Loss

My Aunt Val had a stroke on Monday, and she died around 1030 this morning.
I was just going to keep this to myself, but I want everyone in the world to know what an amazing, wonderful, loving, kind, thoughtful, selfless person she was. No person, anywhere, at any time in my life ever loved me as unconditionally as she did. She was truly the matriarch in my family, and, as the initial shock of her loss is wearing off, the growing sadness and emptiness is consuming me.
While she was struggling to survive on Tuesday, and was mostly unconscious, I held her hand, and Anne told her that it was our anniversary on Wednesday…she squeezed my hand, and when I told her that I loved her, and that I’d miss her if she had to go, she turned her head to me, and she smiled, and squeezed my hand, hard. It was the first time she’d been really responsive to us. I felt like she knew we were there, and I felt like she was telling me goodbye, and that she loved me. For that, I am eternally grateful.
Do not ever take anyone for granted, for even one minute. If there’s someone in your family who you love, pick up the phone, and call them, right now, to tell them.
I love you, Aunt Val.