It was nine years ago, to this day.
Nine-----years;
It was dark outside, darker than tar, and Gramma was here, looking much younger and healthier.
“You can stay up, now. It’s a special day, today.”
So we stayed up.
I don’t remember what we were doing, just the dark night, the way the house was tense, and the cool breeze blowing in from the windows.
And then Mom and Dad arrived.
The Special day was here.

Mom set the car seat on the table, her belly was no longer big, and her hands were no longer swollen form the pregnancy. Dad was well worn and tired but his smile was huge.
“Shhh, she’s asleep. Don’t wake her up.”
It was then that I realized the being inside of Mom was truly- utterly real. I hadn’t seen her yet but mom referred to the baby as a –she, a being within this world.
I tentatively walk over to her and I could feel my sisters behind me, three sets of legs tiptoeing to the table.
I life the blanket covering the green car seat- and inside was the most beautiful creature I could ever encounter.
There she sat- a fuzzy little baby. A princess, born into this world. And my nine year old self- I vowed to everyone in that room that I would protect her. With my life.
The baby had apple soft rounded cheeks, thick baby lips, and big brown eyes that were currently closed, her long thick lashes casting shadows over her small round face.

From that day forward Mom called her Sari-Bear, Dad called her Fuzzy because that’s all the hair she had- was peach fuzz, And the rest of us called her Sarah.
For the name Sarah- it mean one very special thing;
Princess.
To this day, nine years later- I still keep that promise,
I still protect her, forever and always.