Dear Dad,

Today I woke up from a dream about you, we were happy, everything was perfect, the set-up, the food, the mood, I mean everything. Guess what happened next? I woke up with a full-blown smile plastering my face because it felt so real. I flipped my eyes open and rubbed them for a better vision. I hopped off the bed and off I ran to Mom’s bedroom to find you not there.

It then dawned on me that it was all a dream, you really are no more. My smile was quickly replaced by disappointment and hurt. That is when I realised that no matter how many years pass by, your death remains raw. The pain of losing you remains unbearable. The wounds may have healed over time but the scars remain. I’ve been meaning to have a conversation with death but for some reason unknown to even me, I keep postponing.

I just wanted to ask, why did I have to lose you sooner than I expected? I thought you and Mom would grow old together. I had plans that included you both. OK, enough with the wallowing now, it won’t help bring you back anyway.

I hope you are doing well wherever you are. I hope heaven is treating you like the king that you are. I hope everything is working out perfectly for you. I won’t lie and say leading a life in your eternal physical absence is easy. You left a void in our lives. You left our hearts shattered and some pieces of our hearts went with your casket as they released it.

I still can’t believe you are gone and gone forever. Your death chose to visit at the time where we were at our happiest. As much as I’ve learned to be strong and live without your physical presence, I sometimes wish for you to come back home. Come back to us. I know I’m wishing for way too much but I can’t help it. May your soul continue to rest in eternal peace, Daddy. I love you to the moon and never back. I miss you so much. Heaven couldn’t wait longer for you. Death be not proud!

Tell us: Do you have someone that you miss who has departed?