Dear Mom,

Remember when I was little?

We were the best of friends

Those were the times that stood still

That we thought would never end.

Remember when there was never a me without a you?

We were a great pair,

The two of us,

You and me,

Me and you.

But, of course, I am sure you knew.

Well anyway,

I’m not sure where that went, Mom

Suddenly things began to change

I began to see you less and less

It felt very strange

My best friend was ripped from me

With no time to grieve or for repair

Every night, I would pray

I would pray for my mom to be there

For my mom to come and stay

For those special times where the night would blend with the day

But that never happened

And all my prayers stopped and began to fade

But dear, mom, I know it was not all your fault

You still think of the memories we made

Dad kept us hidden

To you, we were nowhere to be found

An endless game of hide and seek

The seeker beginning to feel down

Eventually you had to give up

It was too much work

I mean, after all, it was just a game

But the hiders, they didn’t think the same

They did not want it to be something made up

Or something that you play

Eventually, you had found us, though

When we had already given up

You sparked a hope in all of us

But with caution it was struck

You got your chance

You had finally won the game

But you should have known that things were not going to start the same

But again you left, and kept going

Just not physically this time

But it hurt more

You were right in front of us

But to dream land you would fly

And dear, Mom

I never could understand the reason why

You won the game, we were supposed to be your prize

I did not and still don’t understand

Is it my fault?

You feel the need to take yourself away

Is reality so bad that you need a better day?

I’m sorry your life has to be like this

For my worst enemy this should not be wished

But Mom, I want you to know this is not how it should be.

Put down the drugs, live your life

You deserve to be happy and free

I forgive you for all that you have done

You still have the chance to win

The game is never too late to be won

It is never too late to start a new

And make a happy ending

I no longer want it for me

Now, that’s all I want for you

Because after all, you were my first best friend

That is a memory with a beginning, but no end

From a hider that is still yet to be seeked

From your daughter who believes you have the strength

So, stop being weak

-Alina