Grandma's Letters

Back home after her grandmother's funeral, Libby looked up sadly as her mother handed her a thick packet of envelopes, tied together with purple ribbon. "The last time Grandma came home from the hospital, she gave these to me and said she wanted you to have them after she was gone. She loved you very much, you know." Silently, Libby gave her mother a hug and took the envelopes. In her grandmother's handwriting, the first envelope said, "OPEN FIRST".

Libby's mother watched as her daughter slowly walked off, holding the packet of letters to her breast. She had been so worried about the way Libby had been handling her grandmother's death. She had refused to talk to any of her friends and had barely eaten, preferring instead to be alone in her room with her memories.

Upstairs in the privacy of her room, Libby slowly untied the packet of envelopes, closed her eyes, and held the purple ribbon to her cheek for a few moments. Reverently setting the ribbon aside, Libby carefully opened the first envelope and started to read.

"My Dearest Libby,
     I know you miss me but please know that I will always be with you. I walked next to you at my funeral to give you courage. I am sitting beside you on your bed as you read this letter (see how well I know you, Dear?). I will proudly hold your hand as you graduate from high school and then college. I will be standing next to you with a purple hanky on your wedding day, and I will be there to share each and every special moment of your life.
     The day I realized I may not be on this earth with you much longer, I sat down and wrote a letter to you and have written one every day since. Some of them are memories of the two of us together and some are what I hope your future contains but all are from my heart to yours and are meant to ease your pain and keep me always in your heart and memory.
     There is no particular order to them. I will leave it up to you whether you want to read them all at once or open the letters one at a time - on a rainy day, when you are feeling particularly lonesome, just missing me, or having a bad day and needing to know how much someone loved you.
     I must close for now, my dearest Libby, but do not be sad. Be happy for the times we shared together, both the good and bad. Now go and make more memories for your future and know that I will always be nearby.
Love and Kisses Forever,
Grandma"

Libby put her head down and lovingly held the letter to her breast for a few moments. The she stood, took a deep breath and smiled as a warm feeling came over her. She folded the letter, neatly tied the stack together again, and put them in her nightstand drawer. She walked into the kitchen and told her mother she was going out for awhile but would be home in time for dinner. She called her best friend, Shyla, and they agreed to meet at the bookstore for coffee and talk. Libby's mother was thrilled as she watched her daughter pick up an apple as she went out the door. She closed her eyes, smiled, and said, "Thanks, Mom."