a forEVA Love

The confession must be made. I have fallen in love. Not with the man that I gave my heart to so long ago, but his new niece- my niece. The excitement began the moment I found out his sister was pregnant, the admiration started when I heard she was born and the adoring began when I saw her first photo. Soon after that the anticipation started, and grew. Four long months later it was time we met.

As I sat eyes on her I felt as though I already knew her. She was amazing – perfect in fact. It was as though a picture was painted as the perfect child for her parents. Skin so perfect, hair so soft and a laugh to die for.

A connection was made it may even be called a bond. One I wasn’t sure would happen.
I adore many children for different reason and in different ways but this was the first of its kind. Others I feel a sense of friendship with almost as though were in the same generation. But with this new child I obtained Auntie status. And it kicked in fast. I felt such an urge of protectiveness and a rush of emotion filled with being involved in the “village”.

And although there is no ring on my finger or no legal binding that makes her my family it is an unspoken truth that a niece to me she is. I began to think of the relationship I have not with my blood aunts and Uncles but that of those who they have married. I look forward to having the type of relationship with her that I have with my aunts and uncles husbands and wives. I have amazing relationships with those Aunts and Uncles, many of which I have known just as long as their other halves. In the mix my Uncle has become a father. I have an aunt I feel that I could go to with anything at anytime and although I have lost another member of that elite group let it be known she meant the world to me. These people have shaped who I am and to them it never mattered that I wasn’t their blood, I am their family and they have been fantastic Aunts and Uncles throughout my entire being.

So why is it that I have fallen so hard for this child. Is it because of the love I have for her Uncle? Is it because of the friendship I share with her mother and the many lessons I have learned from her or is it because I have become so close to the family as a whole.

Whatever it was, everyone around her felt it. In her first visit home she brought a smile to everyone’s face and a joy to all their hearts. We had all waited so long to meet her and she was above and beyond what any of us could have imagined.

I’m not quite sure what it is, but I can tell you that when it was time to leave her, I left a piece of my heart with her. Suddenly New York seemed further a way than it had ever had before. I knew not knowing her was hard but knowing her and not being able to see her may prove to be impossible.

And regardless of the status of my Auntieness or where my relationship may bring me in the future a piece of my heart will always be hers.

I will love her forEVA more.