Biting my tongue, I tried not to cry. The man on the other end of the telephone was breathing heavily and sporadically. When the seconds between each breath lasted too long, terror ran through my veins.
I needed more time. I needed him to breathe normally. I needed HIM. But the time had come. It was his time to leave.
I could tell by his breathing pattern how my words were affecting him. When the breaths came rapidly, I knew he was becoming emotional. When they were slower, it meant he was calmer.
I told him how much I loved him; how much I appreciated my heritage and the ethics he instilled in me. I thanked him for putting up with my incessant babbling when I got excited. I reminded him how he would offer me 25 cents to be quiet for five minutes when I was a little girl. I felt him smile inside.
 |
| I'm the little one |