A package arrived today,
Sent by my mother…
She was cleaning out the attic,
And found my secret,
Buried beneath the broken toys,
And forgotten things,
We have no use for,
But cannot throw away…

Scrawled in childish handwriting,
Was written my name,
Penned in such sorrow,
And bitter pain-

Knowing how much I dread,
Others touching my things,
She sent it to me,
And today the postman brings,
This package that lies on my doorstep,
Silently greeting me to step into my past…

I recognized it at once,
It was my forever box,
Filled with hopes and dreams,
Of better things…

I laid it on my desk,
And turned and walked away,
Wondering if I had the strength,
To open it today…

It sat there all night,
Casting shadows on my mind,
Until the clock struck two,
And I knew this would never do…

Wondering if I really wanted to open this thing,
Knowing the memories it would bring…
But I no longer wanted to hide,
And putting my fear aside,
I reached for it in the dark,
And reached inside…

With trembling fingers I cut the strings,
And pulled out yesterdays dream…
A ribbon that still looked new,
Despite the years that had past…

Letters my brother had written,
So carefully bound,
He was special to me,
And I too him,
For among us all,
We shared the same blood,
Had the same dreams,
Suffered the same falls…

He went away for the war,
And never returned,
Casting those shadows on my heart
That we were torn apart…

I had placed him here,
Never to be forgot…
My forever box you see,
Where he would always be,
Where I could find him,
When I felt the need…

Funny how my heart felt light,
Not sad at all,
And I remember with a smile,
How much we use to fight...

There was a lock of hair,
So black against the night,
And the tiny blue flowers were still woven,
Within its tight braid...
I felt its softness,
And remembered my sister’s hair,
How I would always brush it,
With such loving care…

I pulled out a silver ring,
With a gold stone,
My birth gem,
Given to me on my sixteenth birthday,
And though it would never fit again,
I promised to wear it once more,
On a chain around my neck,
For it was a gift from my father,
Who had passed years before…

My forever box-
Holding such things so dear,
Safely tucked away,
For the later years…

Now I store it always in clear view,
For when the shadows return,
Like shadows do-
To haunt and stalk,
I reach into my forever box,
And remember one of you…