Dear Mom, I Miss Your Voice

Dear Mom,

I miss you.

I miss your presence in my daily life. I miss your text messages - checking in on me, asking about my day, sharing yours, and all the little exchanges that made up our routine.

I miss your advice and guidance. I miss having you to talk to about anything I ever struggled with. I miss ranting to you about what was bothering me, and then working through solutions together.

I miss your personality. Everyone describes you as a calm and positive presence in their lives, and I realize now how much that calmness shaped me, but I didn't fully appreciate it until you were gone.

I miss the traditions we had. We're doing our best to keep them up, but it's incredibly hard without you. You were the initiator, the glue that held our family together.

I miss your comfort and reassurance. You always knew how to bring a sense of calm during tough times. You were there with me through every high and low, and I deeply feel that absence. 

Most of all, I miss your voice, Mom. I miss the way you answered my calls with a distinct "hello!" and the gentle tone that was uniquely yours. I miss your familiar words and phrases, too. I miss hearing you telling me that you love me, and I fear that I might forget your voice over time.

I miss you deeply, Mom. Even as I try to carry on, there's a big part of me that feels incomplete without you.

Love,

Amanda