My life didn’t start off all sunshine and rainbows, no. I didn’t have that luxury. A little bit after I was born... there were complications...

Don’t get me wrong. My mother was a very healthy woman. But, a few days passed and my mother was taken to the emergency room. From there she was diagnosed with group A Streptococcus and sepsis. She was placed in the hospital’s intensive care unit but it wasn’t enough. My mother passed away six days after I was born.

As a child I never really noticed. All I knew was I didn’t have a mom but for the most part, I was okay.

As a child I never really noticed. All I knew was I didn’t have a mom but for the most part, I was okay. But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel weird when I’d see kids at school hugging and kissing their mom goodbye.

My father was great and all but he wasn’t my mom. Despite all of his efforts I couldn’t help but be jealous of other children that had both a mother and father.

Over the few years I’d been alive I had always heard stories of my mother. She was an intelligent, beautiful, and kind woman.

But my father on the other hand... he would have a smile on his face whenever he saw me. However, every night I’d hear him crying himself to sleep. Needless to say, it was hard to sleep in that house.

It wasn’t until I was six years old that I started elementary school. I was excited as I could be.

“Sweetheart, it’s time for school!” My dad shouted as he quickly opened the door.

The loud noise jolted me awake and I almost fell out of bed. But that didn’t matter to me. It was time for school and I was excited for my first day.

I looked up at my dad and he flashed me that cheerful smile of his.

“Let’s eat some breakfast! Can’t start your day on an empty stomach.”

I happily raced my dad to the kitchen and much to my surprise my whole family was there. My grandmother, my aunt, my uncle, and my cousin.

I ran into my cousin’s arms at full force. We both fell over and laughed about it. That’s when I noticed something about her.

“Hailey?” I questioned suspiciously as my eyes narrowed on her.

“Yes?” She replied as she picked herself up.

“Isn’t that my school uniform?” I asked as I glanced up and down her body.

“Surprise!” My family shouted.

My aunt picked me up from the ground and exclaimed, “both of you are going to the same elementary school! Isn’t that exciting?!”

My dad scooped me up from my aunt’s arms and put me on top of his shoulders.

“We wanted it to be a surprise cause we know how much you guys love each other!”

Tears welled up and threatened to spill from my eyes. I couldn’t believe it!

“Awe, why are you crying, Baby?” My grandmother asked as she sat down in her chair.

“I’m so happy!” I cried.

My dad then put me down in a chair and served me a plate of warm buttermilk pancakes with maple syrup.

He had already cut up the pancakes for me so I could eat in peace without any struggle.

I was happy because my cousin was like a sister to me. We were so close in age we might as well have been sisters from different mothers.

I was even happier our family came together to watch us go to our first day of school.

After I finished my breakfast, my aunt helped put on my uniform. A burgundy polo shirt with a khaki skirt and black flats to complete the whole outfit.

Afterward, my hair was tied back in a ponytail and I was ready to go.

My family and I gathered outside near the bus stop for photos. In our last photo, I wrapped my arms around Hailey and held her tightly against me. I held her like there was no tomorrow because I was so happy to be with her.

We got on the school bus and lucky for us there was a seat left at the back of the bus. I quickly took Hailey’s hand and we ran for it.

Sitting down in that seat... I felt like I won an award or something. I just felt so cool at that moment. I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. Nope. It was stuck there.

I wish I could say Hailey felt the same but she couldn’t even look at me. I think she was embarrassed because of how much of a big deal that was to me.

The bus pulled up to the school and when we got off I noticed she far walked ahead of me. It didn’t take long for me to catch up to her. I grabbed her shoulder and turned her around to face me.

“Why were you running away from me?” I asked while my mouth formed a frown.

“You were embarrassing me!” She yelled.

I looked down at my feet and apologized.

To which Hailey walked away without a word.

I wanted to cry but I held it in and continued walking. And eventually, I found my classroom.

“Daddy wouldn’t want me crying on my first day of school,” I said to myself.