Cherry blossoms, once thick on the trees, now litter the
waterfront path like confetti after New Year's Day.
The staccato drum beat of footfalls
echo in the park revealing a natural beauty with a radiant, friendly
air. On all counts, she was the spitting image of her mother.
Upon spotting me on the bench, she waved
excitedly, "Hi Uncle Marty!" The 'Uncle' may be honorary, but
we're as close as blood.
"Hi Jess!" I said, standing to hug her.
"Did mom tell you what's going on?" there was a sheen to
her eyes. She'd been crying.
"Yeah, Jess, she did." I replied softly, trying to keep the
smile in my voice. I had learned everything the night before; Jessy
is pregnant with Derrick's child, and the abusive prick is nowhere
to be found.
"What should I do?" her face was a mask.
I sat her down and told her about this student I hired a couple of
decades back. She had an abusive boyfriend that evaporated at the
word 'fatherhood'. Unlike Jessica, her parents were staunch
Catholics who would never consider medical 'alternatives'.
"I listened to her story as she tore herself apart daily. I took
her to the clinic whenever she needed. I truly believed that an
abortion was her best shot." I idly twirled a fallen flower
with my fingers. "I even took a day off so I could drive her in for
the procedure, but she decided not to go through with it."
"How did it all turn out?" she asked with brimming eyes.
I gave her a sly smile. "It turns out I was wrong. She had a
wonderful baby girl," I gave her a direct look, "and that pretty
child calls me 'Uncle' and we sit under the cherry trees whenever
she needs to talk."
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