Martina's Diary Part 6

November 20, 1971

         Well, today was the day. Bobbie and Angela were leaving. Bobbie had even
gotten another apartment already, so I was forced to face that they really were
leaving. It wasn't some strange dream I could wake up from, like I had tried to
convince myself.
         Loading the last of their boxes into the U-Haul she had rented, some
little part of me hoped that maybe the deal on the apartment would for some
reason, fall through, even though she had already signed the papers. I knew she
was doing what was best for Angela, but I was selfish and I didn't want them to
leave. For my own reasons.
         “Well, that's everything,” said Bobbie with a strained smile.
         “Yeah, everything,” I said, trying to summon up a smile to go with
Bobbie's. What came out was more of a grimace than a smile.
         Just then Angela came bounding out of the house. We had finally
convinced her that they were going on an adventure.
         “Come on mom, it's time to go. We're on a schedule here. No time to
dally.”
         Bobbie laughed, her first real laugh since she had told us that they were moving. “Alright, say
goodbye to Martie, and we'll be on our way.” We may have convinced Angela, but I
had yet to convince Bobbie that they were going on an adventure.
         Angela looked at me with a sad smile, and I realized that Angela was a
better actor than I had given her credit for. She knew she was dying. She knew
exactly what was going on, that the disease that forced her to have braces on
her legs was slowly eating away at the rest of her body. She could feel it. So
much older than her age, I thought, not for the first time.
         “Bye bye, Martie.” There was a final tone to her voice. She gave me a
hug, and shoved something into my hand in the process. I held on until she
pulled away, just a little child.
         Bobbie reached out and took my hand, then pulled me into a bear hug. She
pulled back, shot me a sad look and walked quickly toward the U-Haul. When they
were both in, Bobbie started the engine. I started waving as they drove away
down the street, and didn't stop until they were out of sight.
         I hadn't cried when they left, but when I looked down at the paper
Angela had given me, I started crying. Sitting down on the curb, I cried until
the tears ran out.
         On the paper, in red crayon, were two stick figures and the words Me and
God love you.