Dear you in the sky.

Dear great grand-ma,

You were born in 1921 in France.

You lost your mother too young and you worked way too hard. You're father became an another person after the loss of his wife so you had to be like a mom for your little sisters. I have heard you say many times that you loved the dances that there were in the villages. You didn't know how to dance but you always told me that music was enough to make you happy. Sadly, your father didn't want you to go dancing. He was afraid that you would find a husband so you stayed alone for a long time.

You've been through World War II and seen things so horrible that you could never have told us all.

But one day, because your home had to house soldiers, you met this man. “I don’t know what he found in me, I was uglier than my sisters.” That's what you told me. But he loved you. You married this soldier, this handsome soldier that came for you in your family house after the war and make you escape by the window because your dad didn't want you to marry him... You had a romance beginning worthy of a novel. Escaping by a window in the 40's for a man ? What a perfect love story ?! You lived in Algeria for a while and then you went back to France to escape a new war. You had two children, five grandchildren and a dozen great-grandchildren. Some closer to you than others, but I'm glad I got the chance to be one of them.

I've had you in my life for 27 years and you've filled my head with wonderful memories where I couldn't forget my little brothers diving in Picsou magazines or a lot of hide-and-seek and adventure, an experience I would have wanted my two younger brothers to live just as much as we do. All those Christmas, perfect meal, rugby games and fantastic cakes, all those board games and stories from your childhood that we didn't get tired of hearing. You were so open-minded despite your generation... You loved all humans and even more animals.

I could never feel more beautiful than in your eyes. That way you looked at me, you said, "little darling, you've become a beautiful woman." You're so wonderful. I had the chance to celebrate your 100th birthday with you and I wish we could celebrate another 100. We all agreed on one thing, because we thought you were going to be forever to continue to be with us, it was the more painfull thought. You couldn't blow out your 102nd candle, but God, I'm so glad I had you by my side for so long.

You left in 2023, but I could never stop thinking about you.

I forgot that one day you had to go. And yet every time I saw you, I thought, "I'm afraid this is the last time." Even so, the very last time, I was convinced that I could see you again. I should have kissed your cheeks a hundred times. I should have told you a hundred times I loved you. I wish I'd seen you smile a hundred more days. I forgot to think that you was not everlasting, that I was probably seeing you for the last time.

I miss you so much, but I want you to be proud of me. Then I'm going to live like I've never lived before. I'm gonna do my best and enjoy my youth like you never could.

Now you can go back dancing at that eternal dance with the man you loved so deeply. Dance my beautiful Elise. Be happy and rested.