Submission 116

18th birthday,

Your light shines brightly through the tears of sadness through the aching pain of loss, through the ‘what ifs’, ‘What should’ve been’, What could’ve been’.

I remember your beautiful smile, Your warm hugs your tinkling laugh, the way you called my name.

I scour through my memories for those days of laughter and bustle, the four of you together bouncing off each other’s joy. The energy that only four carefree cousins could share.

I yearn for one more hug, for one more time to tell you I love you, for one more moment of your incandescent beauty and heart.

Life has gone on, but it has been reshaped and re calibrated a million times over. somehow we found a way to breathe again. Somehow we were able to smile to laugh to sing to dance. Somehow we lived.

but every day there is a moment that catches me, that reminds me that your soul surrounds us that you are holding us all tight. That your enchanting energy is protecting us. for this I thank you, for this I cherish you, for this I love you.