Children of the light

In my short 19 years of life I've experienced the feeling of losing someone that you love. When I was younger I lost two baby sisters and just this past summer I lost my cousin who was like a sister to me. Although the world seemed dark at those moments, they actually helped me appreciate life even more.

My two baby sisters died while they were still at the hospital when I was very young. I didn't completely understand what death really was at that age, but as I grew older those moments of darkness taught me a lot about living in the light. I learned how precious life can really be, and how we should all cherish it. I learned how love can be eternal and what the meaning of family and sisterhood was. Back in the United States, it's just me, my half-sister Alliyah, and my step-dad. I've had my quarrels with my step-dad but it grew to me that out of all the things he's done for me, taught me, and how he loves me so much, calling him my father would be more fitting than "step-dad". I never saw my step-sister Alliyah as anything else other than a sister as if we had the same two parents. And although I never met my other two sisters that passed away in the hospital, I still consider them as my sisters think of them, miss them, and love them as if they were still with me today. Just the thought of my two other sisters brings light to my life.

This past summer I lost my cousin who was very dear to me. We grew up together in the Philippines and I was basically a younger mini-me version of her. We had many mischievous adventures together and I can easily say that I got most of my street-smarts from her as well. She was the most happy person that I have ever had the honor of knowing. She was always bubbly and laughing. Her joker attitude always brought joy in my childhood years and her sense of adventure paralleled mine.

I was unable to go to the Philippines for her funeral so I decided to go on a tribute hike to say good-bye to her. Not only was the hike I chose extremely physically demanding, but it was quite ungroomed, and I was doing the hike solo. After hours of steep slopes and climbing tree roots along the "trail" I made it to the top. I had written a letter to her saying goodbye and thanking her for being such a shining star in my life. My memories of her was the shining light in my life in this time of darkness; she was my light.

Stay classy Athens and thanks for stopping by,

Khadijah