Dear 2023, I had hopes for you. Not big hopes. Not high hopes. Just a solemn wish for things to be a little better than the past few years have been.
I'm not blaming the pandemic, things were tough before it tried to take over the world. But you should know that I'm no longer on speaking terms with 2022. I tried to work it out with them before the year was over, but it was just no use. I could never forgive '22 for taking my mother in such a long and miserable way. No restful fading into the sunset. No final words of wisdom. Time was counted down by the faithful distribution of oral syringes of morphine. Mom reminded me of a hamster, holding the syringes between her hands and sucking every last drop as if it was the most delicious thing she'd ever consumed. She had stopped eating by then, so it probably was the most delicious thing. And even though I sometimes feel resentful over her addictions, I can't blame her for being enthusiastic about morphine. She was in so much pain. Even as she slept, you could see it on her face. Her breathing was shallow, and she would mumble, "Ow....ow...ow."
2022 couldn't even give me a month to collect myself before it brought on that other thing. You know what it is. The malady that hurt us all and took us so much time to get through. 2022, you were no friend of mine. We're still suffering and angry about it. Then, to add insult to injury, you took Nico away on a lovely summer's day. Why? I can hardly breathe when I think about it. I will never forgive that. I can't stop crying.
But '22 did give us Paris in December. Ten days of just me and him, walking and walking and walking. I dragged him into every church I could. Croissant and baguette tous les jours. Plateau fruits de mers -- with uni! The days were freezing cold and beautiful.
So 2023, we need to have a little talk and reset the go-forward strategy. Because I just can't have another year like last year, Paris or not.
And this year, 2023 - your year - my sister has cancer. And that just won't do at all. This is happening on your watch, and before things get bad or even more off track, I need you to take care of this -- to take care of her. And by that, I mean cured. She is doing all of the right things to beat this disease, and we're depending on you to do your part.
You've been warned, 2023, don't follow in your brother's footsteps. Make this a better year for all of us.
Especially for her.