Khayla’s Favorite Day (by Elaiya Een)

When Elaiya came to visit us at the hospital, she asked me if I knew about Khayla’s favorite day.  When I told her that I wasn’t sure, Elaiya’s eyes widened with excitement.  She told me that she felt the need to share this wonderful story with us.   Thank you Elaiya.  You touch our hearts!   –Chai Gatewalla (father of Khayla Choi)

Last summer my sister Aria was hit by a car and was in the hospital and in a wheelchair.  So I went to Bowstalk. When I first got there I was nervous.  It had been a hard summer.  It was a little bit hard to be away from my family at that time.  I was also excited because it sounded fun and I knew I was going to have a good time.

Khayla was so welcoming to all of us.  There aren’t words to say what it was like being there.

Bowstock was like child heaven.  There were so many fun things to do.  It was as if boredom didn’t exist.  I don’t know how, but it was like everyone had just become family and every moment was a happy and special one.  (I also loved all of the animals, especially the baby bunnies.)  It was the first time that I could actually feel Baba.  It was like magic, I don’t know how it happened, but it was such a strong force.

People would tell stories that they had never told before (like this story right now, I don’t really feel comfortable with telling other people except the kids at Bowstalk, and most of all Khayla. You could not understand what Bowstalk was like unless you were there.)

Khayla and me and Ryan were sitting in the treehouse talking about our most embarrassing moments, our worst days, our best days, etc.  I still remember Khayla’s best day.  She described how the air was, how the day looked.  She was walking with her dog Puffy.  They were walking around her property.  The whole world seemed so perfect and happy.  Her story of the perfect contentment she had, stayed with me.  She was so happy just to be in that moment with the world being extraordinarily perfect while walking with her dog.

The last night before we had to leave, all the kids from Bowstock were on the roof looking up at the sky that was filled with thousands of really bright stars.  We all had a mixed feeling of happiness, contentment, and sadness because we had to leave the next day.  We all started crying and hugging each other, just being in the moment, saying that we would miss each other and couldn’t wait for the next year there.

Although it was so upsetting that Aria was hit, something amazing came out of it.  If she hadn’t been hit, I would never have gotten that amazing connection with Khayla before she left, so I am wondering what the silver lining will be that will come out of this.  Although Khayla did leave, she implanted those memories in my heart forever.  I will probably never feel that once in a lifetime feeling again, but it will always stay with me of those indescribable moments at Bowstalk.