Shiny

Dear Mom,

An old photograph, black and white

You and Dad are there, younger perhaps than I
So happy and radiant; joys shines from you

Sparkles in your very eyes.

And Dad. He smirks, knowing he’s lucky

Knowing that you love him

I wish I could see that radiance once more

To hear the laugh that the man in that photo relishes

I wish I could see him that happy again, too

But when he smiles, it is but shadow

A shade of its former glory

Because your eyes will never shine again

You both look so...ablaze with life

Frozen in time, untouched by the troubles ahead

Through it all, you held close

You two kept us all afloat

And now you’re gone

And Dad doesn’t smile right

And I’m sinking, more some days than others

I know I’ll get through, I have to

And Dad will be okay, even if he’s not sure himself

And I know without a doubt

That the light that shone from your eyes was brilliant

And the world became less beautiful when they went dark