A Bond Unbroken

My story does not begin with me. It begins long, long before me, in the land now called Mexico. It begins with my Abuela, who grew up in a small town there, full of beauty and culture, with fields and fields of corn, or Maiz, as my Abuela called it. She used to tell me stories, in her heavily accented voice that reminds me of fresh corn tortillas, made with the Maiz that I helped her to make. "No, my little Osenzo, you do not pull and press the dough, you must use care, and love, and gently fold and knead it," she used to say, using her endearment for me, Osenzo, that meant Bear Cub in Spanish, for that is what she said I looked like, climbing up and down trees when I was young. One story that she used to always tell me was of little town, before the troubled times came. She'd tell me of rolling hills, fields of corn, and laughter and joy. My Abuela lived there till she was forty, with a child and husband of her own. My Mother and my Abuelo. But the peacefulness of her life did not last much longer. When my mother was only six, war came to their home, and they were forced to leave. They walked for miles and miles, before coming to the U.S. and Mexican border. They had nowhere to return to, so they attempted to come to America, to start a new life. But this dream did no come true. When they tried to cross the border, they were seperated, Abuela and Mother brought to one border detention center, and Abuelo to another. They did not know it then, but they woukd never see my Abuelo again. Abeula would tell me of the horrors of the facility they were brought to, the miniml amount of food, the harsh treatment, the hard floor to sleep on. They barely made it thoguh every day, but what saved them was each other. They hoped, and hoped. "Soon, my child. We will be free," My Abuela said to my mother every day. And finally, that wish came true. One day, after almost a year stuck in that place, they were released. And as they had hoped before, they started a new life in the U.S. But it would never be the same without my Abuelo. 
Now, we live in a rural town in California. My Abuela has passed away, but her memories stay with me. The bond between us remains unbroken, even despite the fact that we are no longer living in the same world. And this brings my story to the day that I was walking alone in the woods, thinking about my Abuela. But then I heard a rustling in the bushes. I turned, and there, in front of me, was a little bear cub. "Hello," I cooed to it. It cocked it's head and snuffled at me. For a while, I just stood there, happy to just watch it. But I had forgotten that when you see a cub, the mother is never far behind. I saw a large shape running through the bushes, and then before me was the mother bear, reared to her full height, snarling at me. And that's when footfalls came from behind me, and my mother leaped in front of me, snarling right back at the bear. The bear dropped back onto four legs, and stared into my mother's eyes. My mother stared right back. And then, seeming to come to a conclusion, the mother bear turned, with her cub, and walked away. "Mom! You saved me!" I cried, hugging her tightly. She hugged me back. "How did you know that I needed help?" I asked, full of curiosity.
"Oh, my little Osenzo," She said. "The bond between a mother and child can never be broken, no matter how hard they try. You are my daughter, and the bond between us will hold forever strong.That mother bear knew just the same, and that is why she turned away. I know when you are in trouble, for despite being apart in some ways, we are always together, for love holds us close. Just as my mother and me will always be together, we will never be truly apart."