Marielle awoke in the muted darkness of her kitchen. Her side ached from where she had lain, curled into a fetal position on the floor crying until she exhausted herself. The peeling linoleum was cool against her cheek and she breathed deeply into the stillness of the air. It smelled faintly of her Grandmother's spice cabinet. New tears threatened to escape her tear ducts as a cutting realization shot through her, that she would never see her Grandmother Eleanor Evans again.

The tragic events that led to this moment had occurred only 3 months before. Her grandmother a stubborn and feisty woman gracefully aged at 63 had been descending the steep steps to the pantry to fetch up some pear preserves. Losing her balance on one of the loose stair boards she had twisted her ankle, lost her balance and plummeted to the concrete floor below. Her neck had snapped on impact and Marielle had discovered her dead later that ill fated afternoon.

Marielle's frail frame trembled with the memory as the tears seeped out her eyes. Eleanor had been a brisk, no-nonsense but loving and supportive grandmother to her grandchildren, especially Marielle. Marielle was the only child of Eleanor's only son, Ellis Evans. Ellis had been a bright, handsome and charming Black man who had won the heart of Marielle's mother, Marriana Ramirez during the Barranquilla Carnival in Columbia in 1982. A year later Ellis and Marriana were married in a small, but lovely ceremony in one of the gorgeous gardens of Bogota. Their reception in the United States was a lavish family affair organized by Eleanor, which the Jordans and Ramirezes still talked about. Marriana gave birth to Marielle in 1984 and never was a child more loved and adored.

Ellis and Marianna were doting and proud parents. Though they shared some difficult days and struggles they were still able to make each other smile and laugh. Ellis was good natured and Marianna was humorous so the Ramirez-Evans home was always filled with laughter and love. Marielle could not remember a time her parents had traded unkind words in front of her, even during the most tense situations. Her family appeared to be the portrait of familial bliss, but that bliss would come to end during a trip to Columbia in 1994. Marianna had felt it was time to take Marielle for a visit to her homeland.

"Miel, I want her to know where she comes from. She has not been back to Colombia since she was a bebe pequena. I have not seen my other brothers and sisters in several years now. Besides, think of it as a second honey moon. Wouldn't you love to see Bogota again and of course there is Aunt Belisa's hojuelas. I know you miss those...." Marianna had teased casting a brilliant smile at her husband.

Ellis's hazel eyes twinkled as he grinned at his beautiful wife. Marianna was lovely with creamy skin tinged with golden undertones, big dark sparkling eyes, a pouty mouth, and a luxuriant head of dark brown hair.

"Alright woman you don't have to convince me further. Your Aunt Belisa can burn in the kitchen!"

Marielle had giggled along with her mother at her Father's enthusiasm. Marielle was 10 years old and was excited about going on her first trip out of the country with her parents. She had heard stories, seen pictures and letters and even spoken to her long distance relatives over the phone, but nothing could compare to the real experience. Marielle's eyes were glued to the lush, tropic scenery on the two hour drive from Bogotá to where her mother's family resided in Villanvencio.

The Evans arrived to a large and warm reception by Marianna's relations. Hugs, kisses and smiles were traded all around as everyone cooed over "Marriana's nina bonita" Aunt Belisa had outdone herself by preparing a mouthwatering spread consisting of bandaje paisa a mixture of white rice, red beans, ground beef, sausage, plantain, morcilla, chicharron, arepa, avocado and a fried egg, a rich stew called ajiaco, a platter of steaming meats, fresh pan breads and her celebrated hojuelas a fried pastry topped generously with sugar or honey. The evening had been filled with excited conversation, laughter, music and dancing. The evening had become even more hilarious after Ellis and Marriana's brother, Gabriel had been drinking one too many rounds of Aguardiente.

Marielle reveled in being surrounded by her extended family and the rural beauty of Villavencio. Marriana and Ellis had taken her to beautiful gardens, colorful shops and markets, and to eat at delicious little cafes, and on tours of museums and old churches. Their time in Colombia passed as swiftly as a dream. It was on the evening before they were to depart that tragedy struck. The golden orb of the sun was dipping lower in the endless blue of the open sky permeating the atmosphere with an intense tropic heat. Marianna and Ellis had taken Marielle for a walk along one of the winding paths in Villavencio. Marielle remembered how striking her parents looked, both dressed in white cotton outfits. Marianna in a simple off the shoulder sun dress with a red ribbon holding back her long silky hair and Ellis in a casual loose fitting short sleeved shirt and matching pants with dark shades covering his eyes. Marianna had dressed Marielle in a white summer frock with pink ribbons tying back her long, wavy ponytails. Her parents were smiling and murmuring pleasantly to one another as they swung Marielle between them, her small hands clasped in theirs. As they were nearing Aunt Belisa's Ellis removed his shades and squinted, unsure of the sight before him.

"What the hell....?" he mumbled as a scream shattered the peaceful evening. Ellis's eyes widened when he saw Marianna’s brothers Gabriel and Gustavo rush outside baring rifles. Gun fire rippled the air as Ellis yelled:

"Marianna, Marielle get down. AHORA!"

Marianna's face was etched with horror as she watched Ellis dash toward her brothers. "Ellis NO!" she screamed pushing Marielle down. From there the evening exploded into a bloody scene of shrieks, bullets, and blood shed. Marielle blanched in horror as she saw her father running back toward them with a rifle in hand. Marianna was trembling like a leaf, pressing her body against her daughter's as if begging the Earth to open and embrace them in safety. Ellis was a blur and then another rapid clatter of gun fire rang out. Suddenly Ellis was flying, screaming Marianna and Marielle's names. Bloody rosettes blossomed across the white cotton of his shirt front. Marianna's cries pierced the air as she pushed from the ground and ran toward her falling husband. Another rattle of gunfire and more bloody rosettes blooming on her mother's golden skin. Ellis and Marianna crashing to the ground, gasping through gurgles of blood for her to RUN! Marielle horror stricken. Her father raising his gun in a last effort to issue a bullet into the head of one of the paramilitary men looming just a few feet from his 10 year old daughter. Marianna slumped over, red hair ribbon fluttering gaily on the breeze, legs splayed in the dust. Tears streaking her father's dusty face, blood plastering his shirt to his heaving chest, and the last words he would ever speak to Marielle.

“Te quiero, ahora bebé CORRE por favor!  I love you, now baby please RUN!”

Marielle growing wings and burning a desperate trail away from Death.