To my father,

I can feel the memories of you deep inside my heart

I feel the ghosts of you around the house

I see the physical reminders of you

I see your car and want to scream knowing it’s a lie

I know you are not coming home again

I hear your footsteps down the hall of where you once walked

I hear the echoes of your voice in the room where you slept

I hear laughter in the kitchen from meals that we tried to cook

The echoes are now fading I’ve left them all behind

But the memories are strong I have locked them in my chest

Because I know you are not dead so long as I remember

I will not let goodnight become goodbye

I will see you when I close my eyes and look in my heart.

-With all my love

Forever your princess