This is hollow.
So, my uncle was murdered. I don't know how, but I do know where and when. Somewhere north of Manilla, the Phillipines, early Monday morning. Knowing him, it was drug-related.
He stayed with my family for a month or so when I was 15. He worried my mom, he seemed hopeful, he was cheerful and jittery. I'd heard about the awful things he'd done, and while he was with us, he was a different person from the character I'd heard of. It was new beginning for him.
We, meaning everyone I know who is related to him, haven't seen him in nearly 10 years. He's been in and out of the country with his new wife (I guess she wasn't that "new" anymore, they'd been married about 6 years) and he'd call, but no one wanted to see him. His own daughter wouldn't see him. The last I saw him was nearly 10 years ago at a big family gathering, and it seemed he was leaving the seedy sketchy ways behind him and getting back in touch with us. That phase didn't last long. And then he was gone, nothing of him but rumors.
He's been gone for so long, and now he's nothing but memories. Its odd to connect this missing family with this newly dead. Its surreal, I'm not sure what I'm sad about. For the person he sometimes seemed to be? For the choices that led him to his death? For his siblings, my grandpa? For his daughter?
For the hopeful reunions that now have no more chance of happening again?
He stayed with my family for a month or so when I was 15. He worried my mom, he seemed hopeful, he was cheerful and jittery. I'd heard about the awful things he'd done, and while he was with us, he was a different person from the character I'd heard of. It was new beginning for him.
We, meaning everyone I know who is related to him, haven't seen him in nearly 10 years. He's been in and out of the country with his new wife (I guess she wasn't that "new" anymore, they'd been married about 6 years) and he'd call, but no one wanted to see him. His own daughter wouldn't see him. The last I saw him was nearly 10 years ago at a big family gathering, and it seemed he was leaving the seedy sketchy ways behind him and getting back in touch with us. That phase didn't last long. And then he was gone, nothing of him but rumors.
He's been gone for so long, and now he's nothing but memories. Its odd to connect this missing family with this newly dead. Its surreal, I'm not sure what I'm sad about. For the person he sometimes seemed to be? For the choices that led him to his death? For his siblings, my grandpa? For his daughter?
For the hopeful reunions that now have no more chance of happening again?