LOH #205 // LEAVING FOOTPRINTS

My mother who had traveled just sometime back, to begin certain preparations towards her immediate elder sibling funeral called this morning to tell that a relatives mother had died just thus morning. At the memtion of it, I felt my head go big and then begin to shrink. My heart raced twice the normal.
Life is .....life, i guess.

Image is mine

Images of this relative, this aunt, whose children and I, especially the elder daughter are very close. Too close we hung out together, even attended same university and whenever I went around to her hostel, helped her fetch water or just cared for her as my sister, some persons would say we were item. Some got to learn that we were cousins later on. For others, we did not care to explain.

Images of this woman whenever I saw her flooded my head. And in every one image/memory, she was smiling. Smile so wide it revealed her beautiful dentition. And you know what, I knew them as people who've had to face too many terrible situations. Tough times. They've had it very hard at life. And now, it makes me wonder why and how inspite of all that hardship, she found the strength and her smile.
That's what I'd remember her for. Her very welcoming, happy nature. Even if I passed by her a hundred times a day, she had a warm smile for me. As she does for everyone.

It, this topic, made me think about what would have been my words and remarks about her if I felt differently towards her. And so, just like her, I want to be remembered as the happy guy. The one whose presence and smile illuminates whatever space he is in. The one with the warmest hugs and who is a safe space. Important also to me, I want that people think of me and remember a man who lived in absolute peace and with good cheer.

It will be good that in my bsence, people do not remember or think of me and then let out sighs. I want them to think of me as a person who truly lived.

This is my response to the LOH #205 prompt

Thanks for stopping by.
SOKA🖤