Happy New Year

Dotyn,

"I haven't talked to you since last year." If you were still here I would have called and said that to you today. It was our little joke.

Reality is that it's been almost 7 months since we last spoke. And even then you couldn't say much. I had come to visit you in the hospital before they put your trache in. I told you "I love you", and in a weak, hoarse voice you said it back. I knew you were in pain and I feared you were dying. I wanted to tell you that you didn't need to hold on for us. That we'd be ok. But I was afraid...

So, today begins a real year without you... I haven't talked to you since last year... And already it feels like it's been forever.