It was close to the end of summer
We decided that we were going to meet up at a water park for the day
We got there and there she was
With her children
My aunt had always just been there
There was never a strong memory of her in my mind
It was just her
She was in almost every Christmas memory
Been at every Easter
She was in the laughter
But I can’t remember her laugh
She was in the jokes
But I can’t remember a single one she told
She was in the smiles
But I am having a hard time remembering what hers looked like
Her favorite color was purple
She was looking at being a bus driver
That is all I know
It was close to the end of summer
That day was fun
We rode water slides
Jumped in the wave pool
And enjoyed our time together
Then, in the blink of an eye
The day was over
And we left
School got back in session
I didn’t really think about her much
Then in the blink of an eye
My mom told me she was going to the hospital
My aunt was in the ICU
In the blink of an eye my mom went up to see her
Then in the blink of an eye she came back
I thought it was going to get better
Then in the blink of an eye
The next day my mom races out of my karate class
I don’t see her for two days
It was a good day
I had just had a sleepover and I went to a festival
Then in the blink of an eye I hear the news
I am telling this story to tell whoever is reading this
Treasure the moments you have with your loved ones
Try to remember every detail
Because I didn’t
And in the blink of an eye
She was gone forever
For more poems by Corra Maddox, click here.