“The stars smiled upon us, as if they knew she’d soon join them.

She smiled back at them.

The sound of her laughter rough from her addiction.

It lingered on her like the smell of a perfume.

Trapping her in a blanket of the foul scent.

A lovely petite three story house.

Old white paint slowly chipping off.

Slippery stone stairs.

‘Be careful on those stairs.’

Saying that for the millionth time.

We never slipped though.

My first home.

And her last.

One day she came over to the house.

Like any normal weekend stay.

She made do with the couch as per usual.

The weekend flew by like a breeze in the wind.

No one knew what would happen.

How could we?

She lived a simple life.

Making friends along the way.

Had two children.

Who went off to create lives of their own.

One having only two kids.

The other having only four at the time.

Her first grandchild

Her bimba.

‘Be kind cause you can’t rewind.’

Sometimes I think those are the first words

That she ever said to me in that hospital room.

Soon the rest of her grandchildren followed.

A boy from one,

A boy from another.

Then three girls from the other.

An amazing person,

Daughter,

Mother,

Nonna,

Sister,

And friend.

It is for these reasons I write this

To honour her memory.

To never forget the one who helped me

When my parents couldn’t.

So it is on March 9th

That I remember the soul that now lays dormant

But not forgotten.

Amen.”