Toa was in 4th grade, happy and healthy. Her half-sister was coming up again that summer to visit and even stay. Carrie had managed well, but barely got by with the two youngest daughters. Toa loved her mother and cared for her. What neither of them knew was that by doing this one would enter a world too soon, too early.
Carrie had Jessica and Nao attending preschool, Jessica was about to enter kindergarten after the summer. Summer came and Toa saw her mother again. She had picked her up from school that day; Toa didn't know it'd be the last time for a long time. Over the past year they'd gotten a kitten at her mother's apartment which they found on the streets that winter. Toa had all the heart for animals, even now when she thinks of it.
Soon into July Toa noticed her grandparents were getting worried. Finally her grandmother said it to her, "Listen now. Your mother has left her apartment in a rented car with your sisters and the cat. We don't know where they are now." Toa asked more and more. When will they be back? Weren't we going to the aquarium this summer? I-Is my cat coming back? Will my mommy be back? TEARS, her only answer brought them to her.
Toa acted like she was fine. She had lost large amounts of weight, stopped eating, drinking, even hanging out with her friends. She'd become an empty body. Her purpose was gone, her mother was gone too. Her true family was gone.
Will they ever be back?
Even if Toa acted like she was fine she'd feel deep pain at night. Her grandparents started speaking of receiving calls from Carrie all around New York. They finally pinned her down in a north-western city, searching for shelter for Toa's sisters and the cat. Toa was happy now; she had some hope to hold onto.
Toa would speak with her grandmother about her real problems. "Can you tell me about mommy?"
"She's mentally ill, and sometimes this is what happens. She'll be back soon."
Soon couldn't have come sooner. It was September, the fireman's fair was over and school had started. It was 3 days into school when she was handed the house phone while her grandfather merely mouthed the magic word. "M-Mommy?" Toa cried when she heard her mother's voice again. They said their sorry's and forgave each other, only wanting to hold each other again.
Toa saw her mother again soon after. All charges were dropped, the missing $2000 dollars and the car counting as stolen. Their meeting again changed Carrie's will to be strong. Their relationship built up again, but within her family they were cold to her mother. "Mommy, I'll always be here for you. I love you and don't leave again."