Wash Away

Somewhere in the corners of my heart and mind are tucked away memories of years gone by... Memories which have lay hidden for years, covered in dust and draped in cobwebs, untouched. Some memories are hidden in dark boxes, shut tight with padlocks and chains, hoping never to be opened again. Others, simply set aside, and forgotten. Nothing important happens to us which we can truly forget... it's just stored away, and possibly brought out from time to time to be remembered. And other times, we're jolted back to those memories, only to have to let them go, to wash them off, cherish them, and say goodbye to the other people we shared those memories with. Last night, I found out that my first boyfriend, someone I truly loved, was killed last month by a drunk driver. He was walking his dog when the driver hit them. He passed away 7 days later, leaving behind a wife, his parents, and sister. He was only 27 years old. And so, yesterday, I spent the evening holding my husband close, and rocking my son to sleep as breathed in the sweet smell of his soft hair.... and I was reminded how fragile this life is. And as I move forward with my present life, I'm also dealing with the memories... and mourning the loss of the one who shared those with me.