Paradis Des Anges

Miles and miles of crystal clear sea encompasses platja de roses, Girona. The skies were azure and embellished with clouds in their infinite patterns, like ciphers for the interpretation of perspectives. Countless grains of fine white sand spread masterfully around the land by its maker unites with the ambitious waves that graces the surface with incongruent puzzles of time, leaving traces of footprints of aquatic life in the form of sea shells, starfish, corals, seahorses, pearls and seaweed. The green of trees blushed and gushed of the breeze that blew in this paradise. Spring was a week away, and yet, not one soul was on this beach. Beth considered this to be her heaven, her elixir and always dreamt of coming here with Zach, once Eliza was born. She had the opportunity to do the same with her parents when she was an infant. The photograph hangs on the plain white wall of her apartment till date. It was a twenty-eight minute drive from the airport, situated in Girona. Airplanes are a constant sight.

“Eliza babbles.”

My precious angel, we’re here, we’re here. This is my heaven, my fondest memory, my panacea. And I hope that it becomes a part of yours too. Beth said with utmost sincerity.

Your mother set her heart on this ever since you were a tiny tenant in her big belly. With every scoop of vanilla ice-cream that you both happily shared, your mother declared “I want my daughter to build sandcastles with me on grains of sand that are as white as this luscious scoop of vanilla! I remember constructing sandcastles with my dad when I was so tiny. Those were some of the best moments of my life, so vivid.” She loves this beach, said Zach.

Not even a drop in the ocean of the love and adoration that I have for my little Eliza. You are precious. You are perfect. You are my pretty princess. Come here you…

(Eliza bursts into sporadic laughter with each tickle.)

(They step out of the vehicle and immediately soak in the splendour of the sight.)

So this is what heaven looks like! See Eliza, see. This beach is almost as precious and pure as you, Zach said.

Now that’s a huge understatement. Beth replied.

(Zach unpacks their little picnic basket and rolls the red beach mat on the sand)

The water is pellucid, I can see the sky for what it is. Like a puzzled soul finding its identity, like a sinner finding his salvation, I now see. We see the sea but does the sea see us? said a bemused Zach.

It’s just like I pictured it to be, my delicate dalliance, like the one in my photograph. Ah, memories, irreplaceable. Beth replied in a tone with notes of nostalgia.

Dadaaa Dadaaa, meeemee ooooo, Eliza said.

She’s really excited, isn’t she?

She’s gone on you. Zach replied.

Time really flies, doesn’t it? Just yesterday, we were in the hospital holding our horses for our precious angel with excitement and a great deal of anxiety, we had never ventured into this territory. Our lives were about to change, change and we were so nervous. Terrified. Those sleepless nights. But the love in our hearts for this little human was so momentous that it conquered everything. Everything. She is our zenith. And now, look at her. She’s one year and 28 days and she already speaks more than you and I combined, said Beth.

Yes, but in a foreign language. Must be French! Zach being Zach.

Vaaaan ooooo eeeet, Eliza vociferated.

Definitely French. Beth chuckled.

(They burst into hysteric laughter, Eliza now crawls from the red mat to the sand, picks gravels and attempts to manufacture something.)

(The yellow flowers groove when the music of nature plays; and stops when it stops.)

Ah, an architect, she’s gone on you. A man on a mission. Beth said.

You’re the one who wanted to build sand castles with her in the first place. And she has already taken the initiative. Go on, join her. Zach replied.

I am so happy. I cannot explain it. Beyond words, I am. You’re the architect, build her a fortress. Beth said.

You’re special you know. I love you. I love you, I love you so much. And if she is my angel, you are my queen, now and forever, you and only you.

I know, I know. Beth replied.

No you don’t. And I want to remind you of how precious you are to me and to our little munchkin every single second of my existence.

I really know. Beth insisted.

No, you don’t. How do I show you?

Don’t show me, show her. Show her how much you love me. Me and her.

You are my life, my world, my paradise. Zach said with teary eyes.

And you are mine. She is ours. Forever.

Forever.

Always remember. Beth said.

