Conversations with the Sky: The Things I Still Tell My Parents

Some days, I catch myself reaching for my phone, ready to call my mom, before reality settles in. Other days, I instinctively think, Dad would know exactly what to do, only to remember he’s not here to answer. And so, I talk to the sky.

I talk to them in the quiet moments, when the world is still, and their absence feels loud. I talk to them in the car, on long drives when a song reminds me of my childhood, or when I need a little guidance on a decision I’m struggling to make. I talk to them when I see a cardinal land on my porch or when the wind suddenly picks up on an otherwise calm day—small signs that make me believe they’re still with me, still listening.

I tell them about the kids, how they’re growing into the people they always dreamed they’d be. I tell them about the moments they’re missing, the milestones, the ordinary days, the little joys I know they would have celebrated with me. I imagine my dad’s proud smile and my mom’s gentle encouragement, the way she always had just the right words to lift me up.

I ask for advice, even though I already know what they’d say. My mom would tell me to trust my gut, to believe in myself, and to never let fear make my decisions for me. My dad would remind me to work hard but also to take care of my heart, to find joy in the little things, and to keep moving forward, even when the road feels uncertain.

I tell them how much I miss them, how some days the weight of their absence is heavier than others. I thank them for the love they poured into me, for the lessons they instilled, for the unwavering support that still carries me through life.

And in the stillness, in the quiet moments of these conversations with the sky, I feel them. In the warmth of the sun on my face. In the rustle of the trees. In the laughter of my children. In the memories that will never fade.

Because love like theirs doesn’t disappear. It lingers. It whispers. It reminds me that no matter how far away they may seem, they are always, always with me.

❤️ Aimee