“Fish only live so long, dear,” my mommy told me. I gulped. I did not like this news, I did not like this news one bit. I did not like that fish had to die so fast. I did not want to see my Goldie die.

“Well, how’s that fair Ma?” I asked between a tear.

“Angie, a lot of things in life aren’t fair. There’s lots of things that aren’t okay. I’m learning to accept things that aren’t okay so that I don’t feel too hurt. And it’s going to be the same for you with Goldie. Sometimes, you have to learn how life is. It can be really sad but trust me, once you realize this you’ll learn to appreciate life.”

I shook my head, “No. I don’t think I’ll ever be okay with Goldie dying…he’s my best friend.”

My mom came and gave me a hug, a big hug that made me feel all warm inside. My mommy gives the bestest hugs in the whole wide world.

“Angie, you probably don’t remember your father but he loved you. He loved you lots,” she smiled widely. “And when he found out he was sick, all he could think about was leaving his baby. He didn’t want to leave you, Angie. But he had to go, his body told him it was his time to go and he had to go.”

Mommy’s hug became much tighter and I heard her sniffling.

Was mommy crying?

I’ve never seen mommy cry over daddy before. Mommy never liked to talk about daddy either. She said it was best not to talk about things that she couldn’t change, I think mommy is smart that way.

Mommy kept crying so I kept hugging her. I don’t like to see mommy sad.

“Was daddy your best friend?” Mom began to loosen her hug and unwrap herself from our hug. She wiped her big red eyes and sniffled again.

“The bestest.” She smiled while crying. She looked so sad but she also looked really happy. Is mom okay?

“Who’s your best friend now?” I asked. My mom smiled again while a tear fell.

“Still, your daddy baby,” she brought me in for another hug. “But now I’ve got an amazing angel of a daughter who reminds me so much of my best friend.”

“Wow, I’m like daddy?” I asked excitedly. This was amazing. If daddy’s anything like me, he’s probably really funny! And, a great artist! “What was he like?”

“Like you. He was creative, caring, always had an appetite and never stopped dreaming. He had big dreams, and not the kinds you get while you’re sleeping. They’re the kinds you get during the day and he always wanted to make them come true in his life, and I see that in you Angie.” Mom looked at me with happiness in her eyes. She wasn’t crying over daddy anymore.

“Wow. Dad sounds so cool! Was he fat?” I blurted.

My mom laughed hard.

“No, no, no. Your father was a lot of things but never fat,” my mom shook her head, laughing more. “ Although he did eat like a dinosaur, he never gained a pound. Your father liked playing outside like you, so all he ate didn’t do anything but make him happy.”

I smiled. Dad was talented like me! We both eat a ton and aren’t fat!

“Does this mean I get to see Goldie up close now like in my dream?” I asked. I really wanted to see her really big like my dream. I thought about it all the time.

“If you dream big enough.” She winked at me with a smile.

Maybe, just maybe if I keep dreaming hard enough, I’ll make it come true just like daddy did!

“Thanks mom!” I hugged her one last time and ran off to my room. My mom gave me one big smile.

I needed to dream.

And I needed to dream big.

To be like my daddy.