Past Present Perfect

I just got back from a dinner with my god-daughter whom I haven't seen for 13 years. Last time I saw her she was a child and her sister was a baby. It took many miracles for them to be in Warsaw and for me, after all those years, to be a 'surprise' by just turning up to join them at the restaurant tonight. Two beautiful young women appeared in front of my eyes and they were a sight to behold. Both stunning in their own way- one is blonde and the other dark. The younger one of the two shares the same birth date with me. I was overwhelmed with such a huge mixture of emotions: surprise, proud, sad, amazed, happy, joyful, stunned, captivated, awkward, moved....though they have both changed beyond recognition and obviously we have an ocean of events to catch up on---there was, in my God-daughter's eyes- a look- a feeling---of connection that's hard to put into words. I feel really bad that I hadn't been there all those years and missed her growing up but distances, careers and complications of life made it hard to make time but without doubt, I feel I have let me and her down for not being there to experience both of them as they developed and to have been part of their worlds as their worlds took shape. My only consolation is 'better late than never' and I 100% intend to take time now to get to know them as they enter young adulthood. As I left in the taxi and they waved their goodbyes, the look in her eyes broke my heart and the years collapsed as I remembered the last time I waved goodbye and hugged her at her front door. Though she is only my God-daughter, the connection is strong and real and alive- for that I am beyond grateful.