2. My heroes

“Heroes are all those people who go hand in hand with us in every important moment in life.”

-Thalia

September 05th, 2003

“Baby? Where are you?” It's mom, I know she's looking for me to scold me for what happened at school, I can only say that it wasn’t my fault.

I feel her steps on the stairs and I know, in that instant that she already found me. I feel like she stays by my side and strokes my hair with love.

“They talked about school, Thalia.” Sighed. “You shouldn't have done that to that girl, even if she was the one that bothered you.”

I sobbed; it is not fair to be scolded. The girl pulled my hair, I defended myself. I pushed her, she fell and hit her mouth.

“Come here baby.” She sits me on her lap. “I am not going to punish you, but don’t do it again.” She looks at me with her eyes similar to mine and I know she's not kidding. I kiss her and curl up in her arms, I like to feel her, it's like my pain reliever when everything seems to be going wrong.

June 05th, 2006

“Dad! Don’t let me fall!” I try to keep my balance, but I feel like I'm going to fall off at any moment. “Dad!”

I just hear him laugh behind me, I know he's holding me as he pushes the bike, but I can't stop worrying. Today Dad finally decided to remove the wheels from the bicycle.

“Relax, Tali! You just pedal, and don’t look down, baby. I won’t let you fall.” I hear him a little more distant and I know he's letting me go.

I freak out for a moment, then think about his words and listen to his instructions.

I feel that I fly… The feeling is incredible, I feel free. I’m doing it. My dad is the best.

“That’s my girl!” He screams to hug me later when I jump into his arms, he leaves a kiss on my forehead and hugs me again. “I love you, Thalia.”

August 15th, 2016

I hear my mother cry in my father's arms, I sit with my back on one of the shelves.

They don’t know I’m in the library and I can hear them.

“This is killing me, Aldo.” She sobs. “She’s my baby and I see how life escapes her everyday.”

“Terry, what wouldn't I give so Thalia wasn't suffering as she does! But, what do you want me to do?”

“I know we have done everything but it still hurts, and I am still looking for a way to save her.”

I cry silently, there are so many things I would like to do, but I know that time is running out.

August 20th, 2016

Terry and Aldo Smith:

Mom and Dad have always been with me, in every phase of my life. It hurts me to see how every day since they discovered my disease, they have dedicated their lives to me. I know maybe a million times I just let them comfort me silently. Now, I want to say all the things I didn’t say.

Dad, do you remember that time they were going to take out a tooth? During my torture, you were holding my hand and I never told you that without your support I would not have been successful.

Mom, I always asked you a brother or a sister and after much try, you made it. You gave me Toby, who is the star of the house, he came to make me live a little bit longer.

We celebrate every birthday together; you guys always took me to the places I once wanted to visit, and you guys also took me to the first day of school of each year to date.

For each tooth hidden in the pillow, the little mouse Perez arrived, I found that it was dad, but I never said it. Santa Claus visited me every Christmas and also, I found out it was you guys, however I never wanted to ruin the moment. 

They were in my saddest moments to hug me, in the happiest moments to applaud me, in the saddest moments to support me and in none of those moments I couldn’t do nothing but laugh, cry or just hide in your arms.

I know maybe they wanted a more expressive girl, but I couldn't, it was like my throat was closing. When I had a sore throat at the time, it was a relief not to have to speak and just communicate by letters. Mom, I want you to stop regretting, none of this is your fault and dad, you must get out all those feelings that drown you.

When I leave, I'm just asking you not to let Toby forget about me, that would really kill me. I want them to continue their normal lives, reminding me of what it was like, without guilt.

You guys were the best parents in the world. All my love, affection and dedication was for you guys. Thanks for giving me life and to making of me, the happiest girl in the world.