Dear Someone,

February is the month of love. The only love I have inside me is for you, the requited love in all forms it can take, the feel of exhibiting a redamant act is more than love can reach. It is a crime to be honoured with such a circle full of emotions. For a girl who doesn’t encourage love as a feeling, to what do I owe your hospitality?

Don’t shy away if I talk about your beauty as an angel. Aunts have the privilege, it comes in their job description.

Your impeccable eyes! Your eyes speak the purest love language anyone could display, the way you look at me personifies the tranquil scenery I once promised to envision, the search in your eyes is the innocence we adults miss to recover. 

When you smile, it is the warmest hug I can imagine till this moment. The little acceptance you give for my visit is the greatest victory I have led my persistence into. That scent of heaven ganging up around you, I am lucky to inhale every whiff of it while caressing those cheeks. Oh, the way your eyes wrinkle when you smile! I feel sorry for the people who could not imbibe that moment.

The rookie mistake your aunt made was not taking every chance to see you. Had I read the clues of you leaving us, wouldn’t I have clamped onto your sweet little fingers for a day and forever? I was just another fool deceived by your reactions to fist bumps and lullabies.

If this letter is stained with two or three drops of tear, that doesn’t mean I am weeping all over it. It means I am glad I can still feel your touch, voice, and the little things I know about you. Do you have any idea about me?

Here is a glimpse – 

I am someone who was in love with the idea of your birth.

I am someone who lingers on the reasons you would’ve given to my sister’s existence.

I am someone who misses the chance of getting to know your scars and dreams.

I am someone who dreamt of becoming the coolest aunt a niece could have.

All I became was someone with a broken piece of your memory stitched to my heart.

But too much knowledge might bore you. All you need to remember is that I am someone who is forever in love with you. I hope our hearts meet again – some other time, somewhere else. Until then, I will see your presence in every flower this world showers upon me…

– Your foolish aunt 🖤