Little One pt. 1

          I remember it like it was yesterday.

          My family and I were in the kitchen, laughing and singing joyously to the sounds of 90s dance music when the power went out, silencing everyone. The only light available for the following ten minutes was from the flickering flame of the candle on a birthday cake. I had just turned eight and my grandmother sixty-eight. I remember that day vividly, because just as I had made my wish and was about to blow out my candle, the power went out in the entire city. I'd tell you all my wish, but then I fear it won't come true, and I have a strong feeling that the realization of it is near. Anyway, that wasn't the only reason I remembered that night. After the cake was half-eaten and the rest of dinner inhaled by my older cousins and aunts, my grandmother pulled me into the next room. The look on her face was a confusing one. I couldn't tell if she was frightened, worried, or excited. I guess that's the trouble with the elderly. You can't read them behind the many wrinkles and hardened facial features, given to them by a long life of arduous work. Still, I was curious. "What was she about to tell me," I asked myself, as she stared right through me and into a distance that was both near and far.
          "Sit down," she instructed. I sat on the edge of the bed, as she pulled up her worn, wooden rocking chair that mom kept as a hand-me-down and sat before me. "I want you to have this." She reached into the front pocket of her white apron, embroidered with a red flower that would eventually hold great meaning to me. She handed me a strange key that looked something like the cap of a Bic pen - oddly small - about half the size of the cap - and easily confused for nothing at all. "Do not lose this," she said sternly. My grandma was anything and everything but stern. I panicked just a little bit.
          "Wh-what is it for?" I stuttered.
          "Ask me that question again in thirty years," she said, her eyes still penetrating. How creepy was that? I was only eight, but even at that age I knew grandma didn't have another thirty years in her. Before I could ask her what she meant, she changed the subject. "Do you know what I do for work, little one?" I shrugged, not knowing the specific answer to that question. "I work for the Unified Earth Space Program, and guess what?" She leaned in closer, whispering. "We are working on a super top secret program." My eyes instantly lit up with surprise and deep curiosity.
          "What is it?" I remember asking loudly.
          She motioned for me to lower my voice and said, "Look inside your pillowcase when I leave here tonight and mom puts you to bed. Do not look before that. Deal?"
          I almost could not contain my excitement. I nodded in agreement and grandma rose from the chair. "Remember this day, little one," she said, patting me on the head, as she walked out of the room and into the kitchen where she made her rounds, saying goodbye to the rest of the family.
          I sat on the bed - excited, puzzled, curious, and... uneasy. Something nudged at me but I couldn't tell what it was. I shrugged it off and hopped along excitedly to my grandmother's footsteps into the kitchen and hugged everyone goodbye as they left one after another. Father stayed up with his paper to catch up on the news, glasses slightly tilted on the bridge of his nose, and mother carried me into my room and tucked me into bed, kissing my forehead before turning off the light. I got up quietly and placed my head on the door to listen out for mom. It sounded like she was fast asleep on the couch next to dad. I locked my door and turned on my flashlight, eventually discovering a letter written in my grandmother's handwriting, addressed to me:

          "My Dear Little One,
         
          Happy Birthday. I hope you had as much fun tonight as I did with you - my favorite person. You should know... I have seen the world and loved many people and things along the way, but my greatest joy has been sharing my special day with you. You are my supernova, my brightest light, and you have done more for me in these eight years than you could possibly imagine, though I know you will come to find out what I mean by that one day. I am sure the only thing you care about right now is hearing about the super top secret program I just mentioned to you. Don't worry. I won't keep you waiting long. Before I share what I know though, I want to remind you to hold onto the gift I just gave you. It is very important. Keep it in a special place. Also, take care of your mom. Things will be hard for her. You will catch my meaning soon I am sure. Anyway, as for the surprise... I cannot tell you here, but I want you to trust my colleague who will tell you everything you need to know. His name is Jeremy. He will contact you on your 18th birthday on the phone I left you, just behind the letter. I am sorry kiddo. It's a long time from now, I know. I know you were really looking forward to it. Please don't be upset at me. I promise you it will be worth the wait. I love you.

          Your partner in crime, space and time, 

                    Grandma."

I searched for the phone I obviously missed when I first looked, and felt it deep in the pillowcase. Disappointed with the contents of the letter, I threw the phone into my toy bin, cried on grandma's letter, and shoved it into my bedside drawer. I walked into the living room, angrily, preparing myself to tell mom how grandma had played a really mean trick on me. I was stopped at the sight of my mother, head in her lap, the landline phone hanging off the table, a wave of tears streaming from her cupped hands down onto the floor in front of her. I already knew. The uneasiness in my stomach. The first half of the letter I just read. Grandma was gone.