She was from

Ghana

while his family was from

Ethiopia

. Because she moved here when she was nine they joked that she was more African than him.

When they had first began dating he had just gotten out of the

Air Force

and returned from 

Germany

. The two of them had been dirt poor. But it was okay. They were doing what they loved. She had her own dreams and he was training to be a professional boxer. They both knew he wouldn't make a living out of that sport but he wanted to get at least one professional fight in. He didn't matter if he got knocked out right away. He just knew that before he died he wanted to fight in at least one professional match. She knew this too.

This was before the kids. Before the retirement funds and the mortgage. Before when they didn't really need to make any money at all. His mom was just around the corner and would make beautiful, belly warming Ethiopian food everyday. So even though they had little cash, they ate like king and queen. Simpler times back then.

He looked at his phone. It was asking if he wanted to accept another ride. It was almost 6. This meant that he should be getting back home. She would be expecting him there to help with dinner. But then he thought about the daughter. Her birthday was coming up soon.