Millie. Grandma welcomes you. You're so beautiful. You're as beautiful as I thought. No, you're even more beautiful than I thought."

Annie looked at the little angel in front of her. She had dark chocolate eyes, long, light brown curly hair, and two cute dimples. Millie's appearance shocked her. She really looked like him!

"Hello, Grandma. I'm Millie." Millie greeted Grandma obediently.

Annie hugged Millie and kept kissing her little face.

"Welcome home, baby. I'm so happy."

Melanda, who was standing aside, had tears in her eyes.

On the drive back, Millie and I sit in the back together. Because we had been flying for too long, Millie was too tired. As soon as we got in the car, she fell asleep.

I gazed at the scenery that I missed day and night. Everything is so familiar, and nothing seemed to have changed, except for me. I was alone when I left, and when I returned, I had Millie.

18 year old Melanda, and 24 year old Melanda.

As I was lamenting, I heard my mother ask,

"Baby, I have to say, Millie really looks like Mike. What are your plans for coming back this time?"

"Mom, I don't know. I'm afraid…"

"Baby, no one can live a secret life forever. Telling him will make it so much easier for you."

"He doesn't know any of this, Mom. Maybe he's already married. I don't want to ruin his life now. And what if he takes Millie away? I can't live without Millie…"

"Baby, I don't think Mike is that kind of person. He wouldn't do that."

"I don't know, Mom. I need some time to think."

"Okay, baby. You have a lot of time. There's no hurry. Take your time. I'll always be by your side."

"Thank you, Mom."

Mom said nothing more, but I was caught up in my memories again.

Mike, Mandy, and I lived on the same block and had grown up together. Mike was two years older than us, but for some reason, he had always been willing to hang out with the two of us, and Mandy and I were happy to have this handsome older guy with us. We spent a lot of happy times together, until eventually, Mike left us to go to college.

I had secretly liked him since junior high, but I was too shy to tell him. I was more afraid I would never see him again and wouldn't be able to play with him if I told him. So it had always been kept a secret, except from Mandy. Mandy and I were best friends who talked about everything. We shared every secret about each other and made a pact not to lie to each other. This was why I left without saying goodbye. I didn't know how to face Mandy or tell her, so I ran away.

Now, the past overwhelmed me again. The question was, could I face what was coming? Could I honestly tell him that it was all in the past? As much as I wanted to forget him, I actually didn't. Every day, I thought of that night, the good memories of my life. But that was just a memory. He might have forgotten me and started a new life.