Maribel Bonilla

Prince Harming

Two years had passed since Leski’s father lost his fight with colon cancer. She was still devastated by the sudden loss which seemed to consume her every thought. Even minor movement to scratch her arm felt like it exhausted any ounce of energy she tried to gather to move on with life. Move on. The concept of moving on from her father’s death was foreign to her. This wasn’t the first time Leski experienced loss though. She was well acquainted with coping in spite of grief. She overcame the sorrow from various failed relationships, being laid-off from a job she loved, and making the kind decision to end the life of her beloved cat, Moles, whose less than nine lives also battled cancer. Leski was surrounded by friends and family who showed how much they loved her on a regular basis, but no one’s best gesture could compare to the devotion her father showed her in his role as a parent. Her fondest memory was her dad calling her every Monday morning before her alarm buzzed in annoyance. He would remind her that life was full of possibility and she had the power to manifest her dreams. He always encouraged her to remain optimistic, focus on solutions instead of problems, and find the lesson in failures. After 36 years of her father’s influence and guidance, she developed a strong foundation of self-worth and kindness towards others. In all the ways Leski’s father showed love to her and others in the community, she never expected someone so strong would physically deteriorate right before her eyes. She was thankful to have so many great memories to reflect on, but his absence was a void she could not fill. Self-help books littered her bedroom floor, her voicemail box reached its maximum capacity for messages, and an abundance of text messages were ignored. Grief became a constant friend who understood her pain and kept her a prisoner in a cell of heartache.