by Aaron Dethrage
“At times, our strengths propel us so far forward,
that we can no longer endure our weaknesses
and perish from them.”
Friedrich Nietzsche
****************
that we can no longer endure our weaknesses
and perish from them.”
Friedrich Nietzsche
****************
April 18, 2010
Dear Mom,
My doctor has recommended that I start writing you letters daily. He says it’s therapeutic and is certain that it will help me come to grips with reality, with the fact that you’re gone. But since you won’t receive them and he doesn’t even want to read them, this just seems like psycho-babble bullshit to me.
I mean, I am perfectly aware that you are dead. I sustained the weight of your coffin atop my right shoulder on the long walk from the front of the church to the idling, black hearse in the parking lot and then again from the car to the grave. My shoulder was sore for the next two days, but I refused to take any pain relievers because those tense muscles were all that I had left of you.
Why am I telling you this...
Your Son.
****************
April 26, 2010
Dear Mom,
The shrink interpreted my writing assignment negligence this past week as further proof that this is what I need to be doing.
I just don’t get it. Everyone seems to think that this is affecting me so much more than I believe it to be. It has already been a few months, and I’ve had constant, strict deadlines with my publishers. The world doesn’t stop for grieving, and you wouldn’t have wanted me to allow that anyway. “Keep your eyes ahead,” you always said.
I trust that you’re fine and that you’d want my life to keep propelling forward. These thoughts give me strength.
Your Son.
****************
May 26, 2010
Dear Mom,
I’m sorry if you’ve missed these. After two uncooperative weeks, my doctor just dropped the idea. I stopped going shortly after I last wrote to you. This week has been... hard, but I just keep repeating, “keep your eyes ahead,” and believe that everything will eventually sort out...
I love you.
Your Son.
****************
June 29, 2010
Mom,
I’m coming.
Please leave a light on; I’ve imagined the journey to be dark.
Aaron.
Wow. This is really amazing, Aaron.
ReplyDeleteDude. Nice. Love the format and the development of the idea.
ReplyDelete