A Letter to an Angel

By Aurelia Garcia

To my dear friend Ofelia,

I’m writing this letter now, because last time when we talked I could not say all I had to tell you, but in that moment all I cared about was to be by your side. You did not feel well and we couldn’t have a long conversation. I sat by you, and your husband told me “Talk to her; she is listening” and you moved your eyes.

It’s very hard not having you around or not being able to call you anymore. I  said to myself, “This is not real; I’m having a bad dream, and I want to wake up to see you again." But the reality is another. This is not a dream - you are not here  anymore. How has this happened? Why so soon? I can’t found answers to my own  questions. I will miss you forever as my friend. You were a great person always there  when needed, trying to make others happy. The people around you loved you and  miss you a lot.

The other day I was by myself thinking, remembering how our friendship 
started. Do you remember how we met? It was when our youngest daughters went Kindergarten for the first time. We were outside the school waiting for the teachers to come and to take the children inside. You came to me and said hello then you asked me if my daughter would have Mrs. Ruiz as a teacher. When the teachers came they asked if we wanted to come inside and stay in the class so we could observe the way the classes would be.

We went inside the school, and when we were walking you asked me, “ Do you speak English?” I paused and said “Not very well, but I can understand better.” You looked at me with a funny face and we laughed. You said, “That’s good enough because that way at least you know if someone is talking about you.” We made jokes about it, then we had a nice conversation about what part of Mexico we were from, and since that day we became friends.

I could not imagine at that moment how important our friendship would be. We used to talk on the phone and visit each other houses, and our daughters became closed friends, too.

They have been together through elementary school, junior high and high 
school - all those years. Time goes so fast, almost 12 years watching our families growing together, we used to have get-togethers with our husbands, children, family and friends to celebrate birthdays. This past year we celebrated our daughters' graduation from high school. We used to talk about our daughters finishing school. You had so many plans for the future, talking about you having your own business when your husband retired from work, and about when the girls would go to college, so many plans.

Suddenly you started not to feel well, first one thing then other, going from doctor to doctor. And then you stop calling me. I tried to call you, but sometimes you were sleeping, sometimes you weren’t. I knew something was happening about your health. But I wasn’t sure what.

I don’t know what your thoughts were on those moments or how sad you 
were, or what made you decide not to see anybody. I never thought your illness was so serious. Everything went to fast, that I couldn’t imagine what was happening to you. I asked myself, Why her? She is a lovely person, beautiful lady, very friendly, you always seen so happy, the light of any party.

When I passed by your house I thought maybe you were on a long vacation and sooner or later you would come back and say, “Hello, how are you?” But it is not true I need to face the reality even if this hurts. 
I feel sad when I think about you, but when I hear the mariachis or songs you used to like, I smile because your face comes to my mind and it’s a happy face. I have more good memories, lots of good times we had together.

The time for graduation came, and I thought I might see you that day. I 
remember how we waited for this moment, especially you because your daughter was the valedictorian of her class. I know how proud you would feel to see her giving her speech. But you weren’t there.

I saw your family and one of our mutual friends who told me to go and see 
you. I called and your husband told me that you didn’t want to see anybody; I was upset and cried. Why? But then my husband told me to imagine how hard it must have been for you, and that I needed to respect your decision, that maybe when you felt better you would call.

The month of July came and one day I was thinking that I knew you would call. You always remembered my birthday, I waited…. no call. I tried to call your house but no answer. Finally, one day I called and your husband told me to go that you wanted to see me, too. I was so happy, I was going to see you! On my way to your house I wasthinking of all the things that I wanted you to know, but when I was in front of you I only hugged you and told you how much I missed you. I grabbed your hand - it was painful seeing you there. I looked at your face and you were crying; I cleaned your 
eyes I stayed close to you.

Your husband told me that the day of my birthday she told him “Today is my friend’s birthday” He asked her “Do you want to see her?” She said, "No, when I get better” I asked why. If we were friends you should let me be with you in the moments of  need.
Your answer was “I don’t want you to have this image of me; I want you to 
remember me the way I used to be.” You couldn’t talk any more; you were so tired that I only stay there watching you. Then you moved your houlders and your  husband said that you were trying to raised your arms to hug me. I grabbed your  hands and put them around my neck and we hugged. You wanted to say something  but you only made sounds. I told how much we loved you and we have been with you always. In that moment I knew you were saying good-bye.
Your husband came close and told me that you always talked about me, like if we were family - that she really loved us. I said the same - that you were a very special friend that my family loved you too.
After that visit I felt better to have the chance to said good-bye to my friend. I knewyou couldn’t talk much, but for me was enough only to see you again. Two days later I received a call to let me Know to go to your house -somehow I knew you weren’t there anymore.
I prayed and asked God to take good care of you; I know he will. You are in good hands now.
No more pain. In that moment I had the answers to my questions.
Why you? Because you were an angel watching and taking care of us, now you back  at home. 
I believe in angels and I’m so glad I met one. Now I can say I have an angel friend forever.

So long my Angel Friend.
Aurelia