You Are Loved

You are not the favorite of the three girls
You are not the one that got all the attention
and you are definitely not the one that was coddled through life.
How did it feel to cook dinner every night?
Coming straight home from school
to start preparation for grandpa’s famous spaghetti
or grandma’s baked chicken with rosemary
only to open your math textbook at nine o’clock.
How did it feel when the youngest was sent to Arizona State University on your parents’ funds?
Working at Foodland and Orange Julius every moment you spared
Just to save money for business school at the University of Manoa,
Five minutes from your house.
Not being able to go out at night because you had to be at work at seven the next day.
How did it feel to be diagnosed?
After gaining respect from all of the male buyers
And over coming cancer once
And raising two kids
You can only be human
And I know you are finally at peace.