For the Time We Had

Time flies, but memories remain—
I still remember how you and I
Connected without thought, without inhibition.
By relation, you were my co-sister’s sister-in-law,
But in my heart,
You were simply, and truly, my friend.

We spoke of anything, everything—
No topic too deep, no detail too personal.
We shared without fear,
Trusting the bond that bloomed so naturally.

It’s been a year since you passed—
Carrying the cross of cancer with silent grace.
Over thirty stitches,
You called them “artwork on my body.”
Oh, what a journey you walked those final years…
So many falls, yet always so humble.
“It’s my journey,” you said,
“I know God is with me—
But some paths, we walk alone.”

Each time I saw you,
Your presence brought peace.
Despite your pain, you gently reminded me:
“Time is most precious, and that is what you’ve given.”
It’s taken me this long to write you this poem.

I remember sitting in your memorial,
Just two days after you left.
I prayed—
Not for you, but to you.
You were an angel with beautiful wings.
I asked you to speak to Jesus for my mother,
To ease her suffering.
Two hours later, my father called:
My mother had passed—
Quietly. Without pain.
I still can’t grasp the timing of it all.

Every moment we shared was filled with gratitude—
For honesty, for laughter, for flowing thoughts.
You loved hearing about my kids—
Their little triumphs,
Their wild mischiefs I retold with joy.
Every time I shared my son’s piano lesson,
You were thrilled—excited, and always encouraging him to do more.
Every time I shared my daughter’s jokes,
You found them hilarious,
And you took pride in her independence and freedom of speech.
You delighted in them as if they were your own.
You guided me, gently,
As though wisdom came not with age, but with love.

I miss you, my friend.
It’s been a year.
So many times I’ve gone back,
Reading our chats with a grateful heart.
I am thankful—
For you,
For the time we had,
For the part of you that lives on in me.