Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw
as I peered over the pearly white chest,
her lifeless figure peacefully resting among the silky, silvery satin
Her body stiff, but tranquil.
Withering skin,
Lovely, locked lips lined with lipstick
Rosy, red blush caked on her cheeks
Her eyes closed, bound by the kiss of an angel.

I clutched my mom’s hand and buried my face into her side
Wailing, weeping, whimpering.
Wiping my runny nose on my mom’s skirt.
I tried to hold it together, but the dam could not sustain the streams behind my eyes-
tears cascaded down my flushed cheeks,
leaving my eyes blotchy and bloodshot.
I was not ready to face the reality that I had lost someone so dear to me
someone so pure, so sympathetic.
I took one more glance up at my great grandma
and muffled “goodbye,”
my one last goodbye.