Goodbye, Aunty

If We’d Have Been Closer, I’d Have Told You All This

Photo by John Thomas on Unsplash

Dear Aunt Fran,

I’ve been told you passed away. A cousin told me. On a positive note, I’m thankful someone in the family had the courtesy to tell me, that doesn’t happen often in our clan. usually, I’m the last to know.

I haven’t seen you for years. Well, decades. We weren’t close. I stayed at your place for a month the summer I turned 16. You didn't buy enough groceries. Damn, you were thrifty! Your kids were grown, so I guess you may have forgotten how much a teenager could eat. And I could really strap on the old feedbag!

No worries, Uncle Jimmy fed me, as did Aunt Rose.

Over the years, we had our differences. I heard all the gossip that came from your mouth about me. How you said I lied about graduating from law school and how you did a full-fledged investigation to prove it.

I was ugly! That shit hurt me. I should have talked to you about it. Looking back, I think my sister lied to me. She’s like that, you know.

Then you got Dementia, and I couldn’t clear the air. So, now, I guess I am. I’m sorting it out. For you, but also for me.

I don’t believe in any afterlife. I don’t believe you’re on a cloud, whole, watching and listening, I just don’t…