She is gone.
You stand there gazing at her body,
Waiting for her to stand up, to reach out, and to call your name.
Thoughts of fear and loneliness circle in your mind,
and you whisper, “Nothing, will be the same”.
You are right.
The mother who held you when you skinned your knees,
Who sang all the time and filled a room with joy.
The one that laughed at your jokes, scolded you more than she should have had to,
And listened as you told her about your crush on a boy.
Yes, she is gone.
But do not fear little Destiny.
She gave you thirteen years of love and lessons.
Do not be afraid to spread your wings and be the person she taught you to be.
For I know that though nothing is the same, everything will be ok.
You will fall in love, and then out of love many times.
You will run from everything, only to find yourself return.
You will fail.
Over, and over again, you will fail.
But again, I say, do not be afraid my dear Destiny,
For you and I are one and the same.
We have loved and been loved in return.
We sing all the time and fill rooms with joy.
We have held our babies, through pain and tears.
We have loved and we have lost.
And through it all, we have prevailed.
Strong, independent, joyful, and loved.
We are who she taught us to be.
She is gone.
But she remains.
In your heart, as you love so deeply.
In you smile, as you laugh and joke.
In your song, as tunes float from your lips.
And in the woman that you will grow to become.
Stand tall, little one,
Believe in yourself,
And remember
She is not really gone.