Reinventing the letter format

Dear Mom,

I remember you sometimes even though you have been gone for over 30 years now. You appear in my dreams too.

I mostly remember you waiting up late into the night, waiting for me to return home from playing chess with my friends. You wouldn’t even have supper until after you had served me. I never really appreciated you, your gentle and caring nature. I was so selfish during my younger days; only sought self-satisfaction through being with my friends.

I remember you suffering from asthma and being schizophrenic [we know this now]. You appeared completely normal at most times that people found it difficult to believe us when we told them of your “other times”. At “those times”, we were confused by the “phantoms” you encountered and got angry with, whom we could not see.

I often remember that fatal night. You were so happy. You carried our oldest niece on your back and happily danced around with her. How you promised to cook that last piece of meat the next day in your special way! It was raining heavily that night. The piece of meat was sadly thrown away.

We went to bed quite late that night, but were rudely awakened soon thereafter by your fall from the bed on to the wooden floor. How you tried to speak with your eyes closed while our sister cradled you in her lap. Then you were gone. The floor bore an imprint of your body for several days after you were buried. It rained very hard after your departure, all night and well into the next day. “How great Thou art!” kept playing in my mind. We got really sick the day after your funeral. We must have been more upset that we had realized. The neighbors helped with the coffin and wreaths.

You were only 52. You should never have left so early! Well, mere mortals don’t have a say in our comings and goings. I hope you are happy and at peace now.

I did love you even though I failed to express it while you were with us.

Your loving son…

P.S.: We miss the delicious dishes you served up! We tried, but could not even come close to your class.

Was that a smile? Keep smiling, wherever you are. We miss you, though…