Rima grew up pretty quickly. She was six years old. She calls me Mom even though she knows I'm not her biological mother. She knows a lot for her age. We've lived in the Hotel for six years now. The entire staff knows us. They all love Rima. Every year on her birthday, they throw a huge party for her. It makes my day to see her smile.
Living up in England for the past six years has been pretty decent. I think about Gino every day and wonder if he even remembers me. I work outside all the time so I've gotten really tan. Turns out when I went back to repair the village, some people managed to escape. They said it was a terrorist attack.
I helped repair the village and worked as a singer. Rima would always wait and listen in the studio as I worked.
I decided that it was time for me to head back home, to my real home in Japan. As much as I liked being acquaintances with the many different cultured people here, I really missed Gino. The French, Americans, Germans, and English people did not fill that hole in my heart from when I left all the people I cared about, especially Gino.
"Rima," I began, "how would you like to go to Japan? That's were I'm from. I'm sure you'll love it. I have a house over there and everything. What do you say?" She looked at me for a while, deep in thought. "Ok, Mom. When do we leave," she asked, excited to travel. "Tomorrow," I said. She ran around the hotel packing all her things. I smiled.
I booked a flight for both Rima and me. We got on the plane and waited for take off.
After our long flight, we finally arrived in Japan. My heart was beating extremely fast and I was giddy to see how Gino was. I smiled as I knew I kept my promise to him.
"Mommy, it's so pretty," Rima said as she held my hand through the airport. I giggled. "And you've only seen the airport. Wait until we get outside," I said. Her eyes widened and she pulled me along to get our baggage.
We grabbed our bags and walked to my old house. I was surprised my car and things were still there. I was also surprised that no one even came in for the dust that settled proved that there was no life in the house for years.
I let Rima play in the yard for a couple of hours as I tidied up the house. When it was spotless, it was time for bed. I tucked Rima in and smiled. "Goodnight, Mommy," she whispered sleepily. I smiled and nodded my head before turning out the light. Tomorrow I planned to go see Gino.