Athaiah Deshawn

If you could rewrite any book’s ending, which one would you choose?

Here is a story of a few moments life threw towards my way. It’s not a published work. But it is a chapter in the story of my life.

I THOUGHT I HAD TIME
Sometimes we become so busy with life that we forget the things that matter most.
Family.
My paternal grandmother became ill. She kept vomiting secretions, lost her appetite, and began losing weight unexpectedly.
I didn’t want to see her like that.
No one knew what was happening. Doctors believed it was psychological, but months later, she took her last breath.
Duodenal cancer.
That was the answer.
I saw her on that dreadful day.
A machine down her throat helped her hold on for a few more moments until we all arrived.
I thought I had time.
I thought maybe she would be here for a few more years.
But life has a way of reminding us that time is not promised.
Then there was one of my favorite cousins.
I hadn’t seen him in years. I was invited to his engagement party, but I had just moved and didn’t have the money to travel out of town.
So I told myself I would go to the wedding.
They were planning it for the following year in the Bahamas.
I was excited.
I thought I had time.
Then I received a phone call.
An accident.
He was hit by a drunk driver.
Before the impact, he told his fiancée that he loved her.
And then everything changed.

And then there was Gen.
My daughter’s best friend.
I had plans for her.
We were waiting until we moved into our new home before inviting her over. We had been approved for the apartment, and I was already imagining the memories they would make there.
I thought we had time.
Then we received a phone call from the school.
An incident had occurred over the weekend.
One of the students had passed away.
My daughter was listed as one of the student’s very close friends.
At first, I didn’t understand.
I was confused.
Then the realization started to settle in.
Which friend?
My heart sank.
I became frantic.
I started crying.
“Please not Gen.”
Those were the words that came out of my mouth.
Later that day, I saw the article.
Her mother had been arrested.
The child I thought would be walking through our new home, laughing with my daughter, creating memories we were planning for
was gone.
And once again, I was reminded of something I wish we all understood sooner:

And here we are today.
My maternal grandmother.
She had been sick recently. Difficulty breathing. Swelling.
She went into the hospital fully alert.
She came out being rolled down the hallway in her hospital bed, eyes closed, and breathless.
We were planning her 80th birthday celebration.
Four months away.
But life has a way of interrupting the plans we make.
I thought I had time.
But the truth is…
The only time we truly have is the moment right in front of us.
So call the person you’ve been meaning to call.
Visit the person you’ve been meaning to see.
Say the words you’ve been holding back.
Because tomorrow is a promise we were never guaranteed.
Today is the gift we have been given.