Bra Straps and Hair Clips

Remember the little girl I wrote about over a year ago (wow time goes by sooo fast). I used to see her everyday, and I’d always give her a little something.. a banana, money, a hug, whatever.

Ever since the earthquake I haven’t seen her. I thought about her daily (hard not to because I drive by the area I would see her everyday) but always brushed off the thought because I didn’t want to think that she was killed by the earthquake like so many others. That’s my way of dealing with situations that hurt too much–avoid thinking about it.

Anyway–

Lo and behold, the other day I’m walking into my aunt’s clinic and I hear a girl screaming something  in Kreyol. I really didn’t think twice about it and continued walking, until I saw a tall skinny girl  behind me at the door of the clinic. She looked familiar but I couldn’t point out who it was. She has long stick legs, beautiful skin, and the cutest face. She was so hyper that she caught me off guard. She kept saying “remember me? remember me? I remember you!” in kreyol. It hit me–it was the little girl that I had been wondering about for so long. I was speechless, but then again she didn’t really give me time to talk because she was moving around so much. She was like, “I have something for you! I’ve been holding this for you for a long time!” She whips off her backpack and opens it, and started digging through her bag furiously but she can’t control the smile on her face.  Still–I hadn’t said anything.. I don’t really know what I was thinking. She pulled out 2 little white sparkly hair pins and put it in my hands. It was so cute! She started digging in her bag again, all the way to the bottom, while saying “Wait, Wait, I’ve been holding this for you too” and she pulls out two bra straps. I was thankful for my gifts. She kept repeating “m sonje ou, m sonje ou, m pa’t we ou pou long temps” (or something in that nature which basically says I miss u, I haven’t seen you in so long).

The thought that this little girl has been saving these two particular hair pins and bra straps for me is… I don’t really have the words for it. But it’s the most memorable gift I’ve ever received.

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