Both of my parents worked when I was a little kid and someone had to take care of me every day. That person was my auntie Dar. She was my great aunt, my second mother, and my best friend. I saw her five days a week, every week for years. She was the most amicable person I have ever known. She was my favorite person in the world.
My aunt Dar and I would play different games all day. She was never astute with me no matter how vexatious I was being. We also loved to make things together. Painting was what we did the most. We used to paint little wooden figures my great uncle made for us. I would scrutinize her work to see if she ever made a mistake. She never did.
After crafting I would always solicit my aunt to make me lunch. Grilled cheese with tomato soup was our regular meal. To this day it is one of my favorites but I wouldn’t be surprised if she grew to loath it. After all we ate it every day. Watching television at my aunt Dar’s house was amazing when I was little. They had the biggest TV I had ever seen. My aunt and I would cuddle up on their couch and watch Disney movies with all the lights out like we were in a movie theater. When the nefarious characters came on the screen I would cower into her arm. She was always there to comfort me.
On the days I didn’t see my aunt I would advocate for my whole family to go over and visit. Usually, I was not successful because my mom wanted to spend the time she had with me at our house. Spending so much time at my aunt’s house was ineffectual to my mother. I made her cry sometimes because I wouldn’t want to leave auntie Dar’s house. I didn’t want to make my mother sad, but I was obsessed with my aunt.
When I was around ten years old, my aunt Dar suffered from a malady millions of people before her had to deal with. A heart attack. The day she died from that heart attack was one of the worst days of my life. I lost my best friend and had no idea what to do with myself. Knowing I would not see her again was too much to bear.
My auntie Dar was my favorite person in the world when I was little. Even though she died when I was ten I still have wonderful memories of her. I will never forget what she taught me and I am who I am because of her.