They never go away

Challenges for November

What I want to say

Write a letter to someone in your past – alive or deceased – and tell them what you wish you had back then or wish you’d told them while they were alive… or what you would tell them now if they were back in your life. 

Dearest Novella,

I was so young when you were with us.  Just a little girl, still trying to learn and find my way.  You came into our lives and showed us what a mother was like, what a mother is supposed to be like.  Your stories and memories were precious to me.  You were precious to me.  As just a young girl, I knew you were special.  I admired you.  You were so strong, beautiful, smart, funny, fun-loving.  A joy to be around.  You were nice to me, Novie.  I miss you.  I remember the day you left.  I remember crying and crying, we were all sad.  You were sad too, I know.  I believed you would come back, you said you would, and I still think you will one day.  You were meant to be in our lives.  You were made to join our family.  I still think you are the love of my dad’s life.  He was happy when he was with you, truly happy. 

I never told you how important you were to me back then.  Maybe you knew.  But I didn’t realize how wonderful you were to me until you were gone.  You made all our lives better.  We were a FAMILY when you were here.  I miss that feeling.  I’m sorry for letting you go.  I’m sorry for giving you a hard time.  I never meant to hurt you, I was just a kid. 

I think of you all the time.  I keep you with me.  There are little things about you I remember so clearly, your laugh especially sticks out in my mind.  I miss you being apart of my life.  I needed you more than I knew, and I know you need us too.

When Novie is back, I will tell her everything.  I will tell her I still make her chicken enchilada’s.  I will tell her Stinky ate her green plant to stems and I nursed it back to health and it’s beautiful now.  I kept it just for her.  That little plant means the world to me.  And it’s just a plant, but it’s so much more.  It was Novie’s.  I have nothing left of her.  Just my memories to reflect on.  Precious.  She’ll come back, I know she will.