Michelle Pipeling
I speak to the sky in the daylight, and to the stars when night falls.
I whisper prayers of gratitude, offering up the joy and love you poured into my life.
I wait patiently to hear your voice—in the hush of morning, in the quiet of night.
Sometimes a small bird sings, and I wonder if it is you, speaking back to me.
Sometimes the stars seem so near, I can almost touch them—and I imagine that is you.
There are countless days I long for the phone to ring to hear you once again.
I call your phone, leave messages, wishing somehow you could call me back. I remember you saying to keep the phone on in case you could call me from Heaven.
I hold onto the voicemail I have, hearing you say “I love you”—
it sustains me through this tidal wave of grief.
Daddy, you taught me so much, but you never taught me how to live without you.
How can I possibly go on? How can life continue without you here?
You are forever in my heart, and when yours stopped beating, mine shattered. I don’t know how to put the pieces back together.