Her Rebirth

You Don’t Know My Pain

LAVERN SIMMONS

My aunt’s passing was not expected. She was a very private person and didn’t even tell those closest to her that she had been battling a terminal illness. Minutes after she took her last breath, I stood in her hospital room staring at her. She looked like she was peacefully sleeping, so I told her to get up! There was no way this was happening. I was perplexed and in that moment, unwilling to accept the fact that we would never share another laugh, conversation, or hug. Why didn’t she say how ill she was? Why didn’t she ask for help? Why didn’t she let the family in? I was angry with her. Little did I know, I was about to have an experience that would change my anger to understanding.