"Sophie" by Maura Bayly

She was my first niece, who no one truly got the chance to know. She was the one with the peach nursery. She was the baby born on Halloween. She was the one I never got to meet. When she was born, my mother thought it was best if I didn’t get to meet her. While everyone was at the hospital together, I was in the nurse’s room crying by myself. I received text messages as an “update” on what was going on. An “update” like it was the super bowl game. I had such anger towards my mother for a very long time. I was the one who was counting down the days until she was born. I was the one who first went shopping to buy her a wooden “S” to put above her crib. I was the one that helped make the baby shower invitations. And yet, I was the one who was not allowed to see her precious face. After much thought and a lot of tears, I came to appreciate my mother’s decision. Even though I would give anything just to see her face, and to count her fingers and toes, I now have something to look forward to when I reach heaven. I imagine my wonderful niece, Sophie, waiting and greeting me with open arms. And this gives me happiness.