11 tcf.org.uk COMPASSION | YOUR POEMS & STORIES An envelope made me cry today. It had our daughter's name on it With a kiss under. Nestled innocently amongst a bundle Of random unused envelopes Waiting for a purpose. So many of her possessions Peppered around our home A comfort blanket of connections To her existence. Grounding me to my strength. But this was different Taking me unawares. And back to blindsided. Bewildered. Bereaved. I didn't know it was there. I didn't know why it was there. I don't really know why she's not. Or why it was empty. ‘Emma x’ Casually handwritten Before everything changed. Back when the world felt Right. The stark reality Of the death of our child Death. Of. Our. Child. In my face. And my soul. I cannot bear to do anything Other than tuck it back Put the envelopes away To hit me again Another day. The Envelope Poem for Emma by Christine Beale A Letter Sue, forever Jonathan’s mum and a TCF Volunteer, wrote this for her cousin on the loss of her son, Oliver. “You left so suddenly, unexpectedly and quietly. Such a sweet and gentle soul. When we heard we were half a world away and were struck by the vast and inky majesty of a remote South African night sky. It seemed endless and bursting with billions of twinkling stars and felt as if we could simply reach out and touch them. I heard myself asking out loud where you were, Oliver. I watched those stars sparkle and beam down and wondered whether the pressure from the tears that we cry, and the pain that we feel when we lose those that we love, somehow compresses into diamonds that eternally light up the sky. Just out of reach but ever present. We allowed ourselves the comfort of feeling that you are in good company up there Oliver and remembered all of those other precious children and siblings that we love that are no longer with us, but believe are with you”
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