His Surprise Daughter

Happy Birthday

February 2 - February 3, 2016

Two years ago I had a daughter named Leilani. She is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Despite losing my family because I decided to have her I wouldn’t change a thing.

“ I can’t believe Leilani is turning two today.”

“ I know right it seems like it was just yesterday when you had her.”

“ I mean just look at her talking up a storm to my mom.”

“ She is definitely a social butterfly which is the opposite of me.”

“ But she definitely got your big brains.”

“ That and her wavy black her is the only thing she’s got from me.”

Leilani is a spitting image of her dad. She has his blue eyes and his noise. She even got both of his dimples when she smiles.

“ Mommy cake time?”

“ Yes Leilani.”

“ Come on mommy and P me want cake.” Leilani then grabs Paige and my hand and leads us to the cake. We then sing her happy birthday and later open presents. I thank everyone for coming to Leilani’s birthday and I hand out the party favors.

Despite today being a very happy occasion it’s also a sad occasion because today is not only Leilani’s birthday but it’s moving day.

After Paige and I graduated in December she decided she wants to move back home to California to be closer to her mom and grandparents. Paige family said that they would help Leilani and me if I wanted to move with Paige. I no longer have anything holding me here in Texas so I decide to move to California with her.

We both got accepted to Stanford university’s medical school and we will be starting school next semester. I did what I set out to do even with being a single mother. I graduated early with honors in December. So I’m now going into medical school and so is Paige.

Paige did not graduate early though she was always grade above me and she is older then me by a year.

Paige’s mom is going to drive her car to California while her uncle drives mine. We don’t need a moving truck because all we are taking is our clothes, all of Leilani’s toys and our sentimental things. Paige grandparents bought us all new furniture which is already waiting for us in our new apartment.

California is a good ways away from Texas so Paige, Leilani , and I are flying while her mom and her uncle are driving our stuff. I offered to drive but they said flying will be best especially since I have Leilani with me.

This is Leilani’s first plane ride so I’m a little nervous. I’m pushing Leilani in her stroller to our gate with my book bag on my back. I packed a lot of things to keep Leilani entertained for the whole plane ride. I’m just happy she’s potty trained because that is one less thing I don’t have to worry about.

The plane ride to San Jose California was not bad. It only took four hours and Aria was asleep the whole ride.

When we get off the plane Paige calls her older brother to let him know our plane has landed. He will be picking us up and taking us to our new apartment.

The apartment we bought is a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment. We love this apartment because it’s only seven minutes away from campus.

Before we get to the apartment we go to the grocery store because there is no food. After going grocery shopping Paige’s brother helps us load everything into the house and then he leaves.

When we get settled in it is almost eleven at night. We have been going since eight this morning and I’m exhausted. Leilani is sleeping in her room while Paige and I organize the apartment.

“ What time will your mom and your uncle arrive tomorrow?”

“ They’ll arrive around two in the afternoon. I think.”

“ Okay well I’m tired.”

“ Alright well goodnight Belle.”

“ Night.”

The next morning when Paige and I wake up. We decide to take a walk around the neighborhood. I put Leilani in her stroller and we head for a morning stroll.

When we get back from our walk. I see that our cars are pulling up. Once they park our cars we head inside our apartment.

“ Y’all must have been driving all night.”Paige says

“ Yeah We were.”

“ Well thank y’all for doing this. Leilani and I are really grateful.”

“It was our pleasure to help. Your brother will be driving here to pick us up and then take us home.”

“ Hey Leilani you want to stay with Meme while we unload the cars.”

“ Yeah Meme come play.”

Leilani is very smart for a two year old. One day at her preschool her friend’s grandma came and picked her and her friend up. Later when I went to pick up Leilani up from her friends house she asked me where her grandma was. I didn’t know what to say so I said she is busy helping fairies.

Then one day while we were all watching tv Leilani asks Jess if she was her grandma. Jess started to cry and Jess said if it was okay with me she would love to be her grandma. Jess decided that she wanted to be called Meme. So ever since then that’s been Jess’s name.

As We were unpacking the cars and Paige’s brother shows up. It took us no time to unload the box’s from the car and into the house.

Once we are done unloading everything Jess and Paige’s brother decide they will stay and watch Leilani while we unpack.

What we also love about our house is it’s not only seven minutes away from the university. It’s only 34 minutes away from Jess’s house.

We start by unpacking the box’s that have the word kitchen on it. We set most of the box’s on top of the kitchen island. I’m very short for my age I am nineteen years old and I’m barely four feet and ten inches tall. I love this kitchen even though I’m going to have to use a step stool to reach all the high cabinets.

All the box’s are labeled which made it easier to unpack. We get done putting everything away around 4:30pm.

“ Bye Jess and Luca.”

“ Bye girls. I’ll come by tomorrow to help you finish up.”

Jess gives all of us a big hug and kiss on the cheek then leaves with Luca.

“ What do you want to do for the rest of the day?” Paige asks

“ Absolutely nothing. We can watch a movie in the family room with Leilani . Hey Leilani what movie do you want to watch?”

“ Mommy I want Moana.”

Yesterday and today have really been mentally challenging. I’ve just moved away from the only place I ever lived. I know I haven’t talked to anyone in my family for almost two years. I still had hope that one day they would accept Leilani and me. But that day has yet to come. I wrote each one of my family members a note before I left and gave them my new address. I know that my family disowned me but I did not disown them. I’ve tried to contact them but I get nothing. This letter was my last time trying to reach out to them. I need to stop looking in the past and move on so I can make a better future for my daughter.