Sending Red Balloons to Heaven

The flowers had blown over in the wind.
Bits and pieces lay tossed about.
It was best to gather them up and arrange what was left of them across the freshly patched grass. Gently, she pulled out some of the flowers and started making a bouquet. That she could keep. Dry and preserve, so she will never forget...........

The little one runs about chasing butterflies..... laughing in the wind.
What an angel.
She smiles. It feels good to her that she is able to do that here. She takes in a deep breath........
She can do this.

Her swollen belly makes it a bit harder to sit down on the ground. The life inside her is growing stronger everyday.
As she finds a comfortable spot, the little one runs over to snuggle into her lap. They sit for a moment, breathing together.
"Does she know"?, she wonders.
"How can she possibly understand" ? She feels heavy in her heart.
She reaches over for her bag. Takes out a bar of dark chocolate, (really dark)...
... his favorite.
The little one gets a purple lollipop. They share their sweets in silence............... with him.

Suddenly, the little one jumps up and runs to the balloons.......
They brought balloons.
Bright shiny red mylar balloons. Shaped like hearts.
They had fastened them to the ground when they first arrived.
"Balloon", said the little one pointing to them.
"Yes, would you like one to hold"?, she asked.
"No", said the little one. "Go", pointing to the sky.
She knelt down by the balloons tugging to pull one free for her. She handed it to the little one.
"Here you go honey"
The little one held it for a moment, looking up at the sky, and the clouds.
Then she held up her arm and let it go............ the wind carried it quickly.
They both watched as the balloon climbed higher and higher. The little one puts her hand to her mouth and blows a kiss......... "bye daddy", she says.
She looks down at the little one. With tears rolling down her face, she sits back on the ground. The little one comes to her and starts to wipe away her tears. Then she sticks the lollipop in her mouth, just to make it all better............and it does.
Somehow.
And they laugh.

"More", the little one cries, pointing to the rest of the balloons still tied up.
"Would you like to let them all go"?, she asks.
"Yah, Yah", the little one says, excitedly.
One by one they let the balloons go into the sky. Blowing kisses and laughing through tears.
As the last balloon climbs higher and higher into the sky, the little one sees a butterfly, and runs to catch it.......

She is left standing, looking into the clouds as the balloon disappears.
And she knows, that this day, they were truly...........
sending red balloons to heaven.........

~Moqui

I love you Anna, Ava, baby and Brian..............