10/12/2025
I floated, listening only to the sound of the water reverberating off the lane markers, caused by the other swimmers. My peaceful place. I opened my eyes and in the cloud above, I saw a face smiling down on me. Was it yours? I’d only been thinking about you five minutes earlier. Wondering. Would you have helped us out of this situation? Which then led to, would I even be here if you hadn’t left us all those years ago? How different would each of our lives have been? Better? Worse? More traumatic? Less? For all I’ve been through, there’s really only one thing I’d change; but then, if you and the others had lived, it would never have happened anyway.
So, I know that because of everything, I’m stronger. My faith is stronger. My love is truer and deeper. My family are gifts.
But oh, just for a year of less struggle! That would be an answer to all my prayers.
Maybe it was you, Daddy, smiling down at me, letting me know it will be all right. Keep the faith, hang in there, you’ve got this.
