Rest in Paradise

Eight years ago I got a call that nobody ever wants to get. The voice on the other end of the phone was one that I had known for a few years. It was the voice of my son's father. It was shaky and he had trouble getting out the words. It was low and I had to listen closely to the words that I couldn't believe I was hearing. I made him repeat the words slowly and though a shaky tearful voice he did. I will never forget what he said. He said, " I am at the hospital and Loreal died a few minutes ago." Loreal was a bright, joyful, child who loved singing and being a girly girl. She went to the hospital a couple days prior and from all the reports I got she was doing well. I didn't exactly know what she had until after her death. She had lupus. The same cancer that had taken her aunt's life many years before. I was in tears on the phone. I had to get myself together long enough to explain to my then almost 3 year old that his cousin was in heaven and he would never see her again. I am not sure how much he actually understood of that conversation and I vowed to explain it better when he got older and could better understand the meaning of life and death. 

We were getting ready for Halloween that day picking out costumes, decorating the house and Loreal and her little sister, Najah who was the same age as my son were supposed to go with us along with my son's dad and his nephew. That Halloween was not the same needless to say and of course no Halloween will ever be the same again.  

We will go out trick or treating and dressing up this year as in years past but we will also never forget the little girl who will never go trick or treating again. RIP in paradise, Lorie.