The Honey Bee Story

by Lucas Castillo

October 31st, 2018

This is honestly not the first time I have written about this story. It is certainly one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy it.

It’s October 3rd.

I ended up sleeping in that day, which was strange.

All summer long I had been waking up between 5 & 6am. It was like an alarm that was permanently programmed in my brain. I didn’t think anything of it.

My morning began like any other day. I prepped the coffee and then hopped in the shower and of course played my summer playlist on Spotify. It was routine to dance and sing in the mornings. It helps set the tone for the day.

After my shower, I brought my cup of coffee outside with Nala to take in the day’s air. Nala is my roommates dog, at the time.

I sparked my bowl and began to play more music. This was my reflecting time. Mornings were like therapy. Quite like a form of meditation if you will.

So here it comes.

A call from my father came in.

I felt my heart hit the floor.

I mean I really felt like my heart fell through my chest cavity. I knew what this call was. I didn’t even have to answer and I just already knew.

I answer the phone and immediately I can feel my father through the phone over his first words.

He tells me that our grandmother, his mother has passed.

The conversation was short. He told me that he loved me and that it was time to start doing the right things for ourselves. I told him I loved him and hung up the phone.

I was trying to take this in. I didn’t know how. I had never experienced anything like this. I don''t believe anyone knows how to deal with death. Especially when it's a loved one.

I turned up my music. I began to pray.

I honestly felt quite humbled in this moment. I couldn’t explain it.

I just knew that B was no longer in pain. I knew that she was finally flying free, dancing and singing how she always loved to. We always danced. She was always grabbing all of us when the music was playing.

As the memories began to pour, I knew I needed to go on a walk. Instead, I ran barefoot to the park just across the way from where I lived.

I ran so fast.

I was blasted music through my headphones as I ran. I was feeling happy in this moment. I was so happy for B.

I knew she could finally breath on her own. She was no longer stuck in that bed that she was bound to. She could now cook as much food as she wanted. That was her favorite thing. I couldn't imagine how much food she is cooking now.

I began to sing and dance triumphantly like no one was watching. I walked through and felt the grass between my toes as the sun beamed down on my face. It was a beautiful day.

How could I be sad? I was doing my best to not be, for her.

I felt as if I were celebrating.

I was celebrating a life that brought me where I am now. She brought all of us here when she met my grandfather just over 47 years ago in Colombia where their journey together began.

My grandfather made it a mission to get to the United States. It took them 10 years. Ten.

They made their way to Canada and eventually acquired a home in Bethesda, MD. After their first year in the states, they quickly purchased a home in Gaithersburg where they have been ever since.

This woman did so much for us. My grandfather picked a truly remarkable woman.

As I continued down the parks path, I began to climb the hill where led an entrance to the forest, just in front of the quarry.

I continued to dance and sing as I made my way into the forest.

As I continued in the forest, I stumbled upon a break in the trees just off trail, where light was escaping through the trees. I entered the area and found myself in one particular area where the sunlight was breaking through. It captured a rather beautiful silhouette on the ground from the tall forest leaves.

I dropped to my knees as tears begin to fall.

It was sinking in.

These emotions were feelings I had never felt before. I was never going to see, B again.

I sat there for a few moments and as I looked down at the ground. The warmth from the sun that was breaking through the leaves was reaching my face. The cool air that lingered in the forest from the morning dew mixed euphorically. After I collected myself, I rose and continued down the path.

I ended up exiting on the opposite side of the forest atop a hill. This hill overlooked a soccer field in the park with a single bench. From here you could see most of town where I lived. So I decided to take a seat.

I reached for my pack to pull a cigarette.

I started smoking this year.

I don’t know why. I need to quit. She can now see that I am doing this shit. Yet, I proceeded as I thought of, B.

As I am sparking my cigarette, a single bee began buzzing around me. Naturally, I began to swat at it.

It would not leave me alone. Why the hell was the bee picking on me? I was feeling irritable.

Then it hit me.

My imagination began to take over.

This bee would simply will not leave me alone and yet, it's not showing any threat at all. It was just a bee.

But this was no ordinary bee.

This was a honey bee.

Why on earth had there been just one honey bee on top of this hill? I looked around in the nearby trees to find a honeycomb. Not one was in sight, except for this bee that was sitting on my lap. This bee was hanging out with me.

I'm not sure if you've caught the irony yet.

I found it ironic that this was a honey bee that was hanging out with me, and we all call our grandmother, B.

The tears in my eyes, the blood pumping through my heart, this was a divine gift.

B, was sitting right next to me.

B, was obsessed with honey. She loved honey in her tea. It was often used as a sweetener in her home.

'Ah! More honey!' She would always say.

The timing of nature was all too perfect. I really felt as if, B was with me. She was and she will always be.

Her name was Clara.

We grew up calling her Bita. She made the worlds best pancakes. My friends would vouch for that. She was the kind of grandmother that would pinch you when you did wrong. She was also chase us with her wooden spoon or chancla when we were really bad.

Every summer she would take us to the neighborhood pool where she would let us kids swim for hours. She would even bring enough food so we could stay all day.

She was a very tough little lady, and probably one of thee most stubborn, but she was strong.

She loved so hard.

From left, Annabelle, me, Alexander (bottom), Phillip, Daddy Jorge, B, Alonzo, Amy (bottom), Dad, Abigail & Katalina

She nurtured by teaching us self discipline and respecting one another and to look out for one another, no matter what.

Thank you, B. I couldn’t tell you when we started calling her B. It was just like it slowly took over and no one batted an eye or made a fuss about it. We loved it.

On October 3rd, you left for a better place, B. I am still celebrating your life. I will be damned if I don’t make you proud. I know you will be no matter what I do. We will all make you proud.

I love you. I miss you. We will have another chance to dance someday. Until then, I will continue to look for the honey bee.

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