Yes, I will. I love you. Or as Eliza would say, Eyeee youuuu youuuu.

Oooo eyeee youuu youuuu. Eliza screamed.

Don’t ever leave me.

(Zach grabs Eliza and like an airplane, tosses her in the air, up and down, hugs her, showers her with kisses and places her on the sand gently.)

Let’s build a princesses castle for your mommy.

Ouuuu, Ouuuu.

Remember the night I first saw you? I can still see it so perfectly. I do not remember what you were wearing, I do not remember who you were with. But I do remember your first words to me. “Quit staring, the stars are above us, the moon is above us. They need your eyes attention, not me.” And since then, I wanted you to be the only star in my constellation. All I ever wanted was to see your smile for the rest of my life. My eyes serve no purpose if it were not allowed to admire impeccability.

Quit that! Admire the nature that we are surrounded with. God’s wonderful establishment.” Beth replied.

Then you truly are from another planet. I could never take my eyes off of you. She has got your eyes. Said Zach.

She’s got my smile too. Beth replied.

Yes, the resolution to every problem, the courage to a coward, the rain to a barren desert. Zach said profoundly.

(Meanwhile, Eliza’s half way into building the castle)

Wow, look at our little angel take off! Beth said.

I promise to give her the world. Zach said.

Yes, the promises we made on the altar!

To love each other, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.

We will never die. For our love will never die. It will live on, in Eliza, in the lives she touches, in those that see her precious smile.

Our souls never will.

Yes.

Je t’aime beaucoup.

Ouuuu, Ouuu. Eliza shouted.

Yes Eliza, you too. Mommy loves you. Daddy loves you. Now and forever.

The castle is coming along. You’re doing a great job. Beth said.

Ahh, change the diapers, I almost forgot. Zach ululated.

Take it easy on yourself Zach, it’s okay.

No it’s not. You never forget. It’s always me. And the milk, the milk. Eliza baby, here’s your milk. You must be so hungry. Daddy’s so sorry. Come here.

She understands. She will understand.

I know, I know.

Remember when we were eight months in and much more prepared for what was in store for us, the little bucket list that we prepared for what we were going to do with her? Beth said.

We can never be fully prepared for anything, ever. C’est comme ca. I can’t forget. Even if I wanted to. Zach said.

Don’t do that, please! I remember wanting to watch a plethora of cartoons with her. To be a young girl again.

I called veto on not doing diaper duty. Good riddance. Zach said.

I promised to make sure that she’d never be hungry, ever. Little did I know.

Our little princess has a giant appetite.

I promised to take her to school and bring her back.

To pack her tiffin box.

To be the cool dad.

Hey, I am the cool one.

Aha, you wish!

I wish. I wish....

Don’t do that. Let’s continue. We promised to visit America. To take her to Disney land, the park, the museums or wherever these kids like to go.

To get her into sports.

That’s not going to work out Zach.

Says who? Let’s see. She will love sports.

To fly around the world with her.

To teach her together.

Yes, together.

And to be by her side forever.

It’s so beautiful here. This really is paradise. This moment, you.

I hope she remembers. Beth said.

She will. She will. Just like she remembers the celebration of your twenty-eighth birthday last month. Zach said.

Woooo woooo. Eliza said.

Looks like she’s done. Wow, it’s flawless!!!

Our little paradise. Zach said.

(He lifts her and kisses her and embraces her)

Mommy is so proud of us. I know she is, Zach said.

Ouuuu, Ouuuu. Eliza exclaimed.

I didn’t even know what to name you my little princess. Mommy helped me. She always does. She always will. You will always be the Eliza to her Beth.

We’ll figure it out always. We love you. You are our world. Our paradise. And your mommy is our guardian angel. She guides us and will guide us always and forever.

Yes, I will. Always.

We are one. Now let’s take a photograph and pack up. We’ll have to eat lunch in a bit. Said Zach.

Ouuuui! Eliza said happily.

They got on a flight to America twenty eight hours later.

The photograph of the two of them hanged on the white wall of Eliza’s apartment.