Left

5:27 am

It is time to get up.

Airport.

Shower – I use the woman’s fancy shampoo.

Toothpaste, lotion, brush; done – in the black hygiene bag.

The woman enters the bedroom to check on me, “You have everything?”

“Yes,” I say, “I think so; if I leave anything, you could send it to me?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Okay,” I say.  She walks to the kitchen and sits down softly with her cup of cacao tea folded in her hands.

 

Under the bed I look for renegade shoes or jewelry – nothing, except… wait!  A purple seashell my little daughter found when we were walking Byron Bay.  I hear her echo, “Look!  It’s perfect, no chips.”

Open the drawers – empty.  No, in the back of the sock drawer I find my daughter’s journal full of ideas and sketches and little girl secrets.  I place it in my breast pocket, I will give it back to her before we leave, I say to myself.

Closet, check.  Nightstand, check; under the pillows and on the shelves, check.  I walk out to the living room.

The woman watches as I scan and collect.  She is a dark-haired beautiful woman with dark eyes so kind they are bright like light.  She is not from Australia, but a wonderful host: planned and executed our journeys up the Gold Coast and pointed out local gems, and coffee cafes, lots of coffee cafes.

She holds her tea, “Can I help you with anything?”

“No,” I say and smile.

Oh, there’s the remote under the cushions; my daughter always loses it in the couch.  I place it back on the table.  I pick up a pair of my daughter’s white socks with the heal worn out – I will need to get her more socks, I chuckle, she always gets socks for Christmas.

The kitchen is clean, and the left-over food will go home with the woman.  We will not waste it, and the woman loves carrot cakes – just like my daughter.

That’s it.  The Bed & Breakfast is clear, and my husband has the car packed.  Back to America today.  I hug the sweet, beautiful woman and say, “We will be back soon.”

She says, “I hope so; it’s been wonderful.”

In the car heading to the Airport, I run through my list: wallet, luggage, passport…

What am I missing? Something is missing; I know it!  I check my purse, my book, my blanket, my airplane pillow, my favorite shoes, my watch, my turquoise necklace.

What?  What am I missing?  I have everything…

I have everything.  And then I know what I left.  I know what is missing.

My daughter.

I left her behind with the beautiful woman with the kind bright eyes.