The paper I held gingerly in my hands
seemed light compared to the weight
I felt in my heart that day
I knew it would be somber
I knew it would be defeating
I knew it would sting
But the day came
to formally recognize
what we had been dreading for so long
Staring at my grandma’s wrinkled
hands, folded across her chest
The smell of her perfume
still eerily wafted through the church hall
How could someone so close
suddenly be so far away
Tears cascading
Warm embraces, though not quite
warm enough to overpower the cold dark
voices in our heads that reminded us
that she was gone.