Beauty From Ashes

Beauty from Ashes

Another hard day of working had finally come to an end for Deena, a waitress at Creamies Burger, Shake, and Cake shack. Deena had only worked the popular South Sacramento joint for 8 months, but it felt more like 80. The long days and late nights, covering for her irresponsible co-workers were beginning to take a toll on her, but right now she had no other choice. She was a part-time college student, busting her rump to keep her tiny apartment on Young street, pay her bills, and cover the portion of tuition her financial aid wouldn’t cover. Many of her friends had taken jobs as strippers at Club Gold in Rancho Cordova, and never missed a chance to try and get her to join them, but she just couldn’t do it. As easy as they made it look, despite all the money they seemed to earn, she had been turned off from men before she was even old enough to have a relationship.

Sexual molestation can do that to a young girl. Because of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her mothers boyfriend, she wouldn’t let any man near her, and at the age of 24, not only was she still a virgin, she had never had a boyfriend, and swore she never would. Deena grabbed her purse and keys after turning off all the lights and doing her final walk through of the diner, when she heard what sounded like a baby crying right outside the back door. It was 3am, and she knew she needed to just go home, but a baby crying sounded so out of place that her curiosity go the best of her. She slowly opened the door, just a crack, to survey the scene. It didn’t appear that anyone was around, so she opened the door a little more, and sure enough, a tiny baby sat in a car seat, seemingly alone. Her heart immediately went out to the child, so she stepped outside, locked the diner, and decided to wait and see who might come back for the child.

Sensing her presence, the baby laid eyes on Deena, and began to wail the most heart-breaking cry. Deenas eyes watered as she reached into the seat to pick the baby up. Once safe in her arms, the baby immediately quieted. “Hush punkin. You’re gonna be alright.” Deena cooed at the baby. She looked both ways up and down the alley behind the diner, but it was completely deserted. There was a small diaper bag just behind the car seat. When she reached down to grab it, a piece of paper fluttered out of the side pocket. It appeared to be a note. She unfolded and read:

To whom it may concern:

Congratulations! You just became a proud parent! I’ve done all I can to care for my daughter, but it wasn’t enough for her father. He still didn’t want me or her. The only thing important to him is his precious wife, so since he couldn’t live without her, tonight he’s gonna die with her; right after I break her heart the way his lying cheating ass broke mine. Don’t get me wrong, I love Leila, (that’s her name) but I don’t want her if I can’t have it all. Please take care of her. Her Social security card, and birth certificate are in the side pocket of her bag, along with her formula, diapers, and a few changes of clothes. Please don’t try to find me. I’ll be dead soon .

P.S. There’s also a picture of me for her to have when she’s old enough to understand.

Deena was floored! What kind of person could leave a defenseless child in a dark alley? She looked at the baby and realized she had fallen asleep. Carefully, she put her back into her car seat then carried the baby to her car. She had no idea of how to care for a child, so she drove up Stockton Blvd. to UC Davis hospital. Once inside she told the ER clerk how she came to find the baby. The clerk sprang into action, and ushered Deena to the nearest triage station. After a thorough checkup, it was determined that baby Leila was 5 months old, and in perfect health. Deena breathed a sigh of relief, and began grabbing her thins as she prepared to go. “Wait? What about the baby?” The nurse asked Deena.

She responded, “She isn’t mine. I don’t know the first thing about raising a baby. Isn’t there a process for how these things are handled?”

The nurse replied, “There is, but you have a note, which is enough for now. If you leave this baby, she will be faced with a life of uncertainty. There are families willing to adopt especially one so young, but can you actually find it in your heart to leave her?” Baby Leila chose that moment to start crying as she reached her arms out for Deena to pick her up. Deena felt her heart skip a beat before she reached out to pick up the fretful child.

“See? She’s already yours.” Deena could think of nothing more than a long shower and a warm bed, but it looked like she would have company, at least tonight. “Ok. I’ll take her, but if I get overwhelmed, I’m coming right ba-…” The nurse cut her off. “You’ll call me. I only work part time 4am to 8am until my doctor takes me off modified duty. I can be your right hand during my down time.” The nurse wrote down her name and number, and handed it to Deena. “Call me Sasha, and call me anytime.” “Thank you, Sasha. I’ll do that.”

