Rose Kalina Thompson grew up in a big loving family.
She is almost 25 years old, has her dream job and enjoys working as an editor.
Her best friend, sister(s) and brother stand by her with advice and support. And she needs them when she begins to d...
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For an hour I followed Diana everywhere, she introduced me to so many people that my head was spinning. I don't think I would remember everyone's name. We ended up at our table and took a seat introducing us to the other people at the table. Soft music was playing in the background, small appetizers were handed out and soft chatter was audible.
3 men stepped onto the stage after a while. "That is Erik, Aiden and Simon." Diana told me softly.
Simon started with his speech "welcome everyone, we are pleased with the great turnout today. We are happy to see that you all accepted our invitation. 15 years ago, I started my publishing house for children's books and don't be afraid, I'm not going to change that." Here and there was laughter to be heard.
"Almost 9 years ago Erik, Aiden and I started working together. Best idea of our life I believe. We changed our name in the phoenix, inspired by a good friend of us all. The phoenix did rose big, and we are, sorry to the other publishers, the biggest publisher of children's books in America."
Everyone applauded while Erik took the word.
"Today we are here to celebrate art! Whether we are talking about visual arts or music or literature or performing arts, they are all important in our life. Not everyone understands them all, but you will always feel a connection with one of them. Feel something, I have never been a reader, nor a dancer. You can ask my wife that" and the audience laughed again. "I'm not an artist, math and numbers that is my thing. But when I listen to music, I understand it, I feel."
Everyone applauded again while this time Aiden took the word.
"Today we present to you one off our most important books that we ever published, or that is what we believe it will be. It's a book written by a mother for her daughter. To show her that everything is possible. That whatever life throws at you, you take it, accept it, and fight it and or learn to live with it. Please welcome "Natalie Ramsey!"
Everyone applauded when a women came on the stage, she seemed nervous but determined. She cleared her voice "good evening, everyone" her voice trembled a bit, but Aiden placed his hand over her shoulder, and she continued "today my daughter is 14 years old, and she loved dancing."
A video of a little girl dancing was played on a big screen. "At 4 years old she went to her first dance class. The dance teacher told us after a couple of weeks that she was very talented. We did everything we could to give her the best training she could have. But 5 years ago, she got sick, after a lot of tests we got the news, bone cancer." She wiped away a tear and cleared her throat and continued "Luckily, we found out fast, but for her left leg it was too late, the cancer was spread out. Amputation was the verdict, to save her and to stop the cancer for spreading. My daughter didn't care, but she did care that she never could dance again. Her dream was over, she was so mad at everyone. That's when I started writing to her. And that's what my book, my dreams, is about. Showing children that even though your dream is over, you can always find another dream. Life isn't over till you die. My daughter is happy again, she found something to live for. Art helped her to fight, to stand up and learn to walk again, to change her dream and find another one."
