I was raised by a ghost, one that broke into the back of my mind as it tried to pull me down, and drag me behind. Every single success was filled with nothing less than unnecessary stress, and yet still I came out on top of every single demon that you left inside of me; trying to dig its way out of my chest. I was raised by a ghost from the very start. One that died in my ears and eyes long before it ever died in my heart.

But dead you are now. I don't exactly know when or exactly know how; but one day your ghost was no longer allowed. One day you died, and you never came back to life. You rotted in my heart until my heart bled you out, and when you were finally gone I made this vow.

These boys and these girls will not be raised by a ghost. They will be raised by a living man; because around here dead people don't float. They sink in an ocean of forgetfulness, a sea of anger and broken promises. Then sunken in rivers of flowing brine, and flushed even deeper; no longer allowed to break any surfaces. Staying buried deep in the waves so they don't create frowns on little faces.

This is my legacy, this is why I live. So they can keep going and I can simply give them the love I never got, and the peace of mind; that no matter what happens I'll never leave them behind. Instead I'll be there pushing them on, until my legs carry me no more, until I am dust and I am as I start. Until I live no longer in ears or eyes, yet live on forever in four little hearts.

© Robert Young