April 7th.
The worst day of Bianca's life.
She didn't witness the accident. She doesn't remember anything about them. But she knows April 7th is the day they were taken from her. And every year, April 7th is the day she visits their grave.
She tells them about her life. The life they never got to see. They didn't get to see her off to kindergarten. Or middle school. Or high school. They didn't help her get ready for prom and take the required dozens of photos. They weren't there to dry her tears when her boyfriend broke her heart. So she sits for hours and talks to the parents she never knew.
Her parents don't like for her to come here. They say it will only upset her. But to Bianca, it is the only way to not lose touch with who she really is. She is Bianca Marie Vaughn. Her school papers and driver's license say something different. But deep down she is Bianca Vaughn.
Her parents don't like to talk much about "the accident" or her real parents. They were close to Bianca's real parents, maybe it's too painful. Or maybe they hate knowing she's not really their child. So all she knows are the few things her grandfather has told her. They went to a bank. It was robbed. They were both shot.
Her grandfather loves her, she knows that. But for some reason he doesn't like her parents. He pretends to, but Bianca knows there is something he's hiding. And sometimes, she catches him looking at her with a sad and faraway look. There is only one picture of her parents. A picture from their wedding. It's very dark. No one will explain to her why the room looks so cold and empty, and why the smiles on her parents' faces are strained. But looking at the picture, she knows why her grandfather gets so sad when he looks at her. She looks just like her mom.
It always rains on April 7th. For 17 years Bianca has been coming here, and every year it has rained. So she sits beside the grave, a few flowers in hand, but no umbrella. She doesn't mind getting wet.
She's not sure how, but she knows she loves them. She can't remember them. The only faces she has are the few photographs her grandfather has given her. At school she calls her parents her aunt and uncle. They would get upset if she did that at home, so she calls them mom and dad. But at the cemetary, she talks to mommy and daddy.
This is always the hardest day of the year. There are no awful memories that the day conjures up, but every year she wonders how her life would be different if they had just stayed home that day. And she cries, mourning the parents that never had a chance to raise their baby.
As the sun sets, she knows she has to go.
Uncle Arvin and Aunt Emily will be worried.
The worst day of Bianca's life.
She didn't witness the accident. She doesn't remember anything about them. But she knows April 7th is the day they were taken from her. And every year, April 7th is the day she visits their grave.
She tells them about her life. The life they never got to see. They didn't get to see her off to kindergarten. Or middle school. Or high school. They didn't help her get ready for prom and take the required dozens of photos. They weren't there to dry her tears when her boyfriend broke her heart. So she sits for hours and talks to the parents she never knew.
Her parents don't like for her to come here. They say it will only upset her. But to Bianca, it is the only way to not lose touch with who she really is. She is Bianca Marie Vaughn. Her school papers and driver's license say something different. But deep down she is Bianca Vaughn.
Her parents don't like to talk much about "the accident" or her real parents. They were close to Bianca's real parents, maybe it's too painful. Or maybe they hate knowing she's not really their child. So all she knows are the few things her grandfather has told her. They went to a bank. It was robbed. They were both shot.
Her grandfather loves her, she knows that. But for some reason he doesn't like her parents. He pretends to, but Bianca knows there is something he's hiding. And sometimes, she catches him looking at her with a sad and faraway look. There is only one picture of her parents. A picture from their wedding. It's very dark. No one will explain to her why the room looks so cold and empty, and why the smiles on her parents' faces are strained. But looking at the picture, she knows why her grandfather gets so sad when he looks at her. She looks just like her mom.
It always rains on April 7th. For 17 years Bianca has been coming here, and every year it has rained. So she sits beside the grave, a few flowers in hand, but no umbrella. She doesn't mind getting wet.
She's not sure how, but she knows she loves them. She can't remember them. The only faces she has are the few photographs her grandfather has given her. At school she calls her parents her aunt and uncle. They would get upset if she did that at home, so she calls them mom and dad. But at the cemetary, she talks to mommy and daddy.
This is always the hardest day of the year. There are no awful memories that the day conjures up, but every year she wonders how her life would be different if they had just stayed home that day. And she cries, mourning the parents that never had a chance to raise their baby.
As the sun sets, she knows she has to go.
Uncle Arvin and Aunt Emily will be worried.