Chapter 1

‘‘Kate dear the taxi is waiting for you outside’’, said Maurine the caretaker of their house. Maurine has been working with the family since Kate was born. She never got married that’s why she stayed with the family since then. The family trusted her so much and Kate is leaving their house to her.

“Thank you Nana, I’m coming” Kate said while holding the picture of her Mom. She pressed a kiss on it and hugged it tightly. Her eyes welled up and tears shed.. Kate missed her mom so badly. Her heart was so heavy over the thought of her and the life she shared with her mother. This is the house they moved in after her parents separated. All of the happy memories she had was there since she was small until she grew up. Her mother was a very loving mother and she loves her too much.

“This house has so much memories and I will definitely miss every part of this house and you too Nana. Please take care of yourself” Kate said to Maurine.

“I will miss you too dear. You are like a daughter to me. Please take care of yourself as well and please don’t forget to call me. I promised your mom to look after you. Maurine said to Kate.

I will do Nana don’t worry, said Kate and they hugged each other and bid goodbye. She got in the taxi going to the Airport. She’s leaving tonight for New York.

Kate was the only daughter of late Maria Jimenez, a nurse with Spanish ancestry and Ted Hamilton, an American businessman. They were living a happy life until her parents separated when she was 5 years old due to the reason that her father was having an affair with someone until he makes excuses and say that he’s always busy with his business and barely comes home. Kate and her mom moved into a new house far from her dads house. She used to ask her mom if her dad is visiting but as usual he never did until her mom asked her to stop asking about it.

 As the years passed by, Kate grew up as beautiful as her Mom. Some people said they looked like sisters. She has exactly the same facial features as her mother. Her eyes, nose and hair color is the same as her Mom. They had a very nice relationship as a mother and daughter until her mom passed away few months ago after fighting from a cancer. Her father never showed up since he left them and never heard from him. Kate’s sadness from losing her mom and her parent’s separation was changed with anger towards her father. Sometimes she’s asking why he never even bother coming to visit them, didn’t he love them? Those were just some of the questions that Kate has in her mind unanswered and left a hole in her heart. After her father left them, Kate inevitably harbored resentment towards against her father and because of what her father has done to them, she promised herself that she would never trust any man.

It was really tough for Kate when her mother passed away. She felt the world has collapsed around her. Her mother was her stone. She protected her, provided her everything she needs.  Even when her mother found out that she has a cancer, she never told Kate about her condition because she doesn’t to disturb her with her career and she doesn’t know how she will take pain and the thought of leaving her is unbearable for her. Kate just graduated from a Flight Attendant Academy at ithat time and was busy attending job interviews and Maria doesn’t want Kate to be distracted. She loves her daughter very much. Instead, she told Maurine about her condition and made her promise to take care of Kate and not to tell her about her condition and wait for the right time. Her health condition deteriorated as the days and months passed by. She started to get very sick till one day she was admitted at the hospital.

While in the Taxi, Kate was looking outside the window and the places she passes by when suddenly the thought about her mom came. Kate recalled the day her mother was admitted to the hospital. She was extremely anxious to know what could be the reason why she’s so sick suddenly. So she went to the Doctor to find out.

“No Doctor, you’re mistaking. Please check again. This can’t be right. Please run another test. Please… Please tell me it’s not true. Please. God No… please not my Mom” Kate recalled after she found out that her Mom got a stage 4 cancer and has already scatted her body. Kate was so shocked when she learned about her mom’s condition and she didn’t know what to do. All she did was broke down and cried at that moment. Kate felt like everything has shattered. She felt that all of her effort is useless. She dedicated it for her mother and now she’s leaving her.

She went to her mother’s room and sat beside her mom’s bed and asked her why she never told her. All her mother said was, “Because I love you so much Kate and I want you to focus reaching your dreams. Please promise me that you will be strong and continue to live and reach your dreams even if I am not around honey. Please promise me. That was what her mother uttered and waited for her answer before she closed her eyes.

Kate felt so much pain in her heart. She felt like everything just happened. All the pain of losing her love one, her mom. Her tears rolled down her eyes. Everything is still fresh in her mind and her heart is pounding with pain every time she thought about her mom.

It took so long before Kate was able to get back on track. Her grief has been very difficult for her that made her unable to focus or concentrate on anything. She just couldn’t keep up. She literally stayed in her bedroom for days, crying until there’s no more tears left to cry. She wasn’t even talking but with the support of Maurine and her best friend, she started to cope up slowly. She struggled a lot each day but she lived through it. She made a promise to her Mom that she will be strong and continue her life even if she’s not around. She applied and attended a lot of interviews in some airlines that wasn’t really easy before she got shortlisted and got an offer for a New York based job in one of the most prestige airline.

She wiped her tears and glanced outside the taxi window to see that they have reached the Airport. Kate is travelling to New York tonight for her new job in an Airline. A new job, a new chapter of her life.

She’s been dreaming about this job since she was small. Her dream is just right at her finger tips. A smile formed on her face with the thought of it but fades away upon thinking that her mother is no longer with her to share the happiness she felt. She let out a big sigh as she got out of the taxi and said “I miss you mom, I wish you were here”.

Her phone rang soon as she got out of the taxi. She looked at her phone to see whose calling and it’s her best friend Beth. They were friends since they moved in to their new house. She picked up the call. Hey bestie, did you reached at the Airport yet? I’m so sorry I cannot be with you before you go. Beth said in the other line. Kate can hear the sadness on her best friend’s voice.

Hi Beth, I just reached at the Airport. Don’t worry bestie I’m okay and I understand you. Please give my regards to your Mom and Dad and enjoy your vacation, Kate said to Beth.

Thank you bestie, I’ll tell them. I will miss you bestie. Please take care of yourself. Call me soon as you reached, Beth said.

Yes I will. I will miss you too bestie you take care as well and they bid goodbye.