A Bunny Story

Born in another country makes it hard for me to live in the U.S.
I think I always knew, in the back of my head, but my Junior year in high school is when it hit me.
I won't be able to have a normal job, I won't be able to get a license, and my life will be harder than most once I turn eighteen.
It's been eleven years since that rainy day. I do remember, I do remember when we got here. Clearly, as if it was just yesterday that it happened. I was only six. People say it's hard for them to remember things from when they are young but something like this you never forget.

I don't remember the weather in my country, I can't really feel it when I think about it. All I remember was the sun. It was probably hot and dry. The street was full of dirt and rocks. My house was made of cement. We were only renting it. The next thing that happened tears me up even to this day. I remember walking off with my mom and my tiny sister. She must've been about three. I don't remember any suitcases. We had a taxi arrive at our trashy, grey house. My mom hurried me to take her hand. I look back at a golden retriever. A girl, named Reina. Queen, it means Queen. The most beautiful dog I'd ever laid eyes on. She was my pet, my baby. I loved her so much. "What about Reina, Mami?" I asked my mom calmly. "Do you want to stay here with her or what?". I said nothing and took my mothers hand. I've always been an obedient child. Reina sat and watched us leave. She was just sitting there as if she knew this was the last time we were ever going to see her. Maybe it was because she's always been a good girl but it pains me so much. I left her. How could I have done that?
I completely forgot about her after that or maybe I just didn't want to think about it. Until a few years later my mom informed me of her death and I cried, I cried and I still cry.


The next thing I remember was the Bus. I sat next to the window and watched as the desert turn green and full of trees. I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. I couldn't believe how cute the houses were. We might have gotten off at a McDonalds to get food. I am not sure. I had never eaten there before or heard of it but we had no money so we stayed inside. We got off somewhere and I believe we spent the night there? I'm not sure. It might have been just a dream. Either way we were off to our next stop and that is where I saw my dad. He had left to the US before us. I really am not sure how long, I don't even remember him not being there. I don't ask. This is where I saw the first act of kindness in the country of freedom.
A homeless man in a wheel chair looked at my tiny sister and gave her a piece of candy. It was a mint red striped candy in a clear plastic wrap. He holed it out to her but my sister hadn't noticed. Only I did. I simply watched him as I walked away quickly with my parents.

It was cold and humid outside, something that I've never really felt before.
We arrived at our final destination. We were at my Dad's cousins house.
She let us stay in her house for the next few months.
This is where my happiness and hell began. Although I didn't realize it was hell until we moved out, My parents didn't want  us to be in that kind of environment. I met my cousin Valleska here, we laughed a lot. We always wanted to spend time together but her parents fought.

We left to live in an apartment. They were called Blalock apartments. They were old, creepy and
beautiful. They reminded me of another country. Not home, not the U.S. Just our own little country.
My life as an illegal alien began here. It is when I realized that we were never going back to our home country. It wasn't just a year vacation. It was a life time.