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Where have you gone?

Just a week ago you were at home with us all and now you’re not here anymore.  They told me I would have to be brave and wait for you to come home but someone took you away instead.

I came home from school and before I had got into the house I knew that there was something wrong.  There was a big plastic bag in the kitchen full of the clothes that you had been wearing.

There had been an accident, I was told.  Not a serious one though, no problems.  A broken leg, some cuts and bruises, you’d be home soon.  You didn’t come home though. 

Then I was told that there were complications.  They were going to have to cut your leg off.  Your lungs were not working properly either, pneumonia, they have called it.  You needed help breathing, you have been put into some kind of tent.  You’d still be home though.

I spoke to you on the phone. You sounded strange, out of breath.  But I spoke to you, that was enough.  I knew you’d be alright, they said so.

Then one day they came back from visiting you and said that they had something to tell me.  You have gone to a better place and won’t be coming back.  Where could be better than where you are meant to be?  You are meant to be with us.

If you had left us and gone to live somewhere else, that might be alright.  I would know that you are still out there.  Sometimes I pretend that is what happened and you are happy, just somewhere else.

You’re not coming back really are you?  You’ve left me alone.  What am I going to do now?  I need you.

I’ll never forget you.  Did I tell you I love you?

Keyword: grief bereavement

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Comments (8)

Posted by PMH5000 2008-03-07 06:38:23 .... I lost my father in January 1974, I was six years old. This letter was written to him some thirty years later. + Report this comment
Posted by thirteen 2008-03-07 07:21:59 .... Its sweet, the innocence of the child is still in the letter. Very tragic to lose your father at such a young age.I am 32 and the thoughts of losing my father scares me. + Report this comment
Posted by lorislittlesecret 2008-03-07 09:16:17 .... Sad..so sad.... + Report this comment
Posted by tarhead 2008-03-07 11:41:28 pretty rough thing to deal with at any age. + Report this comment
Posted by R.E.Potter 2008-03-15 10:38:58 ,,, Lost my mother to cancer at age 10...this hits home. Ironicly enough,,this day was her birthday 3/15/36...life can be really unfair sometimes. My story "Visions of a tortured Mind' reflect how I still have her with me. + Report this comment
Posted by 1800 2008-03-15 10:44:34 .... That makes me want to cry. I have lost many people in my life, but luckily my immediate family is still with me. + Report this comment
Posted by Bomber 2008-03-19 06:33:11 Thank You All For your comments. I found that writing the letter was a big part of the healing process. It was a big surprise to me to find that, despite what I thought, thirty years on there was still a lot to deal with. Maybe there always will be... + Report this comment
Posted by philneale1952 2008-06-18 12:43:33 .... We've all been there, and some will have that journey to make. Brilliant for putting it down in black and white. Creased me when we lost my wife's dad, and then three more relatives followed. You never know what to say until it's too late. The regret is excruciating. Phil + Report this comment

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