No one answered the door, so I left her Christmas present between the storm door and inside door.
She did not call right away to say thank you. Unlike her. I called her several times. No answer. I began to worry. We had been neighbors and best friends for fourteen years, before I moved away. We kept in touch. Just not like her to ignore me.
I contacted her daughter-in-law, who had been widowed a couple of years prior. “Sue, she passed away about a year ago. I’m sorry you didn’t know.”
I had worried that she might be in the hospital, or perhaps even a nursing home, but died? It was very hard to accept. I tried to find comfort that she must be with her son and husband, who had both passed away.
Then came the night where she came to visit me in my sleep.
I was in a large, luxurious bath. It was steamy, or foggy. I sat in one end of this large, marble-like, oval tub that appeared to have no borders. The bath was relaxing. I noticed a figure through the mist. Like me, she sat in the water with suds surrounding her shoulders. “Naji!” I cried as she came closer.
“Oh, Sue, I knew you would see me! The others can’t. But I knew you would!”
“Are you okay? Are you happy?” I questioned her.
“Oh yes! It’s wonderful here. But Sue, you can’t imagine how close we are. I mean we are right here, right beside you! But you can’t see us. Do you believe me?”
“Oh yes, I believe, Naji. And I am so happy to hear that you are happy.”
“I knew you would believe. I knew you would see me. Not the others. But you. I knew you would.”
Naji and I had a brief but glorious visit that night. She, more than anyone else in my life, showed me that not only do our loved ones continue ‘living’ after they pass on, but they are very close to us and can see us. They watch over us. And the love continues.
Last night, Naji came back in a dream. It had been a long time since the last dream. It was a dream I saw little significance in. But it reminded me of my love for her, and her love for me. And that is huge. I look forward to the day when having finished my work here, I will join her.