Not Alone

By JorgeValdes Jr.

That day everything changed. We had arrived here as we had planned; everything seemed to be going smooth until we got stopped. It was a new place for us all, a new environment. This is what we wanted all along, what we long waited for, yet he was crying. We had arrived on an airport in the United States of America, in Miami to be exact, and although we arrived legally there were some problems. My mom was not with us, she had to stay behind because she was a doctor in Cuba, and they don’t let those out easily. Still, it was her who had family here in the U.S. and according to the information given to us here, she had to accompany us. However, we did arrive nonetheless; shouldn’t this have been found out long ago? In Cuba, at the airport, while entering the plane? One thing was for sure, they could not send us back. However, my dad was shedding some tears, the receptionist here sounded hopeless, as if there was nothing we could do, he was not being very helpful. I was young, but I could understand and I was worried. My brother was too young back then and so he suggested, “let them bring mom in a helicopter.” If only things were that simple. I hugged my dad from the back and whispered in his hear, “everything is going to be alright,” not sure myself if that were true.

 We were soon brought up to a new receptionist, a new nicer one compared to the one before. My dad explained our case, how we got here, why my mom was not with us etc. They exchanged a few words and my dad gave him some papers. As I was watching I couldn’t help but wonder how the world was beyond these four walls. The most I was able to see was from the window in the plane, which I was lucky enough to sit by. Everything looked so nice and bright from up there, the world was a better place. My fear of heights was not enough to stop me from contemplating that beautiful view. When we finally landed it was almost surreal, we were finally here, at last. But we had been here for hours, sitting here waiting for things to be resolved, I couldn’t wait but to leave this airport and set foot outside. Thoughts crossed my young mind, how did it look? How did it differ from my native land? Did the moon look any different here? As these thoughts were racing through my mind my dad put his hand on my shoulder and said “let’s go.”

 I didn’t ask, I just walked, and followed him. I was glad my little brother was sleeping on his shoulder; he would soon wake up in a better place. After hours of waiting things seemed to be going well, I noticed because doors were opening, and people were looking at us with a smile saying “go on ahead.” We were walking through these long hallways and it finally hit me that we were leaving, not leaving but rather entering. When we came across that long window waiting area, and noticeable faces started to look up and applaud as we got closer, I realized, we made it, we were finally here. I was going to finally see what lies beyond this airport.

 Thinking back now a few words from a dear song comes to mind “you can go anywhere you wish, cause I’ll be there wherever you are.” We were not alone that day.