The Guncle

by Steven Rowley

“Guncle Rule number seven: In this house we wear what we want, it doesn’t matter if it’s for boys or girls. Anything goes, anything you want, so long as it doesn’t have mean words printed on it and it’s not making fun of anyone else. We don’t worry about what others think. Deal?”

Guncle Rule number eight: Live your life to the fullest every single day, because every day is a gift. That’s why people die. To teach us the importance of living.”

“People who love each other fight. The opposite of love isn’t anger. It’s indifference. When people stop fighting, that’s when you should be worried.”

I am less me. I left part of myself with you. I don’t know what it was, but I felt it leave my body the last time I held your hand.

Some days you miss the pain, because you’re afraid. Afraid that as the pain softens so do memories of the one you lost.”

“Grief orbits the heart. Some days the circle is greater. Those are the good days. You have room to move and dance and breathe. Some days the circle is tighter. Those are the hard ones.”

Final Guncle Rule. There are two tragedies in life: one is not getting what you want, the other is getting it.