The Truth Behind the Truth

When you think that you are done with sorrow it finds away to rear its ugly head.

“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.”(Gump) I was sitting on the couch with my guy flipping channels. I stopped on channel twenty-six because Forrest Gump was playing. I tuned in just in time for my favorite part. “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.”(Gump) We were sitting on the couch in lounge position; I was anticipating my trip back home. It was the first time in a year I would go back to San Diego. “Babe, so tell me why you must leave to go back to San Diego?” “It is two days, that’s it. Don’t worry, I’m coming back.” I was actually going back to San Diego to get a birth certificate and so my mom could meet with a realtor to sale our home. I was dreading the drive that my father insisted would take me five hours to complete.

I woke up at two fifty am; I knocked on my cousin Kerrie door, in took that Friday off and she invited herself to go with us. I began packing an overnight bag all while my mother is sleep. This was so unusual because she is always an early bird. With no alarm or anything, she will just awake magically at the time she needs to be up. We leave a little after four am and drive the four and half hours later I am in San Diego. It’s pouring raining my mother is complaining because she wanted to lie on the beach, my cousin is complaining because she is late for a hair appointment and I am complaining because I’m in the car with two complainers. That was the story of my life, as I head downtown to pick up my birth certificate the rain lighten, I called my guy to let him know I made it safely…

Later that day I was sitting on my grandmother couch. The couch was a 1960’s solid wood framed couch, with itchy mustard colored fabric. I laid down in attempt to take a nap only I was on the move again. Chauffeuring my mother around everywhere except to the realtor. I thought it amazing; I got my birth certificate my cousin got her hair done and my mother still procrastinating. I manage to make my way back to grandma’s couch only to have Kerrie and Artesia walk in. Artesia was Kerrie and I childhood friend. We have known her since kindergarten. She and I went to school together, every school in fact. We knew everything about each other. For example I knew she was dating a guy who cheats on her with his ex-girlfriend who he got pregnant within the four years they have been dating. I really love her because she is a great person, she just doesn’t in my opinion think she can find or maybe even deserves better. We know everything about each other, for instance my under lying reason for not wanting to hang out with her and my cousin.

As I lay on the couch talking to my guy telling him that I’m going some place before I head to the hotel, my uncle Malcolm interrupts my conversation to tell me about The Rock Church. He begins to tell me that The Rock is a new church in Point Loma across the street from old high school. “The church is beautiful Mercedes, the sound system is amazing. The church is huge with thousands of members. You have to see it.” I thought about the name, The Rock, The Rock. Artesia begins to tell me that she attends that church and the pastor delivers sermons on a jumbotron.

When you think that you are done with sorrow it finds away to rear its ugly head.

That night I found myself looking for a store to buy a beach ball. The hotel my mom booked was amazing; after we checked in I open the patio window and found the beach outside my door. My mother and I walked two inches past the patio, and then are feet hit the sand. It was the most amazing view the lights from the boats lit up the harbor. As I turn on to Nimitz Street I immediately recognize the area. I am in the same neighborhood as my old high school. I drive past my school and then I see a Vons Grocery store. I am wondering were The Rock Church is located. I am driving around these winding poorly lit streets trying to find this church. I finally see a directory on the corner; I stop dead in the middle of the road. I’m wondering if I should get out and look. It is pouring raining at this hour and I want to get out only I have no jacket. I decide to pull over up head on the other side of the street. I hop out of my car and dash down to the street, trying to read the directory. The rain was heavy and I couldn’t walk away. I was there already, I stood there as the rain seeped through my clothes and I found the corner where the rock church was located. I dashed over there desperate to see it.

When I got out front it was fully lit up with people coming and going. I parked on a side street and walked up to the front; I asked the people out front who seemed to be guarding it, “may I go inside?” The elderly man said, yes of course. I slowly walked in; I admired the art work which was made by the children of the church. I kept walking back; I walked all the way to the other side of the church out the double doors. This appeared to be the front. There was a large memorial outside the building, I only glanced at it, and I walked back inside and into the sermon room. There was a man who seem to be the pastor, delivering is sermon. I sat down in the very back pew and began sobbing. I didn’t truly know why I, I wasn’t listening to the man speak, I was just sitting there crying my eyes out…

Then I remembered what forest Gump said on that movie, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.”(Gump) Immediately my eyes began to dry up, I felt certain that either I had been there before or should have been. Nevertheless, something had drawn me to Nimitz Street, which led me to find my school that prompted me to stand in the rain looking for The Rock, all in which led me to tears in church pew at nine-thirty at night.