Go rest high was softly playing as
we entered the church, this was the
time I had been dreading for days,
I wanted to turn and run back out
the door, but that wasn't possible.
Myself and another sister, on either
side of our eldest sister, the matriarch
of the family since our mothers death,
the strongest woman I have ever known,
needed us to stand beside her, as she
had stood with us throughout every
sorrow, life had placed on our shoulders.
In front of the alter a white coffin
with gold trim and three pink roses
embroidered inside the lid, one to
symbolize each of her sisters, this
coffin held what had been, so many
hopes and dreams.
It held her beautiful nineteen year
old great granddaughter, who had been
brutally murdered, while saving the life
of her baby boy, released from all
earthly constraints, she now had taken
her flight, home to the heavenly father,
who had lent her for only a season.
As my sister painstakingly took one small
painful step at a time, with the aid of
a cane, we made our way down the aisle
to the front of the church, where my
lovely niece lay in repose.
Long beautiful auburn hair flowed over
each shoulder, eyes that once sparkled,
were now closed forever, a face so
lovely it looked as though it had
been sculpted by a master of the art,
a baby blue angora sweater with tiny
white beads and a pair of jeans
that she had been wanting, her mother
had bought these clothes, the last gift
that she would ever give her first
born daughter.
She looked like an exquisite porcelain
angel lying on a cloud of white,
every attempt had been made to mask
the evidence of evil, that had snuffed
out this young woman's life, but it was
excruciatingly undeniable, she would
return to her maker, bearing the evidence
of a world saturated in hatred.
Huddled together softly sobbing, heart
breaking goodbyes, were her Mother, Dad
sisters, brothers, grandmothers and grandfathers,
Aunts, Uncles, and friends, I had just seen
her Mother last week, happily shopping
for her family, now she had a look
of sadness so deep, I wonder if it
will ever fade away? will a day ever
pass that her Dad won't have her on
his mind? I now realize that the
heartache of losing a child, has a
look all it's own.
I overheard sighs of disbelief, as I
thought back to the last time I had
seen her, long before she had so
bravely fought, and gave her life to
save her baby's.
So vibrant and full of life, a life
that now had been denied her, two little
children would never be pulled into their
mothers arms again for a hug and kiss,
she will never see her baby take his
first steps, she won't be there to wave
goodbye to her daughter, as she climbs
aboard a school bus for the first time.
She would never eat popcorn and watch
videos with her sisters again, her Mom
and Dad would never see the dreams
she was reaching for be realized, for
she has now returned to her sender.
How do you say anything that could
possibly bring comfort, in the wake of
such senseless tragedy, "I'm so sorry for
your loss" sounds so hollow "If there's
anything I can do" seems nothing more than
an empty cliche, there is nothing anyone
can do, there had been disconcerting
signs that pointed towards this tragedy,
signs that had brought her and her babies
back to the shelter of her parents home,
but the grave was not to be denied,
spread your wings beautiful girl, spread
them wide, and fly away home.
If you or anyone you know is suffering
domestic violence, please reach out, there
is help out there.
