There was a time when the house was full,

Four bedrooms, five beds, and six bodies.

The table was always set with dinner and chairs were never empty.

As we conversed, tension would arise between loving siblings.

Silence was rare, for there were frequents fights,

constant conflicts for my Mother to dissolve. 

The house never lacked personality,

for the children of hers were motivated to differ.

Three girls, one boy, one woman, and one man. 

A variety of character, raised with common morality.

The most repeated reminder to love each other.

To have siblings meant to enter the world guided by a best friend.

Like a hurricane destroying everything in its path,

Life did not fail to disappoint our hopeful hearts. 

We knew it was natural and would happen some day.

We were clueless as to how little time life offers some. 

Hearts are shattered continuously,

No one can ever be spared from the natural trauma of death.

To this day, I can hear my Mother's voice 

With agonizing pain, she tells her children their father has died. 

Normalcy is to be walked down the aisle by the man who raised me,

To see both my parents at graduation,

To know they will be able to see me become the woman they raised,

To show my parents they did not fail to be parents. 

Longing to hear my father to let me hear his voice,

To hug me as he walked through the door, 

To apologize for not telling us he had cancer, 

To tell me why he prepared me for everything except for his funeral. 

There was a home once filled with six,

They were happy, hopeful, and unaware.

If home was where the heart resided,

Theirs would have been ignited with flames. 

In this home, there is one less figure than there are in photo’s. 

There is one parent whose voice will never be heard again. 

In this home, there are broken hearts

Filled with anger towards the world and enough hurt to last a lifetime. 

Four kids all under the age of 18,

Will never get to see both parents at graduation.

One boy will learn to be a father without his own.

A mother is forced to discover her strength to gather pieces of home. 

Three girls, one boy, one woman, and one man. 

There is a time, when adaptation is unavoidable. 

There is a home of five scared souls,

Who’s shattered hearts had been forced to adapt and overcome. 

The forces of nature proved to be inevitable and terrifying.

Yet the love within a family proved to conquer all.