When you love someone unconditionally
You see them in multiple forms
I see my grandfather
An old man at a temple
Or at the store
Quiet with kind eyes
Filled with curiosity and affection
I’m always somehow reaching out
Opening the door for him
A quiet “how are you”
In hopes that it’ll make his day
Picking something up for him
Praying he’ll look me in the eye
And provide me with the blessing
Of a “thank you”
I see my brother occasionally
An innocent little boy
Saying things only a child could reasonably say
With the most wonderful light in his eyes
That cannot help but make me smile
I used to see him before he was here too
A cousin or family friend’s child
Who I was strangely drawn to
I would cry when I had to leave them
And hope they experience
The most beautiful of lives
I have a theory
The things you want the most
Unconditionally
That need you have
Deep in your soul
Something you cannot fully understand
Is because in the future you have it
And that need is simply you missing
What is not there yet
When I was a little girl
I used to pray for a little brother
Chaotic waterfalls bursting out of my eyes
Up all night
Staring up at the ceiling
Dreaming about him
The light of my life
I was fifteen when he was born
And I realized
I missed him
Before he even took his first breath
I see you sometimes
In drawings and actors
In songs and nature
In the first fall chill
That contrastingly gives me a warm smile
The ladybugs that flutter on an April afternoon
I was looking through my childhood drawings
Recently
And saw a man I drew
With glasses and angelic eyes
Staring with earnestness
To the side of the paper
Maybe in some curious way
I missed you before you were in my life
Maybe that is why people from my faith
Believes God appears in many forms
It’s all one
But sometimes
When you truly love something unconditionally
You can see them everywhere you go