Another goodbye

The new year has barely even started and already it's time to say goodbye. As of friday last, my great-aunt is no longer among us. It was quick and unexpected and I'm still trying to come to terms with it. So much so that it's hard to write about it, words simply don't come easily.

I loved my great-aunt very much. She was my reading buddy, the one person in my family with whom I could talk about books and share opinions. Now that she is gone I realize how much influence she had in other parts of my life and the way I grew up, especially in these last few years. I'll miss her dearly. I take comfort in knowing that she died the way she wanted to, even if it was too soon - which it was. Her last words to me were wishes of future happiness in the new life that awaited me and that is as perfect as perfect goodbyes go (even if at the time we didn't know it was really goodbye). Then she turned to my boyfriend and, thinking I wasn't listening, told him to take good care of me. Again, perfect. So yeah, it was a big shock but at least my mind and my heart are at peace. We parted well. So much so that it feels more of a seen-you-soon than a real heart breaking goodbye. And that makes everything slightly better.