10 Years • Joel Pimentel

Chapter 20

It's been days since Amelia left the hospital and ever since then, things have been hard. My mother and I been working on getting her parents here but every time we found a solution and thought we got it, a problem popped up. It was a stressful process but we weren't giving up. There was nights in where we stood up searching and hoping to find out a solution.

I haven't been going to school for a while now and I know I should worry about my education but that's not what's important to me at the moment. I've also stayed at Amelia's place to make sure she was okay.

I turn to look at Amelia who gave me a warm smile and slowly extended her hand for me to take. Seeing her pale and barely having the strength to sit, hurt me so much. She's been in bed ever since the day she left the hospital waiting for the day to come. I intertwined our fingers and sat on the edge of her bed.

"I love you." She managed to say as her dark brown eyes stare into mine.

"Not as much as I do." I whispered before leaning in and kissing her forehead. Although she was in pain, she still manage to smile.

"Can we take a walk?" She said rubbing my hand with her thumb.

"Are you sure y-"

"Joel, I can do it." She said cutting me off. Amelia looked around and then back to me. "I'm tired of sitting here. It's so depressing."

"But you need rest." I said not wanting her to get hurt or anything. Of course I wanted her to go outside because she was right, being in her room was depressing.

"Fine. Let's go up the tree house." She said looking out her window.

There stood our favorite place to go for fun and just to take our minds off things. I've actually been there to clear up my mind these couple of days. "It's dying just like me." She said making me turn to look at her. For the first time, since the hospital, I saw her cry and it broke me to pieces. She was silent and didn't look at me but instead a the lifeless tree outside.

"The flowers haven't flourished." I said clearing my throat.

"Ever since my parents got deported, remember?" She said wiping her tears. I nodded not knowing what else to say. I looked at the tree and notice it had no color whatsoever although spring was around the corner. The tree seemed as if it was apologizing for everything that was happening and felt the pain we were going through.

I heard footsteps getting closer and soon the door swung open revealing my mother. "Joel!" She said with excitement. "We made it!"

I looked at her in disbelief and felt my eyes tear up. "How?" I said hugging her and for the first time smiled.

"I talk to the abogada and she said that Amelia's doctor helped out and in fact, he brought them himself." My mom said crying tears of joy.

"What's going on?" Amelia's spoke up in a soft voice.

"Mija, you're parents are coming!" My mother said running to her side smiling and hold her right hand.

Amelia smiled from ear to ear as tears began to fall. "Mis padres" she whispered before bringing my mother into a hug. "Thank you so much Patty." I stood there smiling but then join in on the hug.

In the bad, there's always something good in it.