Nicolas
   by Safa S

My story is in honor of a little boy named Nicolas, who became the best friend of our son, Ali. Nicolas’s family moved to Wright Patterson Air Force Base from Hanscom Air Force Base in the spring of 2005. It began one morning while Ali and I went around our base housing handing out flyers for an upcoming neighborhood garage sale. I knocked on the door of the new family. When Carla answered, the most beautiful boy stood behind her. He reminded me of Ali. We chatted and realized our sons were three weeks apart. That day our friendship was born and our lives intertwined ever since. Nicolas always called Ali, “best friend.” He never liked cake, but Ali always helped his best friend by eating his piece for him.

On September 22, 2007, Nicolas unexpectedly fell ill and passed away. He was only three years old. His mother was nine months pregnant and gave birth to their second son two days later. The anguish of losing a child and the joy of welcoming one was unimaginable. Joy and grief juxtaposed in our minds. It hurt to breathe the words, “Nicolas has passed away. Carla had another baby boy.” Our Air Force family stepped up to help our friends in need. My husband began organizing the funeral; while I supported my friend during her childbirth. My friend grieved for her son as she clicked through pictures on her camera. As tears streamed down her face, she whispered, “mijo, mijo…my son, my son.” The nurse, Lt Born, and her humorous stories kept us focused on the birth. Midnight visits from the Chaplain, colleagues from Wright Patt and people who didn’t know the family stepped up to show support. Moves and deployments characterize Air Force life, but a little boy shaped mine.