When Emily was five years old her grandmother would take her every weekend to a park a few miles away from her house. It was just like any other park except for its seclusion. A place that was once thriving with life, now stood abandoned, empty and a broken shell of what is used to be. Situated between the Stenberg Woods people often drove past it, not once stopping to take the time to appreciate the remnants of the park.
Born with an alcoholic father and crack addicted mother, Ems parents were never a constant in her life. She was practically raised by her grandmother and considered Nana Fille her mother and father. Nana Fille was a retired nurse, therefore taking care of others came naturally to her. She did not despise her daughter for her drug habit, rather pitied her. She had tried several times without fail to get her help but to no avail. Even before Em was born into the world Nana Fille had sternly informed her daughter that she would be fighting for custody of Em and be the one raising her. Her daughter hadn’t even batted an eyelash at the threat and not even a few days after giving birth to one Natasha Emily “Em” Fearson, went out to get her first hit. It didn’t take long for the court to grant permanent custody of Em to her grandmother. Em had the unfortunate pleasure of being born to an alcoholic, deadbeat dad. Em would later find out in her teen years that she was the result of a drunken affair that took place on the streets of Wellington Avenue. A place most educated, sane people would never go to unless they were asking for trouble. Em had visited her parents a few times, but at barely four years of age had point blank stated to her grandmother she wanted nothing to do with them. Nana Fille couldn’t stand to see tears grace her little Em’s face and so with resolute determination she promised herself this wouldn’t happen again. A few months later she packed her and Em’s belongings, drove off and moved two sates away into a little neighborhood in the suburbs’ of Ohio.
Every day without fail, Em and Nana Fille would say a little prayer of thanks and set off to do their daily ritual. From the age of six until the age of fourteen, Em was homeschooled. And she loved it. Her grandmother held so much wisdom and passion in whatever she taught her. She soon learnt that English and Art were her favorite subjects. Nana Fille was pleasantly surprised to have experienced her granddaughter was a gifted artist; dolling out realistic drawings of scenery and people that most adults weren’t capable of creating. She didn’t have a problem with the other subjects. Her grandmother made sure of that. As soon as lunch was over Em would get this sparkle in her eyes and turn to grandmother with a wide, playful smile. Her grandmother would return the smile with one of her own. It was time to go to the park.
Even before Nana Fille could stop the car, Em would unclick her seat belt and bound down the abandoned area of the park. It was her and Nana Fille’s little secret. It was a place built only for them. Nana Fille would wipe down the wet, dingy bench with a cloth and settle down with a book in hand, always keeping an eye out for Em. Em’s squeals of delight would echo around the woods as she flew up and down the swing, legs kicking wildly. Every now and then she’d settle down quietly on the swing and silently watch her Nana in awe. Another routine that Em held dear to her heart was one in which she’d sneak up on her grandmother and throw herself into her arms giggling wildly into her chest.
Nana Fille would in turn laugh, gather Em into her arms rocking her as though she were a baby. She would then whip out the most outrageous, wonderful story to Em’s delight. A look of heavy concentration would etch little Em’s features, all the while her little hand resorting to playing with Nana Fille’s peach scarf.
“Yo Moo!” A high pitched voice broke Em out of her little daydream and into reality. Em sighed, swung her messenger bag over her shoulder and followed her friend out of the train and into the train station to await the next train. Em had grown into a beautiful, strong and brilliant woman. A woman who could dish out insults just as fast as she could take them. Now in her junior year of College, Em was studying to become a nurse like her Nana. She had made this decision lone before entering high school. “I want to be like you Nana Fille!” she would boast prideful. “I want to help people and make them smile. And tell them wild stories”. “You will do all that and more my little one” Nana Fille would respond in return. A few months into her sophomore year of College, Nana Fille passed away peacefully in her sleep. A fate only a few lucky people receive. Em was devastated and nearly dropped out of College, only managing to handle the rest of the year with the help of her best friend Sarah.
Sarah was always involved in everything community oriented and was the first person to break Em out of her quiet shy girl routine in high school. Even now in College, Sarah was a hyper-active student involved in clubs, sports and the Campus Life. Everybody on Campus knew Sarah, but there was only one person Sarah would share her deep, dark secrets to and only one person Sarah would go to for help in anything, her best friend Em.
Sarah parents considered Em their daughter, which fit quiet well seeing as Sarah considered Em her sister. Born with three brothers Sarah was as tomboyish as Em was. And the two connected at their first meeting in high school. Every Thanksgiving Sarah and her family would visit Em and Nana Fille adorning the Fearson’s with a ton of food and gifts. In return, Nana Fille would spoil Sarah and her brothers’ rotten, by baking them a ton of pies, cookies and everything in between. As though reading Em’s mind a small, silly smile graced Sarah’s face. “Remember when Jason ate half of Nana Fille’s Peanut Butter Banana Cream pie” she stated a dreamy look appearing in her eyes. Em burst out laughing as Sarah looked like she was practically drooling. “Yeah, I do.” Then barely above a whisper Em continued, “I was the one that dared him to do it”. Sarah looked over at Em, a look of shock adhering her face, quickly being replaced by a burst of giggles and snorts. “I can’t believe you dared my brother to do that!!”
“Yeah well, the grownups were having all the fun! Besides your brother looked about ready to kill someone” Em stated a look of amusement on her face. She and Sarah sat on the bench in silence waiting for the train. Out of the cornier of her eye Em saw a flash of color. She turned her head to the left and spied an orange colored scarf on the floor. Her heart stopped for a second, and immediately picked up pace as she retreated to pick up the lost scarf. She once again sat next to Sarah and stared at the scarf in silence her fingers absentmindedly stroking the soft fabric. Then as though her grandmother were reassuring her, a whiff of banana wafted through the air. Without looking at her, Sarah leaned over and squeezed Em’s hand, gently stating “See Em. She’s with us and she’s always watching over us”. As the train came to a stop, Sarah and Em gathered their belongings and entered the train. “Thanks” Em whispered to no one in particular. But she swore she heard her grandmother laugh.
