My father died nearly thirty years ago from Motor Neurone Disease. We were all robbed of our future with him. He was a wonderful father, a gentle soul and my Moms best friend. Today I remember my Dad as I write an imagined letter to a loved one, written within the mind of someone unable to move or speak.
The idea for this came from a facebook writing group I am a part of called ‘Imagine, Write, Inspire. One of our challenges this week was to write a love letter, and a fellow contributor further challenged us to perhaps write from a male perspective. The seeds were sown and I wrote this imaginary letter.
I must however point out, that even though this letter is poignant,and inspired by my fathers illness, it would be unfair to either my Mom or Dad to have you believe we lived my fathers illness in misery. Quite the opposite in fact. We laughed all the time together, and greatly enjoyed every moment he was a part of our lives.
However I wonder if perhaps there were a few moments I didn’t witness, such as this one.
My darling Sue
As I lie trapped within this body I think of the letter I would wish to write you. My darling did we ever think it would come to this, that I in my fifties, would be struck down by such a disease as MND?
Today as always you breeze into our bedroom pretending all is well. You chat with me, and fill me in on the mornings news. I listen as you tell me who
phoned and what you chatted about. Then I hear your voice fade. I can sense you by my side, but it is not until you stand over me that I can see you.
Oh my dearest, there is such pain in your beautiful dark eyes. What a sight I must be, curled up as if a child in the foetal position, my limbs cemented this way. Am I drooling? Darling please forgive me if I am?
Earlier I heard you argue with Jessica, doors were slammed, two like minded souls who regularly find themselves on opposing sides. Do you know above all our children, when I watch Jessica walking about the room I see you my dearest. I see you in the way she smiles, in the way she laughs and in her strength, and looking at her it is as if the hands of our clock are turned back thirty years. During my days of endless hours, I lie here and I remember Christmas 1954 when we walked hand in hand in Herbert Park. I took a deep breath and asked you to be my wife, and without hesitation you accepted. July 1956 our first borns arrival the first of the five. How blessed were we? As the hours pass my dear this is how I spend my time. Remembering so many wonderful moments from our life, before…
Oh my darling Sue, what I wouldn’t give to speak to you once more. What would I say if I could have just one more conversation alone with you? I think it would be safe to assume I would tell you that I loved you, with all my heart. That you, my darling, were without doubt the love of my life. I would tell you how much I have enjoyed our thirty years, and the many days and nights we laughed together.
I can feel your despair today Sue, as you sit beside me holding my hand. My heart feels as if it may truly break. I hear you, stifling your sobs. Please darling don’t cry. You lower your face and pick up my useless hand, I feel your warm skin against my frozen, clawed fingers. What I wouldn’t give to open those fingers and caress your cheek. I am helpless as I feel your tears fall against my skin. Please Sue hold my hand there a while longer.
You move so I can look into your eyes once more. As I gaze at you, your tears spill over. You lean over and place your face close to mine, cheek to cheek. I close my eyes and inhale your perfume. I hear you sob,
“Oh Sean, my darling, I love you so”
Hearing you sob I feel my own tears falling. They are for you my beautiful Sue, for I know you can never hear the words I speak in my heart to you each day. So many letters such as this, written for you, but never read by you.
So instead my darling I will send you my tears which I hope can tell you all that I cannot.
xxx
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My thoughts on a page. 
Note to Self: Don’t read Tric’s posts at work. It would have been hard to explain the tears if someone had come into my office. This was so well written, it touched a place in my heart where wished are kept. The place of longing for things that can no longer be said. Your dad would be so proud of the fabulous, wonderful woman you grew up to be.
Aw thank you Charlene. Sorry about your tears! I’ve not done a weepy in a while, I must say I shed one or two myself when I wrote it, even though it is only imagined. It is sad to think of the conversations we can never have again, but we were lucky to have great memories. Thanks again.
Absolutely beautiful.
Thank you. (blush).
I’m in tears here – in public – my father didn’t die of MND but from lung cancer – I watched my mother tell him it was ok to go – that was 13 years ago last September – feels like only yesterday some days – love your writing.
Bx
I am so sorry about your Dad Breeda. Time moves at a different pace when we grieve doesn’t it? Thank you for reading. I’m glad you got to remember your Dad tonight, I hope you have many good memories too. Lung Cancer is tough as is cancer in general, it robs us of our loved ones too soon. x
What a beautiful story and letter. I remember Mike looking at me and not saying anything and wonder, was he writing such a letter in his mind? I am going to think he may have been. Thank you for giving me a lovely thought.
Oh Deb I am sure he was. Maybe tonight you can read that letter. xx
Lovely and poignant. I’m in tears with the rest of them. How hard, but wonderful that you were able to go there and touch those feelings.
It’s been a long time, and now my own husband is the age my Dad was when he was struck down. So now I am in my moms position. Makes you think. Thank you for reading and commenting.
What a wonderful tribute to your father. Thank you for posting it.
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it, if that’s the right word. 🙂
Oh, Tric. How absolutely beautiful and powerful and poignant. Thank you for sharing your Dad with us.
Thank you, I’m always glad to share my Dad. As I say it was only my imagination at work here, but it did make me think of him.
That was very heartfelt; I can’t imagine how hard it must have been to fight Motor Neurone Disease knowing that it was a losing battle. Thank you, Tric, for giving me another reason to be thankful.
Yes Jackie, that is how I feel each day. It was incredibly difficult to be faced, as a family, with a diagnosis with ‘no treatment, no cure’, but my Dad and mom were amazing and showed us the way.
Ah Tric. I felt like I was lying there in your Father’s Heart. How amazing. So powerfully amazing.
Thank you. I remember so much of it as if it were yesterday, although it would be impossible to imagine how my Dad got through each day.
Did I tell you I have a friend who’s father has ALS? I think of you and her mutually every day. I pass his house on the way to work every morning. I say a prayer for him. And think of all of you. I can’t begin to pretend to know….
Yes I remember you telling me. It is beyond description to watch a strong, fit, active person lose all power, movement and speech. Yet we had a lovely time together which seems so strange to say but true. I hope your friend is doing okay and can stay strong for her Dad.
You, and she, remind me of one another. I don’t know how she does it. But she does “it” and all that she must do. And more. And her mom. So much strength.
so beautiful, it gave me chills, tric. what a wonderful idea.
Thanks Beth. I enjoyed the challenge, and it was nice, but a bit sad to think about my Dad.
Beautiful written. It brought me to tears. What a dreadful disease. It is unimaginable.
Yes it is such a cruel disease, but my Dad was so brave and kept his humour to the very end. Thank you.
Tric, such a lovely letter. Oddly, it didn’t make me cry but think of the wonder of love and romantic hearts. Jxxx
I’m delighted to hear that. My Mom and Dad’s love was certainly tested, and they came through top of the class. Love is so much more than attraction.
Beautiful post Tric 😀
Thanks Irene.
That is just perfect, I can’t imagine how it could have been written any better, or better capture the relationship between a couple who love each other so much at such a sad time x
Thank you so much. That is high praise indeed. I shed a few tears I admit writing it, but it’s always nice to remember my Dad, even if tearfully.
This is beautiful. I can’t say more.
Thank you, that’s a lovely comment. I appreciate it.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.