I Remember

by Wendy Michelle Williams

Camping, boating, swimming

Hot summer days

Inviting all my cousins over for a barbecue,

Together, as a family.

The sound of his voice

The happiness in his laughter

All slowing as he became sick

The color in his face slowly draining away.

I remember his frail body

Trying desperately not to show

The pain in his sunken eyes,

His small, weak voice calling for help.

His pale skin clinging to his tired bones

Hanging on for life

Not wanting to go.

Torn between two worlds,

Loved ones on both sides.

Finally the hour is come

Tears fill his eyes

My mother gently sobbing, “It’s okay to go.”

His spirit leaves his body

He’s gone.

It seems so unreal

It hasn’t quite sunk in

He’s in his room

He’s in the hospital

He’ll be back in a couple weeks.

When he first died

I couldn’t remember his face.

Pictures

Home movies

Help me to remember.

Now he is with his Father.

I will see him soon someday

And he will be the way he was.

I love you, Dad.