Core Memories

Core memories in my understanding are ones you don’t forget.
There are about 50 core memories in my head
but the ones that will never be dead are the ones about my mother.

These are memories like the way she carried around a scent
of autumn full of pine cones and pumpkin spice.
And her warm embrace when she tucked me in at night.
My mom’s love for me was so great and bright
that I still remember it and I say this with pride.

I remember how she would never wear an outfit without a smile
and made every moment I spent with her worthwhile.
But another person who has my mom, Grace, in their core memories is my dad.

He was always 10 times happier when she was around.
And If I do say their love for each other was very profound.
He’s always telling me how much I resembled her both in looks and personality.
But that wasn’t the same case when it came to my mentality.

My mother really was a fighter whose happiness made her burden lighter, Her burden of fighting stage 4 cancer.
She passed away when I was eight which was tough at first but,
my dad gave me the aid to get through it.
But I will always remember the last words she said to me before she died.

She said, “Don’t cry dear, just know that I’ll always be here.
And when you look at the stars at night Junebug,
and see such a wonderful sight
just know I’ll be watching over you,
and listening to you too.