EPILOGUE

Dear Diary,

When I met my mom, she didn’t know I was her daughter, and I didn’t know she was my mom. When we met my dad, he didn’t know I was his daughter and we didn’t know he was my dad. But I believe the three of us were always meant to meet. I can only thank the universe for bringing us together, because I have no idea where I’d be otherwise. I also would have never met Tom. When I met him, I already knew he was my brother. Not only because mom explained it to me, but because I could feel it. Mom and dad went through a lot for us to be where we are, but it doesn’t matter now how many mistakes were made, because Tom and I have the greatest life anyone could ever wish.

I am fourteen years old now, and tonight I starred in my first play as a lead. Mom and dad cried. And, technically, Tom cried too, though it was because he forgot his Captain America action figure at home. I hardly ever get annoyed at him. I just watch him run around the house and feel the relief I know my parents feel too, because Tom no longer needs to be at the hospital every other week for exams on his heart or physiotherapy. I realized that sometimes I stare at him with the same look my mom stares at me. It’s the look from when you’ve seen that person in a very weak and vulnerable state, and now that they’re okay you just wanna stand there and absorb the preciousness their life is.

Well, I started with them but they’re not the only ones important in my life. There are my grandparents Emma, John, Lisa and Robert, who are always visiting – and almost every week there’s a discussion on how they’re spoiling me and Tom, but it always end when someone mentions baseball or the food is ready. My godparents Abby and Josh I see almost every week too, and my cousin Dan always has a new videogame for us to play. Aunt Hayley and Uncle Sam always bring the lemon yogurt ice cream I love, since the store is close to their house. Me and my cousin Sofia – well, technically she’s not my cousin, but for the amount of time we spend together she might as well be Tom’s twin sister, with only a month of age difference – could probably finish one of those ice cream buckets in no time. Oh, there are my uncle Matt and aunt Liz too. Them I don’t see as often cause they travel a lot. Mom says it’s because the routine of marriage would kill them. Speaking of her, I just realized her birthday is in two weeks! I should write her something. Or maybe let her read this…

So, mom, now you’re probably reading this as a birthday letter. I want you to know how much I love you for being my mom and changing my life. Of course everyone says that to their moms on their birthday, but know I feel that every second (even when you scream at me for oversleeping!). You literally saved my life and gave me the greatest life I could ask for. I could be off god knows where, dreaming about being able to eat, and instead I get to dream about awards as I admire all that you and dad have achieved with your careers (by the way, dad, and I know you’re reading this too, thanks a lot for letting me hold your award and pretend it was mine, back when you and mom were dating. I felt really important that day). Dad, you’re probably getting jealous, so I love you too, okay? Even when I tell you that my friends ask me to sneak them into The Avengers set and you get mad. “It’s not even to see me!”, haha. Come on dad, I think it’s become very clear that all my friends have a crush on you. Everyone in class was reading that magazine we were in, and some girls that thought I wasn’t seeing were hypnotized. Jenny told me she was staring at mom’s dress, but I’m not so sure about that (though it was a great dress). Anyways, going back to mom! I hope you have a great day – this is a birthday letter after all, despite all the rambling (which I can blame on our Italian heritage, right?) – Because God knows you deserve to only have great days. Like the one when we were all in London for Christmas. Or when I had my first drama class and my teacher was “fangirling” about you and dad. Or the day when dad screwed up dinner so we all ate at that hot dog stand. Or the day when it was pouring rain and we had to give up on going out, so we just stayed watching TV and Tom said his first word, “Dada”. Oh, when he could only say the one word, those were the days! Just kidding Tom (this is in case he finds this once he’s old enough to understand it). Oh my god, I nearly forgot to mention East! Poor baby, sleeping by my feet this whole time. I love him a lot too. Even when he’s licking my face or eating my magazines. I don’t know for how long he’s still gonna be around, but I’ll never forget about him.

Well, I gotta go now. Mom, when you read this, know it’s your own fault this is ending, because you’re telling me to go to bed. But you’re right, I should get some rest. After all, tomorrow is the premiere of my superstar-dad’s new movie, The Avengers 3. I like to see him in the spotlight every once in a while. Mom says he’s gotten much better dealing with fame from when she met him. I understand him, of course, it’s hard. But I’m glad he’s accepted all of this, cause now he’s really comfortable and happy with the whole thing. “As long as we can still take road trips and sing along to the radio”, right dad? Well, I promise not to get so famous that paparazzi will invade our car at 55 miles per hour, okay? Believe me, the four of us are still gonna have plenty of “Who’s the worst singer?” competitions. Ok, now I don’t wanna leave it off with the memory of you trying to sing Rolling In The Deep (no dad, that was not cool), but mom, you’re shouting “I can see your light’s still on!” from your room. So, how do I wrap this up?

Okay, it is officially the night after, because I was forced to go to bed last night. I just changed out of my clothes that were all dirty from playing with the kids in the playground of the restaurant we went to after the premiere. Mom says I’m an incredibly likeable person and maybe she’s right, cause kids of all ages seemed to be liking me. There was India Rose and Exton, Chris’ and Robert’s kids that are about the same age as Tom. Cobie’s and Mark’s children are all about my age. And uncle Tom’s one-year-old daughter once threw up on me, but mom said it’s a good sign. Oh, and I guess Scarlett and Jeremy’s baby likes me too, since it kicked when I talked to it.

Why am I saying all this anyway? This is becoming a story about my life. It didn’t start as a birthday letter and won’t finish as one. Let me get back to mom and dad – I just hope you two know you’re stuck deep inside my heart and I will carry every piece of you forever. And I hope that someday, if I have children, I can tell them all the details about the greatest love story I’ve ever heard – that started simply because a man sent a woman a drink. Just two strangers in a bar (don’t worry dad, I know I’m not supposed to step foot in a bar until I’m 21, even if I have a feeling the love of my life is gonna be there, as you say). I will wait for the love of my life, and if I’m half as lucky as you guys, that’s already a great life for me.

-       Isabella Evans,

May 21^st, 2018.