The Cub in the Water

MY BUCKET OF GOLD

Bad things can't last forever, right? Eventually, darkness needs to find time to rest. I mean being so dark all the time must be exhausting. Ironic, isn't it? That the one thing that makes it what is, it's also its fatal flaw.

Light happens to know that.

This time I knew it was coming, but for me, it was still an unexpected event. It took me by surprise due to the dark tornado that had swirled me around for the past three years. This came to me as a burst of beautiful light.

It was a cold January Friday night at Mildred's house. Her sister Patricia and her mother, also called Mildred, were there when my dad and I arrived. We were all gathered for a very special occasion.

They were sitting in the living room sharing warm tea and hot coffee.

As we entered both ladies got up, "Congratulations, Christopher!" they said in unison.

"She is perfect!" said a tall, skinny, brunette woman - Patricia.

"She is more than perfect. Those adorable big brown eyes make me want to eat her up in kisses," her mom added. She was a small, thin, short dark red-haired, and elegant woman.

"Why, thank you! I think so too," my dad answered, all proud of himself. "Is Jason asleep?"

"Yes, Mildred put him to bed a couple of minutes ago. I think she is now in her room," Patricia said.

"Thanks, Patty, I'll go check. I'll come back for you in a minute, Mia."

"Okay, dad."

I was left alone with Patricia and her mother, which honestly was not weird at all. They had always been very nice to me. I liked hanging out with them. In fact, there were several times I thought to myself, 'gosh, it would be much better to have Patty as my stepmother. She's way cooler and nicer.' - I mean Patricia sure had a very strong character, still, she and her mom had more courtesies with me than Mildred ever did. At least, they didn't act like I was not in the room. I found that cool of them.

After a couple of minutes my dad came down the hall and looking at me he said, "All set. Ready to meet her?"

"Ready!" I jumped out of the couch from where I had been sitting for the past few minutes.

We entered Mildred's room, and my eyes immediately fixed on the cradle to the right of the bed. It was all white, with a veil of the same color on top of the crib intended to protect the baby from light and mosquitos.

I looked up to my dad as if asking, "Now what?"

"She is in there," he pointed to the cradle. "Go on, get closer. Just be careful not to wake her up. She just fell asleep."

The closer I got to the crib the bigger the smile on my face became. The moment I saw what it was holding, I thought, 'They are right. She is just perfect.'

My father stood next to me, "What do you think? Is she too cute to be your sister?" He laughed. "We still haven't decided on a name. She is either Carola or Julia. Which one do you like the most?"

"I think Carola is beautiful. Very original," I said

"Yes, well, I think I like Julia. It is sweeter, don't you think?"

I didn't answer. I was too amazed looking at her.

"I'll leave you two alone. Get to know each other," he said looking at his two girls with a proud smile.

As soon as he left the room I got closer to the crib. Its height was very convenient because I could sneak my head in just inches from her face, to look at her directly.

She was breathtaking. She slept soundly. She smelled like baby and lavender. She transported me to a world where everything felt peaceful. I couldn't stop looking at her. Her presence alone made me cry tears of happiness.

I couldn't believe that something so small could cast such a powerful spell to scare my shadows away. She turned my whole world upside down. She enlightened even the most hidden parts of me – something she still manages to do. She filled my soul with strength. She filled my heart with love.

It was love at first sight.

Some say that after the storm there is always a ray of sunshine, that you'll most likely be able to find a rainbow. I'm not sure if that's always true, but in this case, I didn't just find a rainbow, I found the freaking bucket of gold.

I stood there for about fifteen minutes, gently rubbing my fingers on her forehead. Just admiring her beauty, "You look more like a Carola to me."

"Mia, dinner is ready!" my dad yelled.

I knew that was my key to leave. I got my head closer to hers and gave her a kiss, "They better figure out your name soon. I want to know how to call the little thieve that just stole my heart," I smiled at her. "Welcome, sis."

I made sure she was covered properly and left the room.

She eventually got named Julia.

I know at that age I didn't fully comprehend what having those two little blessings in my life really meant. However, my heart knew it all along. I was the luckiest girl on earth.

The word "half-sibling" has never meant a thing for any of us. The fact that our mom is not the same person does not change the way we feel about each other.

Long before we experienced all the adventures we were destined to live together, all we had was the love that was born the moment we laid eyes on each other. Those kids rocked my world from the moment they took their first breath.

Even with my mom's reaction towards Jason being born, I felt no fear of telling the whole world about Jules. I figured that if she hadn't been able to do anything more than her little scenes then, this time wouldn't to be any different.

For me, it was worth it going through all her crap if it meant having even just a few moments with my dad and my siblings. Nothing she or anyone else could say would keep me away from them. Nothing she or anyone else could do would keep us apart.

You see, that's the difference between light and darkness. Darkness is doomed to cease to exist from the moment its first shadow is cast. Light, will only become brighter and stronger by the minute.

I was lucky, I knew it, and life was only starting to surprise me.