Deena grabbed hers and the baby Leilas belongings and turned to exit when her eyes landed on the most beautiful man she had ever seen. He was about 6’ tall with light brown eyes, and even with worry lines etched in his face, he was still so striking, she couldn’t help but to stare. While she watched, a doctor walked up to him speaking softly. Whatever he said had to be terrible news, because the man began to scream, “Nooooooooo! Doc please! God why? Whyyy? Unable to look away, she thought to herself that if there were such a thing as a perfect set of teeth, he head them. Immediately feeling ashamed and embarrassed for gawking at the man during what was obviously his time of grief, she tore her blurry eyes away from the scene, and rushed toward the exit, clutching baby Leila close to her. As she rushed by the distraught man, their eyes met briefly. “Da! Da! Da! Da! Da!” Leila chose that moment to start talking causing Deena to look down at her. If she hadn’t known better she would think baby was calling out to the man. After another quick glance, she muttered, “I’m so sorry” and continued out to her car.

Exhausted, but determined to clear her head, Deena rushed over to the 24 hour drugstore on Fruitridge and Freeport, then sat and googled videos about what a baby needs. When she was sure she had a good idea, she put a sleeping Leila on her shoulder, rushed into the store, grabbed a cart and loaded it with diapers, wipes, bedtime bath, baby lotion, infant formula, baby foods, a set of bottles, and 2 pacifiers. The price tag came to just over $100 which she couldn’t afford to spend, but she put it on her credit card, and whispered a silent prayer to God, to make it all right. By the time she got the baby into her apartment, the sun was coming up, but Leila was screaming like a madman. She may not know a lot about babies, but she recognized hunger when she saw it. She quickly unloaded her car, and carefully followed the instructions to prepare a 6 oz bottle. Leila almost jumped up and snatched it from Deenas hand when she recognized it. Deena picked her up, cradling her, then went to run a bath for the both of them. She put a generous amount of bedtime bath in the water, and allowed it to fill halfway. By the time it was filled, Leila had finished her bottle and was batter her pretty lashes in an attempt to stay awake. Deena quickly stripped them both and got into the water, careful to introduce baby to the warm temperature slowly. Once they were settled in, they both sighed deeply in content. Deena looked down at Leila and chuckled, “What you know about a long day, little baby?” She felt herself getting sleepy, so she quickly washed them both up, let the water out, put lotion on them both, and put Leila in a fresh pamper and a onesie before jumping in a t-shirt to finally get some sleep.

3 Months Later…

Deena and Sasha couldn’t help but to bond over the caring of baby Leila, so she hugged her newest but closest friend tight before she left the diner with the baby. She had been keeping her during Deena’s shifts at Creamies, and teaching her all about caring for a baby when they were both off. Deena had fallen so deeply in love with the child that she could no longer remember what life was like before she came along. She kissed Leila sweetly and told her, “Mama loves you, punkin!” Leila smiled and babbled back at her as Deena closed the car door and stood on the curb to wave them off.

During the last hour of her shift, a gentleman came into the diner and sat at the counter. He had on a baseball cap that partially shielded his face, but there was something so familiar about him, and then he looked up at her. Deena felt her face flush at the memory of staring him down like a circus freak during his time of grief, but rather than walk away, she approached him, smiling sweetly. “Good evening sir! What can I get started for you today?” He responded, “Where do I know you from?” “UC Davis. About 3 months ago.” She returned. His face immediately went slack as his eyes glossed over. Deena covered his hand with hers and sat down next to him. “You don’t have to talk about what happened that night if you don’t want to, but if you need someone to listen, I’m here.” The gentleman responded, “My name is Bruce. I’m 27. That night at the hospital, my 10 month old daughter died from a heart condition I didn’t even know she had!” Tears streamed down his face causing Deena to grab a napkin and dab them away. “I’m so sorry that happened to you.” Bruce continued, “I didn’t think life could get any worse after I lost her mother to childbirth, but I was wrong. I’ve been barely holding it together, and I’ve heard that it will get easier, but I haven’t gotten to that part yet.” Bruce broke down in painful, heart-wrenching sobs, and Deena unable to hold her emotions in check, cried with him until her head hurt. Thankfully the diner was empty, because a healing took place that night. They held hands and talked and cried until Sasha showed up to drop Leila back off. “I’m sorry Bruce, let me grab my daughter really quickly.” Deena grabbed Leila, and gave Sasha a quick goodbye. “Hey Deena, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your time today. I haven’t felt this much relief in a year. I actually have hope now.” It’s nothing Bruce. I honestly think you’ve helped me just as much.” Bruce stated, “Well maybe we can see each other again, with less tears next time.” Deena laughed, “I’d love that.” Leila chimed in while reaching for Bruce, “Da! Da! Da!” They all laughed when Bruce reached for Leila and replied, “I think baby girl agrees!”