My Eternal Daughter

Arrival

The gust of the frigid winter wind came in touch with my cotton-covered body. A yellow cab came by my way and I lugged my two heavy suit-cases in the trunk, until the driver came to assist me. "Where would you like to go, Missy?" says the driver. "The Hilton Club, please." I handed him the paper I had printed out with the location and info for the hotel. He nods his head, gives me back my paper, and drives off.

I had just arrived in Queens, New York from Boston, Massachusetts. I came here because I got a job as a child psychologist in the NYU Lagone Medical Center. Back in Boston, I studied in Harvard Medical School for 8 years. 4 years for an undergraduate degree and 4 years for a doctorate degree in psychology. I served as a psychologist there for two years in Massachusetts General Hospital. Boston isn't my hometown. I didn't go there for elementary or secondary school. My hometown is in Atlanta, Georgia. I almost spent my whole life there, ever since I was 1 year old. My birth-place is originally in Seattle, Washington. 

Speaking of my birth place, I would like to talk about my family and when I was younger. My father's name is Conrad, while my mother's name is Teresa. Father was born in San Francisco, California, while  Mother was born in Chicago, Illinois. They both met in Seattle, Washington when Father was 25 and Mother was 22. They married each other when they were four years older. A year after that on September 8th, I came into the world. We then moved to Atlanta, Georgia the next year because my dad got a job as  a lawyer there. When I was a child, my parents liked to say that I was a "child prodigy". I learned how to do things earlier than most kids. For example, when I was three-years-old, I knew already how to play the piano. I also knew how to read and count to 100, when I was three. I was more of the shy, quiet, and serious girl, and still am, but not as much when I was a child. Of course I had friends, but I don't go to their house or have sleepovers with them. I was too busy studying. Every single time I get my report card, all the grades are A+. But even though I had high grades I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. But in sixth-grade, I finally knew what I wanted to be. I wanted to become a psychologist and to become that, I wanted to go to Harvard Medical School. So two of those dreams are fulfilled, which I am proud that I have achieved them. Maybe I should treat myself for some StarBucks tomorrow and go shopping. A good idea. And after all, it is the weekend tomorrow. I don't go to the NYU until Monday.

Minutes past, and I finally got to my destination. The driver hops out of the cab, while I stay inside the cab to get some money from my wallet to pay for the drive. I step outside the cab and see that the driver had already carried my two luggages and was smoking a cigarette. Thank God I survived. "That will be $11, Missy," he says as he sticks out his open palm. "Here you go, Sir, and thank you for the ride." "Your welcome, Missy." He throws his cigarette in a nearby trash can, goes into his cab, and speeds off. I haul the two luggages behind my back and set my feet inside the huge lobby. It was gorgeous. I went to the check-in counter and a tall, slender lady with a fancy bun came to my service. "Are you checking-in, Dear?" she asks as she taps a blue ball pen on the counter. "Yes, I am. My name is Janet Diaz, and I am staying here for four weeks." I hand her the paper with the hotel information. She nods her head and gets to work on her iMac desktop. I tap my foot while I wait for her to finish. A family that consisted of a father, mother, daughter, and son had just came back from shopping. My heart ached with loneliness and I started to miss my parents. I have not seen them since this summer. I assured myself that everything would be all right.

"Here, is your hotel room card. Your hotel room is on the 17th floor, room 1789. This information is on your hotel room card. I hope you enjoy your stay. And please, excuse my bad manners, my name is Cassandra," she smiles as she gives me the card and papers back. "Thank you for your help, Cassandra. Enjoy the rest of your day. Bye!" "You, too. Bye!"

I went over to the elevator and pressed the up button. To my great surprise, it immediately opened and no one was there. I stepped inside the elevator and as I was riding, I took out a pack of gum I had bought from the JFK International Airport. I popped one in my mouth, chewed it for only 10 times, and let the minty flavor dissolve in my mouth. The elevator doors opened and I went through spiraling and long hallways to get to my hotel room. My feet were sore after walking so much. To my great relief, I had finally reached my hotel room. I inserted the card in the slot, the green light illuminated, and I went inside the room. It was very satisfying. The bed was king size with comfy sheets. There was a porch with a sliding door. The curtains draped down for privacy. Beside that sliding door were two couches. In front of the bed, was a flat screen TV, with DISH cable. On the right side of the bed, was a small wooden board with intricate wooden cut-out designs. This separated the desk and bed, but only some parts. The closet was near the entrance door. A wall with an open space for people to walk through was the kitchen, and a slide door to the bathroom. The kitchen was very spacious, for a hotel room. The bathroom was really nice, with a bath tub, toilet, sink, and glass shower. By the bath tub was a wall-sized window. There was a view of cars driving on the never-ending highways, people walking on the sidewalks, and tall buildings, as usual. There was also a curtain, so that you can cover the window while you are in the bathroom. Thank goodness.

I lied down my luggages near the bed and collapsed, exhausted. There was one thing I knew for sure: I was very tired.