A story to never be forgotten

This article is about my personal life and not my life as a writer, even if it includes a poem. 

I will not start by saying how I met the best people of my life. Instead, I'll start by sharing a poem I wrote in Florida:

Secrets

I have many secrets and hide them away

So that not many people get in my way. 

I listen to them and rarely speak. 

My secrets have answers that make me cry quick.

When people get worried and ask me "What happened?" 

I'm thinking about a thing that won't matter. 

So that I tell them, often, "I'm fine" 

And turn my face against the sky. 

I don't like visual contact, it makes me feel nervous

And I never believe when people say that I'm gorgeous. 

I look in the mirror and wonder a lot

"How many people will believe I forgot?". 

I'm talking about my thought that appears. 

Many people know I have fears. 

So that in the end I'll be able to say

"I have many secrets and hide them away". 

Despite all my secrets, I found someone to accept me just the way I am and make me feel... normal, special, respected, trusted, loved, cared for. 

I remember in the ninth grade, my english teacher told us a word and she couldn't remember the translation of it. It was "grateful". Now this is what I feel, among love, respect, trust, and many other. 

This may seem as an ordinary story, but meeting these people was by far the best thing that ever happened to me.

A story to never be forgotten and that could never be. Many people that know me also know that my biological father was NOT a good person. I am not very religious, but God helped me find this person I now call "my father". A man that if you talk about, you can use the word "extraordinary" in the same sentence with him and make it a pleonasm. A kind, loving person. A gift anyone wants and not many deserve. 

The most famous romanian poet, Mihai Eminescu, once prayed in one of his poems for "an hour of love" by giving up on immortality. I was in the 8th grade and praying for one more hour with Jack and Marc, the people that put a smile on my face just by being there. One hour. It turned into a week. A week of being in the same house, visiting them and their family, friends, co-workers. A week of laughing, talking, hugs, tears, singing in the car, jokes marathon, shopping, admiring trees, birds, the sea, the beach, admiring each other, meeting their gorgeous and kind wives that I have so much in common with! 

A true friendship. Not many could understand it. 

  My friends. My family. I framed pictures of us and now my face is framed and put somewhere next to the other family members, on a table with family pictures. 

  I am part of the family. And they are mine. Nothing could change that. I bow in front of the best people I have ever met, looking behind with gratitude and looking in front of me with excitement about seeing them again and the things that are waiting for me. 

  Florida, you were beautiful. But some of the people you keep there are even more extraordinary. 

Keep them safe!

And for those people: 

I can't thank you enough for being in my life and being genuine and also teaching myself to be so and to respect myself and no longer judge my decisions from the past. I don't know what I did to deserve you. But you already know all these words I write. And most of all, I am glad you could see these things in my soul. 

From the moment I got there and I received flowers filled with love and respect, to the moment I left, sharing tears and hugs and kindness, I had no doubt that these were the best days of my life. This was a week I truly lived without thinking about the past or about my weight the way I did before. I changed perspectives. I shared memories. I became part of the team, even if my mind was trying to get in my way. I let you see this and you replaced judgement with confidence. Something that happened for the first time and so quick. This is the power you have over me. 

And this was just another start. Another beginning. Beware, dear world! The Wolff family is reunited, no matter what distance says! 

Love,

a daughter and friend that once more felt she is "the loved one" and finally found peace in her family. 

I found my family. And they are a blessing. 

Ana

P. S. I'll never forget the sunshine that one day enlightened my face and tears and made me believe "Everything will be okay. This is not over".