-19-

Jade asked me to dress nice and bring a jacket along; he's taking me some place to make up for missing my birthday. Even though he kept reminding me he'd rather stick a needle in both his eyes than see someone's reaction to a present he'd given.

There's certain smells that I associate with home: donuts because once I step out of the building I'm always struck by the smell of it coming Zachary's truck. Glue gun because our neighbor is a lady who decorates baskets with satin flowers and it always smells like glue is burning. Mint because Miss Tea is across our balcony, and laundry because of the crazy amount of clothes hanged to get dried throughout the day.

Now home smells a whole lot like omelet burning, freshly made mint tea and a cologne that notifies me Jade's passed from here.

"Ready?" Jade yelled from nana's balcony.

"Depends!" I yelled back, "how long is the drive?"

"About 4 hours…" he chuckled, "you better empty your bladder!"

"Will do," I yelled squeezing my tummy to make sure if I pee now nothing would be left, "I'll meet you by the car."

After I'd peed and washed up I fixed my hair and put on some perfume for the last time. It doesn't matter where we're going as long as I'm with my better company.

"Did you skip sleeping like we said?" Jade asked once I stepped into the car.

"Yes," I said excitedly, "I'm so gonna sleep the entire trip."

"Good," he kissed my cheek, "because I only brought food for one."

I felt a tickle on my side and slowly opened my eyes to realize Jade's carrying me somewhere. He put me down in the middle of an empty dark street and sat beside me, I almost lost it.

"No," I shook my head, "we're not doing that again!"

"Bliss! Like I would scare you again!" He sighed, "do you trust me?"

"Okay."

"Okay or yes?" He chuckled at me.

"Yes."

He Put both his hands on my shoulders lowering me while I resisted for a second… but once again we were lying in the middle of the street. He took my hand and squeezed it in his and asked me to close my eyes.

I closed my eyes finally after many failed attempts. I squeezed Jade's hand harder making sure he doesn't leave my side in the middle of this street. This 4 hour away from home dark street that I don't know the name or location of.

"Open!" He yelled into my ears and I felt his excitement.

The moment I opened my eyes a bright light shot into the dark sky and festive music came out of nowhere. My heart was beating fast wondering what is going on and I froze lying on the street staring at the lit sky.

"I once told your dad I wanted to marry you," Jade started, "I was ten so he laughed at me and said you only love her for now. I took his word; I thought he knew better but kept asking him and he kept telling me for now kid, for now! One day he gave in to me and told me if you really mean it, do this one special thing…"

Jade took my hand and helped me up, he slowly tried to turn me around and I stared at him expressionless, minus my open mouth and teary eyes… and I saw it.

"Little did he know," Jade hugged me from behind as we enjoyed the view, "for now is as long as I'm given."

What happened next was something I've never felt the urge to do. I turned around and hugged Jade for so long my fingers froze meeting on his back. I told him that I loved him and I said it twice, I love him so much all over my heart.

"YAGALBIII"

"YAGALBIII"

"YAGALBIII"

What sounded like a crowd of kids was calling my name from afar, far enough. I looked at Jade and asked him what's going on?

"You wanted someone to call you from afar" Jade smirked, "my football team thought they'd do it"

"That's so sweet!" I said feeling like I could burst with emotions, I feel like my heart is so big it could expand to my whole body and would grow so much my uniform would fit me!

"They didn't do it for you" Jade teased, "they did it for the frozen yogurt!" I punched him and clutched to his arm, "let's go!"

The light that shot to the sky was of a giant Ferris Wheel. Jade brought his football team and all the kids from the orphanage he volunteered in to fill this place. He said the best part about going to an amusement park is the wait in line, the anticipation.

I've always hoped that Baba didn't forget about this, and as we rode a full circle on the Ferris Wheel and waited for kids to get on board. My heart was full, my luck was alright and my favorite chocolate was Zaid.

My wish had been to never live through what happened with Baba again and I believe I won't. I'm not alone anymore and I refuse to ever settle for that.

There's Zaid who I'll forever call Jade, it's his fault he introduced himself as that! There's Miss Tea who is my nana, an entire football team of kids whom all their names I can pronounce and my favorite security guard, Ammo Hail and his friends.

It's not a lot but it's enough, more than enough. Here's to all the unsung people enriching our existence, those who see us and those we see.