I entered a room last night full of everyone I’d known.
It seemed to be some sort of gathering - a ceremony.
Perhaps a funeral at first thought.
One thing was off though -
One minor detail was misplaced -
Everyone was smiling.
Laughing.
Enjoying themselves within each others’ company.
I noticed my mother laughing -
laughing so terribly with my aunts.
All of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and many peers as well,
All gathered together in this one large hall.
Wearing black…
I walked in and nearly all heads had turned.
Smiling,
Laughing,
Awaiting my arrival.
Some were pointing at me and I had not known why.
This was a celebration - a party of some sort.
Everyone I’d ever known…
Waiting.
Waiting.
Waiting patiently…
For me.
Slightly off centered, the crowd started to part.
And there he was, walking towards me…
It wasn’t a slow walk like one would find in a movie,
More of a fast pace actually.
And as we finally united,
I gasped for air as if believing that this could be real…
Our hug was one filled with emotion,
With waiting.
With much deserved fulfillment,
after a lifetime of separation.
He was whole again -
Flesh-toned skin color,
Gelled-hair,
Ralph Lauren Polo cologned.
And warm.
Oh, how I remember his warmth,
And how I held him so close just to feel that warmth.
His blood was flowing!
His cheeks were warm!
And as I rested my head upon his shoulders,
I wrapped my arms tighter around his soul.
My eyes open as I lay in bed…
I realize where I was last night…
Indeed, it was one’s funeral…
It was my own…
And everyone had attended it, just like I’d always wanted…
Why were they laughing, you ask?
It was because they were waiting -
On the other side…
It was because they had all passed -
Before me…
I had watched them slip away into an unknown world,
While they left me alone on that planet known as Earth.
The gathering?
It was a celebration.
For me.
For my death.
For my resurrection into the new life,
Where I was reunited with everyone in my past;
Everyone who I had watched suffer;
Everyone whose memories I’d kept only to myself;
Everyone who had made an impression on my life;
Waiting for me…
In eternity.
And who was it that I ran to, you’re dying to know?
Who was that knight in shining armor just about two inches shorter than I?
He was the only man that I’d needed with me at least for a short time longer;
He was the man that life chose to steal away from me unjustly;
The only one who was proud of me for succeeding in life;
The one that I should’ve had gotten the chance to dance with on my wedding day…
We finally got our chance to dance,
In front of everybody that I’d known;
Everybody who I’d dreamt of having at my wedding,
Gathered together in one big hall…
Finally watching our father-daughter dance.
By Alexandria Lanza
[In memory of Antonino Lanza]
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