He was tall. He was dark. He was handsome. He was always gentle and kind with me. I had no doubt that he loved me as deeply as I loved him. He was much older than I was and in spite of this, my mom adored him too and encouraged our relationship.
He traveled all over and often took me with him and sometimes my mom as well. He loved Miami and going to the beach. We lived there for a while. I couldn’t swim and was quite short, so when we went to the beach he would always put me on his shoulders and take me into what was deep water for me. He tried to teach me to swim but wasn’t successful. How I loved the beach, walking and looking for shells. But it was nothing compared to just being in his company.
One year while living in Miami, we survived a hurricane. I still remember how he carried me in the streets that had deep water and how we both got “whooping cough.” My mom took care of both of us and nursed us back to health.
I had never had a pet of my own. One day when he came, he brought me a kitten. It ran under a bed and refused to come out for a long time. A few days later the kitten had an accident and died. I was heartbroken! I remember his gently consoling me, rocking me in his strong arms of love.
Once we lived in Texas far out in the country. I loved walking barefoot in the grass but that day, someone had left a scythe lying hidden in the grass and I stepped on it. It nearly cut my foot in half. He poured alcohol in it and bandaged it tightly and again rocked me, holding me tenderly.
He played guitar and loved to sing and did it well. Many of our evenings together ended with me going to sleep as he played and sang.
I have just one memory of him being angry and I felt he was justified in that anger. I have no memories of his ever using harsh or angry words with me. I knew that ours was a “forever” relationship. It would be until death do us part!
We had been together nearly six years. Perfect years for me! He sent me on an errand and when I returned, every trace of him was gone.
He and my mom divorced soon afterward.
