I miss you Mum

The sun is slowly coming to rest on the top of the trees. The tasks

of the day blend into the hum of the evening as I sit in the corner

folding wrapping over presents bought with love. As I etch words

with humility and gratitude upon scraps of paper with the names

of those held deep within my heart, I sit alone holding this

moment as tears begin to form shadows of times past appearing

as a movie before my eyes.

The screen flashes images of a kitchen table, a floor scattered

with strips of brightly coloured wrapping, a roll of tape clinging to

itself as I try to cut it - a frustration of all present wrappers.

There’s laughter and companionship as this movie plays. I flick

my hair and for a moment thought I truly was back in our family

kitchen, scrambling amongst the presents and selecting just the

right card and struggling to hold down the corner of the paper as

mum fights to find the end of the tape. I close my eyes as the

tears form; I knew this day would come when we gather together

minus one. And Mum I feel your presence, it’s here within my

heart. I know all is done, the preparations have been made and

Christmas Day will come like it has every other year.

But Mum, I miss you so much. In such a time of celebration I

wish you were here but this thing can not be. So I whisper my

love into the wind and hope your soul is now forever free.