Stories: Who We Have Lost

Just a mask, and a happy reminder

Who did you lose to Covid 19? Rogelio "Ro" Lechuga

It’s funny how days go by, and I don’t think about you not coming home or how you used to take care of us. We see masks everywhere. Paper masks on the ground, fancy masks on racks, but this mask, holds sentimental value. We were at the beginning of the pandemic. Everybody was selling masks on street corners that neighbors lovingly sewed to protect one another.

You were talking about going back to work even though you had preexisting conditions. I was so scared. However, I knew I could protect you thanks to this lady, so we stopped at the corner.

I picked up a plain navy one to go with your work shirt and a black one. If it were up to me, I would keep you safe. There was only enough money in my pocket to purchase masks for you to wear. I rubbed my fingers over the pretty light purple mask and exclaimed, “She made this mask for me.” I refused to buy it. You needed protection more than I.

I went to the car and waited for you to come back. You picked up only two masks that day, a dark blue mask and the pretty purple one that made me so happy. You told me, “I will wash this mask every day and be safe. You lit up at that mask.” I knew at that moment, and you so very loved me. You would do anything to make me smile.

I see a million masks a day, even in my own home. Since we lost you, I buy a box every month to protect myself even if I lost you anyway. I was thinking about how much I miss you and don’t have enough memories to keep you in my mind. I was cleaning out a drawer, and wow, that mask made me catch my breath. I choked back the tears. At that moment, I saw your face, eyes, and smile. It smelled like your hair. I felt you again. In this mask, I felt your presence. A mask brought back a million feelings and memories of the love you had for me. Yes, this virus took you from us.

Nevertheless, it cannot erase your memories. In a purple cloth mask, I found you again today. I carry you forever in my heart. I was reminded that you loved your children and me by doing everything in your power to live. You fought so hard and gave us all you could. You still do. We miss you, Ro.

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