Dad

Dear Dad,

It's difficult to put into words all you meant to me, but I feel compelled to try. You were more than simply my father; you were my biggest supporter, best friend, rock, and everything. Since losing you, I've felt a piece of myself missing, like if I'm walking through life with a continual sorrow in my heart.

Every day, I think about you. Sometimes a recollection makes me grin, and other times I struggle to fight back tears. Losing you was like losing the only person in the world who actually understood me. You've only got me, Dad. Nobody else has ever been able to make me feel so recognized, seen, and accepted. I miss it more than I can say.

It was you who inspired me to go university and swim in the Olympics. I failed to arrive due to an unanticipated terrible accident, but I did make it to university and finished it.

You motivated me to travel the world, and you were the one who always believed in me because you knew I was capable of figuring things out.

Remember the one vacation we took alone, just you and me on your motorcycle? We drove across the Alps, went bathing in a frigid lake, hiked the mountains you adored, and spent the evening discussing philosophical issues.

Or when we went to Stonehenge with Mum in the winter because you wanted to take pictures and measure the stones individually. When we arrived and walked through 60cm of snow, you suddenly hit the ground because there was a small fence beneath the snow that no one could see. I laughed my buttocks off, and you tried to get up again, but I couldn't help you since I was still laughing.

You never wanted to be in that coma, and I hated seeing you like that. Those two years were difficult, watching you there and knowing you were a shell of the vibrant, robust guy I knew. Even in that state, you remained a source of serenity for me. I would talk to you, hold your hand, and hope that you could sense how much I loved you. Even today, I communicate with you in my own unique style.

Dad, you were my safe spot. The world felt less terrifying because you were there, always offering counsel, a hug, or simply a quiet moment together. I miss how we could sit and speak for hours about life, or how you knew when something was wrong before I did. It's been difficult to figure things out without you here, but I carry your wisdom and kindness with me. I strive to remember all you taught me, including the things I took for granted back then.

Even though you're no longer here, I still feel your presence. In the quiet times, in memories, and in the teachings you taught me, I realize how fortunate I am to have had a father who loved me so much. I believe you would be proud of me for everything I've attempted to accomplish since you left. I hope you understand that everything I do is motivated by you, that your love has influenced who I am and who I aspire to be every day.

I wish I could hear your voice again, feel your hand on my shoulder, or simply see the expression of understanding in your eyes. But even if I can't, I'll keep carrying you with me, Dad. You will always be in my heart and a part of me. I can't share all of these wonderful memories with you again.

Thank you for being my father, friend, and anchor. Thank you for loving me the way you do. I miss you more than words can express, and I will always adore you. Dagmar