After I passed the inspections I went to exchange the little money I had for American dollars so that I could get something to eat. As I ate I watched families and friends joyfully reunite and leave the island together. I also watched the unlucky few who were forced to return to their homeland. I had began to worry about my mother when I saw her walking towards me! We both wept tears of joy as we embraced. After so many years apart we were finally together again. As we boarded the ferry to go to New York I no longer felt any fear; I was with mother in the land of the free.