Forgotten

Part 28

Alexis' POV:

It was a warm spring morning on a Saturday.  I went out to the mailbox, expecting to just see the regular day to day mail.  And I was standing by the mailbox, sifting through it, I unexpectedly came across a thin envelope addressed to me from State University.

I quickly opened it up, and read it, holding my breath, almost afraid to see what it said.  My whole future could  very well be in this envelope.   As my eyes scanned across the words on the page, a smile began to spread across my face.  

I clutched the letter in my hand, and ran inside, practically screaming.  "I got in!  I got in!"  

Nikki came running out of the kitchen.  "Babe, what's wrong?"  She asked, with a look of concern,  not sure of what was going on.

"Nothing is wrong!  Everything is right!"  I said, and quickly handed her the envelope.  

She took out the thin paper from the envelope and quickly read it.  As she read it, her eyes lite up, similar to what mine had done earlier.  

"You got in!" she said, full of excitement, grinning.

"Yes!" 

She threw her arms around me and hugged me.   "Babe, I am so proud of you!"

"Thank you", I said, practically squealing with delight.  "I can't believe this.  I'm going to college."  I was practically in disbelief.  Me of all people.  I was the last person that anyone would have ever expected would of ever amounted to anything.  Let alone go to college.  Just by getting in, I had defied all odds.  I had exceeded all expectations.  Even my own.  I wasn't supposed to go to college.  I wasn't supposed to amount to anything.  Over and over again, I had been tossed aside, cast away and forgotten about for almost my entire life.  By almost everybody.  Except for Nikki. She had always believed in me.  From the very beginning.  And she had always helped me to be successful.  And if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be standing here right now.  I wouldn't be handing her a letter of acceptance.  Where  would I be without her?  I'd probably be dead, or still on the streets.  Or maybe even worse.  I had no idea.  In fact, I hated even thinking about it.

But, I quickly tried to push the thought out of my head, and just tried as hard as I could to focus on the here and now.  I just couldn't believe it.  I was going to college.  Me.

Then suddenly without warning, a feeling of sadness came over me.  And it was almost as if the happiness that I had felt, only a few seconds earlier, was quickly being washed away.  

"Lexi, what's wrong?" Nikki asked, as she could immediately sense my demeanor had suddenly changed.

I looked at her.  And suddenly my vision started to blur.  And I felt a single tear escape, as I quickly brushed it away.

"Baby?" she asked, as she cupped my face in her hands.  "What's wrong?"

I didn't say anything.  I couldn't even speak.  

"Alexis, talk to me."

After a few minutes, I was finally able to speak. "Mama", was all I could manage to get out.  

"Your mom?" she said, softly.

I slowly nodded, but still couldn't  speak, for fear I would start crying.

"Awww babe.  What's wrong?"

"I-I... I miss her."

"You miss her?"

I nodded again.  I chocked back tears, and tried my best not to cry.  

"Babe, talk to me, please."