Memoria

They told us that her years would turn into months That her months would turn into weeks And that her weeks would turn into days She was a strong, beautiful flower withering in the February air Watching her strength gradually deplete took the life from our souls But we kept our heads held up high I spent her last minutes by her side Gazing upon her cloudy eyes I could see I could see She was ready to leave Ready to heal Ready to be free On her way up “there” she looks at me She lifts her arm up with what was left of her strength With a weak smile, she puts her palm up, waiting for my palm to meet hers Soon enough, papa tells me that she’s stopped breathing Sorrow because it was our last moment together Or Joy because her suffering was over Bittersweet pill She’s gone The light of her life still shines, illuminates, inspires Light terribly wasted because of a damned disease There is no use being filled with rage, hatred, or anger Despite only having nine years to live She lived her life with more happiness than most people do in a lifetime To me she will always be a fighter A miracle A symbol of strength Doctors determined that she would not live past two, but she lived for 9 years, almost 10 Teachers told her she would never learn, but she made it to the 4th grade Biological parents perpetually coming in and out of her life, but she still had a smile on her face It would have been great if she won the war But the number of battles she’s won will forever echo her perseverance An English teacher once gave us an assignment based off a quote by Ernest Hemingway, “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places” Immediately, I was reminded of my sister The memories still burned, but I was reminded of her strength Instead of pointing fingers, remembering nights spent in hospitals, or hurting inside I smiled She would not have wanted me to live life like this, so I remembered I remembered Laughing during summer nights and days, laying on my bed talking about the future, and overall just having a good time It is hard to believe she is not here I want to believe that one day I will come back from school and hear her call my name “Nelas!” It will always be tough to say goodbye to a loved one It will always be hard to adapt to the emptiness in one’s chest It will always leave us broken But two options are presented: Spend the rest of life mourning? Teary-eyed wishing things were different? Or Not taking life for granted and living out every dream, aspiration, or goal A sadness still lingers But I feel stronger than I ever was My little sister has given me her infinite love, strength, and courage And I will forever cherish these gifts